164 BRITISH BOTANY. 



longer than the leaves. Calyx-teeth very unequal, the upper two 

 very short, nearly obsolete, the other three subulate, the central 

 one longer than the lateral ones, the tube partly coloured. Co- 

 rolla much longer than the calyx. Standard not longer than 

 the wings, obcordate, with rounded lobes. Legumes reflexed or 

 spreading, oblong, glabrous. Seeds roundish, smooth when ripe, 

 with a prominent linear hilura, which half encircles the seed. 



Hedges. Perennial; June-September. 



V. tenuifolia, Roth. — Stem pubescent. Leaflets numerous, 

 linear-lanceolate, tapering, pointed, entire. Stipules linear. 

 Flowers clustered, on stalks longer than the leaves. Standard 

 blue, wings white. Calyx deep-purple, with very unequal teeth. 

 Legumes few-seeded, oblong, reflexed or spreading, — Battersea 

 fields. Perennial; July. 



In this species the cluster of flowers is laxer and more elon- 

 gated than in V. Cracca. The seeds also are larger than in the 

 former species, and only one-fourth part of their circumference 

 is embraced by the funicle. 



V. Gerardi, Vill. — This form, of which a few examples were 

 collected on the mud or soil laid on Battersea Park, diflers from 

 F, Cracca by its more rigid stems, deiiser clusters of intensely 

 blue flowers, narrower leaflets, fewer seeds, and more obviously 

 by the shagginess of every part of the plant. 



Ervum pubescens ? — Stems numerous from the same root, 

 quite prostrate, and spreading in all directions. Leaflets linear, 

 narrow, notched, and mucronate. Flowers one or several, on 

 short, hairy peduncles. Legume dilated, oblong, hairy, termi- 

 nated by the style. Seeds about 4. — Battersea fields (Park), on 

 mud or soil. 



V. hirsuta, Koch. Hairy-podded Tare. — e.b, 970. l.b.s. 

 303. 



A. 18. C. 80. Lat. 50-G0°. Alt. 0-300 yds. Tern. 51-44°. 



Stems angular, grooved, glabrous, leafy. Leaflets 5-8 pairs, 

 linear-elliptical or oblong, obtuse or truncate, mucronate; sti- 

 pules linear, entire or incised, with long, spreading, setaceous 

 teeth. Flowers small, pale-blue, in groups (clusters) of from 3 

 to 8, on peduncles which are about as long as the leaves. Calyx- 

 teeth linear- subulate, rather longer than the tube, and about as 

 long as the corolla. Legumes oblong, hairy, 2-seeded. Seeds 

 roundish, slightly compr'essed, smooth. 



