fAPlLlONACEi^. 117 



Quite common on the higher downs in grass and still more 

 so at lower levels. Flowers Marrh to October. Fpon 2\i\, 



Gen. Dist. India on the hills : Simla, Nepal 4 to 6,000 feet ; Khasia 3 

 to 5,000 feet ; Nilgiris, Pulneys 7,000 feet ; Ceylon, not in the Bombay 

 presidency [C.B.F.] ; Java and New Guinea 6.000 feet. The '• Everywhere 

 in the plains " of F.B.I. Ic. appears to be incorrect. 



V I C I A . F.B.I. 50 LIII. 



Vetch. 

 Slender stemmed herbs with pinnate leaf, part of 

 which is transformed into a branched tendril by which 

 the plant climbs: stamens diadelphous oblique at the 

 mouth : pod dehiscent not jointed. 



A large genus of 100 species scattered widely over the 

 north temperate regions and also in South America. England 

 has nine species. 



Vicia sativa Linn.; F.B.I, ii 178, LIII Q; common 



Vetch; a slender stemmed herb, climbing by branched 



tendrils, and having reddish or bluish purple flowers, 



solitary or in pairs at the leaf-axils. Stipules rather 



large and coarsely toothed, leaflets four or more pairs in 



each leaf, less than an inch in length variable in shape 



but usually oblong, narrowed to the base and cut off 



abruptly at the apex or indented, with a conspicuous 



mucro, otherwise entire. Flower stalk J4 inch. Calyx 



tube campanulate : teeth as long, slender, sub-equal. 



Corolla well exserted, % to I inch across : petals narrow. 



Pod 1% inches by % inch straight, pointed: seeds seven 



to ten globular, t. 88. 



An introduction from Europe, where it is cultivated for 

 forage and so has spread widely over the temperate parts of the 

 world; i^r. Vesce cultive, 6^^;-. Futterwicke. Bourne ^^d 2. 



The flower has a simple pistol mechanism for the presentation of pol- 

 len to insect visitors. The anthers open inside the keel and shed their 

 pollen into its tip. When a fairly heavy insect, such as a bee alights on the 

 flower it depresses the keel and in consequence pollen is pushed out of the 

 end by the hairs on the style. In older flowers the stigma hits the insect's 

 body in the same place and being receptive takes pollen from it. 



The name is an old Latin one. 



