THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 195 



From the trefoils proper we pass to the Bird's-foot Trefoil, Lotus 

 corniculatus, with flowers most distinctly papilionaceous, and re- 

 motely resembling those of the laburnum ; the seed-pods being long 

 and narrow, and in groups of threes, like the foot of a bird. It is 

 well known in gardens, and one of the best of rockery plants. Next 

 the vetches, and trouble enough they will give you. The Sweet- 

 milk Vetch, Astragalus glycophyllus, is a bold and handsome plant, 

 with larger leaves than we generally meet with amongst the her- 

 baceous members of the pea-tribe. The plant is sometimes mis- 

 taken for a young Robina, but it may be distinguished from anything 

 of the kind by its prostrate stem and large dull yellow flowers. 

 The loveliest of the vetches is the Wood Vetch, Vicia sylvatica, 

 which adorns the hedgerows in mountainous woody districts all the 

 summer long, with garlands of blush flowers of the most elegant 

 character. More common, indeed, most common, is the splendid 

 Tufted Vetch, V. cracca, which loves to climb through the tangled 

 rough herbage of the hedge, to toss out its showy tufts of purplish- 

 blue flowers at the very summit, and mixes in the midst of brambles 

 and rest-harrows on the plain, to adorn them all with flowers that 

 seem to belong to them, but which, we need not be told, are not 

 theirs. In the north, the Bitter Wood Vetch, V. orobus, with cream- 

 coloured flowers, takes its place, and grows in the same way. The 

 Common Vetch or Tare, V. sativa, may be seen more often on the 

 farm and in the market-cart than as a wilding ; and for that very 

 reason, perhaps, on the principle that familiarity breeds contempt, 

 it is one of the last of our native plants with which a field botanist 

 makes a thorough acquaintance. Equally valuable is the Bush 

 Vetch, V. sepium; its dull blue or pink flowers are extremely com- 

 mon in hedgerows, and on the skirts of plantations. It forms a 

 distinct dull green bush, with small clusters of flowers, which are 

 followed by an immense number of pods. The leaflets are egg- 

 shaped or elliptic, the pods smooth. It is the least attractive of all 

 the vetches. 



The most common of the wild peas is the Meadow Vetchling, 

 Lathyrus pratensis, which has large yellow flowers borne on slender 

 stems, high up amidst brake and bush, above which it climbs by the 

 help of its tendrils. The Everlasting Pea, L. latifolius, is rarely 

 met with wild, and is probably not a native, though to be found in 

 woods in Cumberland and Worcestershire. The reader does not 

 need to be told that it is a favourite in the garden, and one of the 

 most beautiful and various of hardy plants known. The Seaside 

 Pea, L. maritimus, is rare, and probably not a native. It is well 

 worth finding, both for its beauty and the story of its appearing in 

 great plenty in a season of dearth, and thus helping to mitigate the 

 effects of a general scarcity. It has a very distinct leafage, and 

 roundish heads of purple flowers. It may be found at several sta- 

 tions on the eastern coast of England, and usually on rocky sites far 

 away from either mud or sand. Many more of this great family are 

 flowering now, and scarcely one that is not worth a long journey 

 to obtain it, and a little patience to determine its name and learn 

 its fame. 



July. 



