204 LEGUMINOS^ 



Wreck. Fuller says of this Pea : " In a general dearth all over England, 

 plenty of Peas did grow on the sea-shore near Dunmow in Suffolk, never set 

 or sown by human industry, which, being gathered in a full ripeness, much 

 abated the high price in the markets, and preserved many hungry families 

 from perishing." It is probable that they were usually plentiful on that 

 coast in the summer season, but that, not having been needed, they had been 

 little noticed. Meyen says that these Peas are eaten in Iceland, and con- 

 sidered to be well-flavoured. Climate often affects the properties and flavour 

 of plants, and it may be so in this case, for the seeds of our Sea Pea are 

 bitter and unpalatable, and could only be eaten by those who were suffering 

 with hunger, though, perhaps, if mixed with wheaten flour they might be 

 tolerable. 



This species was called by Linnaeus Fisum maritimum, but Bigelow placed 

 it in this genus. The Pea which we see waving its purple or Avhite flowers 

 by thousands in the summer fields, is the common Pea of the south of 

 Europe, Pisum sativum — the Pisello of the Italians ; and the different edible 

 garden Peas are, by some writers, thought to be all varieties of this species. 

 The nolile Roman family Pisones received their name from the Pea plant, as 

 did the high families of the Fahii, Lentuli, and some others, from other plants 

 of the leguminous family. Excellence in war and agricultural skill being 

 the chief virtues of the Roman citizen, and a good agriculturist being among 

 them synonymous with a good man, it is no marvel that they took names 

 identifying them with the introduction of useful plants, or some improve- 

 ments connected with their culture. The seeds of the Cape Horn Pea, some 

 of which were brought to England by Lord Anson's cook, afforded great 

 relief to the sailors during the voyages of that great navigator, though far 

 inferior to those in ordinary cultivation. 



5. Blue Marsh Vetchling (i. palustris). — Flowers from 3 to 6 

 together ; leaf of from 2 to 4 pairs of very narrow acute leaflets ; stipules 

 lanceolate and half arrow-shaped ; stem winged. Plant perennial. This 

 rare species occurs in moist boggy meadows and thickets in several parts of 

 England and Wales, and at Galloway, in Scotland, and may be seen in such 

 spots as Keats has described : — 



" Its tape!' fingers, catching at all things 

 To bind them all about with tiny rings, 

 Linger awhile upon some bending planks 

 That lean against a streamlet's rushy banks, 

 And watch intently Nature's gentle doings : 

 They will be found softer than ringdove's cooings. 

 How silent comes the water round that bend ! 

 Not the minutest whispers does it send 

 To the o'erhanging sallows : blades of grass 

 Slowly across the cliequer'd shadows pass : 

 Why, you might read two sonnets ere they reach 

 To where the hurrying freshnesses aye preacli 

 A natural sermon o'er their pebbly beds, 

 ***** 



The ripjDles seem right glad to reach those cresses, 

 And cool themselves among the emerald tresses ; 

 The while they cool themselves, they freshness give, 

 And moisture, that the bowering green may live : 

 Thus keeping uj) an interchange of favours, 

 Like good men in the truth of their behaviom-s." 



