DIADELPHIA— DECANDRIA. Lathyrus. 273 



Pe<. ^ream-coloured, streaked and tipped with purple. Legume 

 ovate-oblong, smooth, compressed, much shorter than usual in 

 this genus, and very differently shaped. Seeds iew, from I to 3, 

 dark brown, smooth, almost globular, with a long linear scar, 

 but no crest. 

 /3 is a truly wonderful variety, found by Mr. Todd, gardener to 

 the late Mr. Johnes, on a hill near Hafod, Cardiganshire, bear- 

 ing nothing but large, ovate, simple leaves, five times the size 

 of the usual leciflets, but like them in texture, veins, &c. Sti- 

 pulas rather smaller than usual. Rabbits are extremely fond 

 of this variety, which, when transplanted into the garden, grew 

 luxuriantly, increasing greatly by the roofs, but could by no ma- 

 nagement'be made to blossom. The stems are much more slender 

 than in the common state of the plant. 



359. LATHYRUS. Vetchling, and Everlasting- 

 pea. 



Linn. Gen. 37 5. Juss.359. FLBr.763. Toimi. 1.216,217. Lam. 



t. 632. GcBrtn. t. 152. 

 Clymenum. Tourn. t. 218. 

 Aphaca. Tourn. t. 223. 



Cal. cup-shaped, unequal ; cut, about half way down, into 

 5 lanceolate, acute segments ; the 2 uppermost shortest ; 

 lower one longest. Cor. of 5 i:)etals ; standard largest, 

 inversely heart-shaped, reflexed at the sides ; wings ob- 

 long, obtuse, somewhat curved upwards, converging ; 

 keel rounded, rather tumid, of 2 combined petals, with 

 separate claws. Filam. 10; 9 united into a compressed 

 tube, open at the upper edge ; the tenth capillary, quite 

 distinct. Anth. small, roundish. Germ, linear-obloni,^, 

 compressed. Style ascending, flattened vertically, di- 

 lated upwards, acute at the point. Siigma longitudinal, 

 downy, running along the dilated upper half of the style. 

 Legume long, either cylindrical or compressed, pointed, 

 of 1 cell, and 2 rather rigid valves. Seeds several, round- 

 ish, or angular. 



A numerous herbaceous genus, annual or perennial. Stem 

 climbing, by means of the tendrils terminating the foot- 

 stalks. Leaflets 2 or more, entire, rarely altogether want- 

 ing ; leaves very rarely simple. Stip^das mostly arrow- 

 shaped, and rather large; seldom very small. Fl. stalk- 

 ed, axillary, either solitary, in })airs, or in clusters ; either 

 crimson, purplish, blue, or yellow. The herbage com- 



VOL. III. T 



