LEGUMINIFER2. 85 
SPECIES I.—VICIA TETRASPERMA. MWMoénch. 
Prate CCCLXXXIII. 
Bab. Man. Brit. Bot. ed. v. p. 83. 
V. tetrasperma, var. a, Hook. & Arn. Brit. Fl. ed. viii. p. 113. Benth. Handbook Brit, 
Pip, 177. 
Ervum tetraspermum, Zinn. Sm. Eng. Bot. No. 1223. Koch, Syn. Fl. Germ. et Helv. 
ed. ii. p. 218. Gr. & Godr, Fl. de Fr. Vol. I. p. 474. Lowe, Man. Fl. Mad. 
p. 198. 
Annual. Leaves with 3 to 5 pairs of elliptical-strapshaped or 
- linear leaflets, rounded or rounded-truncate and apiculate at the 
apex; common petiole terminating in a simple or once- or twice- 
forked tendril. Lower stipules cleft into 2 lanceolate-acute lobes, 
those of the upper leaves generally entire. Peduncles equal to or 
shorter than the leaves, 1- to 2- or rarely 3-flowered. Calyx-tube not 
gibbous on the upper side; teeth unequal, triangular, rather shorter 
than the tube. Flowers more than twice as long as the calyx. Pods 
spreading, stipitate, cylindrical, very slightly compressed, rounded 
at the apex where they are apiculate but not acuminated, usually 
glabrous. Seeds generally 4, but from 3 to 5, globular, with the 
hilum linear-oblong, between one-fourth and one-fifth the circum- 
ference of the seed. 
In cornfields, waste places, hedges, and thickets. Not uncom- 
mon in England, but rare in Scotland, where it has occurred in the 
counties of Kirkcudbright, Lanark, Fife, and Forfar, though pro- 
bably introduced at least in the two latter. 
England, Scotland, Ireland. Annual. Spring to Autumn. 
Stems weak, branched or simple, climbing, 1 to 3 feet high. 
Leaflets ¢ to 14 inch long, narrower in proportion than those of 
V. hirsuta, and tapering more towards the apex, which is rounded. 
Stipules with a single large subulate tooth, projecting on the inner 
side, so that the form is half-hastate. Peduncles axillary, 2 to 14 
inch long, usually shortly awned at the apex. fPedicels rather 
longer than the calyx, curved-spreading, not forming an angle with 
the flowers. Flowers + inch long, whitish tinged with pale-blue, 
in a raceme with usually 2 and often only 1 flower at the apex of 
the peduncle. Calyx with the upper teeth shorter and broader 
than the others. Standard scarcely spreading, not longer than the 
wings, streaked with blue; keel tipped with blue. Style hairy all 
round at the apex. Pod 3 to % inch long, the depth about one- 
fourth of the length, olive | or olive-brown when ripe, slightly bos- 
oe Hd the seeds, on a SEASE AES about as a as the calyx, 
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