102 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
Stems weak, 8 inches to 3 feet long, sparingly branched, and 
that chiefly at the base. Leaflets very small, oval-elliptical, and 
only to be found on very young plants, all the later leaves being 
reduced to slightly-branched or simple tendrils. Stipules $ to 13 
inch long, resembling pairs of opposite leaves. Peduncles longer 
than the tendrils, 14, to 2 inches long. Flowers about 4 inch long, 
pale-yellow, with the keel whitish. Calyx equal at the base, with 
a short tube and very long segments, the lowest one a little exceed- 
ing the others. Standard only slightly spreading. Pods 1 to 1} inch 
long, dark-brown or nearly black when ripe, ascending, slightly 
curved upwards, abruptly acuminated into a short sharp beak at 
the apex; the sides reticulated. Seeds few, roundish-cubical, com- 
pressed, smooth, slightly shining, black, or yellow mottled with black; 
hilum about one-tenth the circumference of the seed. Plant pale- 
ereen, rather glaucous, glabrous. 
Yellow Vetchling. 
French, Gresse sans Feuilles. German, Nebenblittrige Platterbse. 
The species of this genus claim kindred with the well-known Sweet Pea of our 
gardens, which is a native of Sicily, and whose showy flowers and sweet scent render it 
such a favourite everywhere. The British representatives of the family, though less 
attractive in appearance, are not without their charms. Our present species is often 
found in fields in the eastern counties, and may be considered in some measure as a 
useful plant, the seeds and pods having been eaten when green, made into bread, or put 
in broth. When ripe they are not wholesome, however, often occasioning sickness and 
headache. 
Section II.—NISSOLIA. Touwrnef. 
Petioles all reduced to grasslike phyllodia, without leaflets or 
tendrils. 
SPECIES IL—LATHYRUS NISSOLIA. Linn. 
Pirate CCCXCVIITI. 
Root annual. Stems erect or ascending, not climbing, angular, 
not winged. Petioles linear, without leaves or tendrils. Stipules 
very small, subulate. Peduncles axillary, 1- (rarely 2-) flowered. 
Calyx-teeth triangular-subulate, unequal, rather shorter than the 
tube. Corolla three times as long as the calyx. Pods narrowly 
cylindrical, scarcely compressed, straight, glabrous. 
In grassy places and amongst low bushes. Rather rare, and 
confined to the South of England, apparently not wild to the North 
of Norfolk, Derbyshire, and Herefordshire, although it has occurred 
as far North as Dundee, but doubtless introduced. 
England, [Scotland]. Annual. Spring and Summer. 
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