12 THE BOOK OF THE SWEET PEA 



" Habitat : (a) In Sicilia (J) in Zeylona [Ceylon]." 



We learn from the authority cited by Linnaeus what 

 is of great importance, that the white variety is of Sicilian 

 origin. 



Respecting Lathyrus Zeylanicus ; this is a native plant 

 of Ceylon, as mentioned by Burmann, a professor of 

 botany at Amsterdam, in "Thesaurus Zeylanicus." He 

 says, " That plant differs from the Lathyrus odorato of 

 Cupani only in the variety of the flower, and since it has 

 been well described in (Hort. Amst.) part 2, we do not 

 further describe it here, since also, in addition these 

 plants are well known to all since they frequently occur 

 in our gardens." 



Burmann also says regarding Lathyrus ZeyL hir suits fare 

 variegato odorato Herb. Hart, " Hartog or Hertog is a 

 herbarium which I keep and which it is certain contains 

 very many most elegant Zeylanian plants, and was sent 

 once by him from Zeylana to Cornelius Vossus, the 

 gardener at Amsterdam." 



A variety bearing the name Lathyrus Zeylanicus, rubro 

 pulcher, also appears in the same work. The word 

 odorato may have been accidentally omitted, if so, we 

 have here the red variety also ascribed by Burmann to 

 Ceylon, on the authority of the "Prodrumus" of Breynius, 

 published at Gedani, 1680. If this surmise be correct 

 these two varieties were known at the same time as 

 Cupani was calling attention to those of Sicilian origin. 



Evidence of the origin of the Sweet Pea may appear 

 in some instances to be somewhat conflicting, and it is 

 not possible in the space at our command to go as fully 

 into the history as we would like to do. We will there- 

 fore proceed with the more horticultural aspect of the 

 subject. 



The first coloured illustration of the Sweet Pea appears 

 to have been published so far back as i73- It 1S con- 

 tained in a set of excellent engravings afterwards painted 



