LEGUMINIFER. 105 
branched, 1 to 3 feet long. Leaflets on young plants oval, i to 
2 inch long ; ; on mature specimens narrower, and $ to 1} inch long 
very acute at the apex. Stipules nearly as long as the petiole 
exclusive of the tendril. Peduncles 13 to 8 inches long, terminating 
in a compact somewhat unilateral raceme, 1 to 2. ‘inches long. 
Flowers bright-yellow, 3 to # inch long; standard with the lamina 
sub-orbicular, spreading at “right angles to the claw and having 
the sides reflexed, longer than the wings and keel. Style not 
twisted. Pods sessile, T to 13 inch long, sometimes slightly curved 
upwards, reticulated with oblique anastomosing veins on the sides, 
clothed with short curled white hairs when young, turning black 
and frequently becoming glabrous when ripe. Seeds globular, 
smooth, dim, dark-brown, or yellowish-olive marbled with black, 
hilum oblong, one-sixth the circumference of the seed. Plant 
pea-green, slightly glaucous, sparingly clothed with short adpressed 
hairs. 
Meadow Vetchling. 
French, Gesse des Prés. German, Wiesen Platterbse. 
This species has been recommended as a new plant for experimental agriculturists, 
and premiums have been offered for its cultivation. It does not, however, seem to be 
very palatable to cattle, for they prefer any other fodder that is within their reach. 
Usually the Vetchling is regarded only as a noxious weed; and Parkinson tells us that 
it was called “the Ramping Wild Vetch by the country people, because it is the most 
pernicious herbe that can grow on the earth, killing and strangling corne or any other 
good herbe it shall grow by.” Most farmers on moist lands would probably be of his 
opinion, as it runs very much, and is very difficult to extirpate. 
SPECIES V—LATHYRUS TUBEROSUS. Jinn. 
Puate CCCCI. 
Rootstock extensively creeping, furnished with sessile ovate- 
ovoid tubers. Stem climbing or trailing, not winged. Leaves with 
1 pair of obovate-oval rounded apiculate leaflets; common petiole 
terminating in a branched tendril. Stipules small, lanceolate-acute, 
half-sagittate at the base with a slender acute auricle. Peduncles 
axillary, longer than the leaves, 2- to 5-flowered. Flowers spread- 
ing, in a lax raceme. Calyx-teeth triangular, unequal, about as 
long as the tube. Corolla more than three times as long as the 
calyx. Pods sub-cylindrical, glabrous. 
In cornfields and round their borders. Very local. Known to 
occur only about Fyfield, near Chipping Ongar, Essex, where it 
was first discovered by Mr. Corder in 1859; but the farmers in the 
neighbourhood had noticed it for about sixty years. The Rev. 
W. W. Newbould has found specimens in the Sloane Herbarium in 
the British Museum, gathered by the Rey. J. Sedgwick in the 
So) vOL, Ii. Pht 
