74 CALYCIFLOR.E 



drooping racemes, cream-coloured, with bluish veins. Moun- 

 tainous woods ; not common. Fl. June to August. Perennial. 



6. V. orobus (Wood-bitter Vetch). Leaflets in 7-10 pairs, oblong, 

 acute, without tendrils ; stipules half arrow-shaped, slightly toothed. 

 A branched, herbaceous plant, with many prostrate stems and 

 one-sided racemes of large purplish white flowers. Rocky woods 

 in the north. Fl. May, June. Perennial. 



7. V. sephtm (Bush Vetch). Flowers in axillary clusters of from 

 4-6 ; legumes smooth ; lea/lets egg-shaped, obtuse, in 4-6 pairs, 

 gradually decreasing in size towards the end of the leaf-stalk. 

 Very common in woods and shady hedges, and distinguished by 

 its clusters of bluish purple flowers, which grow on short stalks in 

 the axils of leaves. Fl. May, June. Perennial. 



8. V. lutea (Yellow Vetch). Stems prostrate or ascending, 

 about 2 feet long ; flowers solitary, sessile, rather large, pale yellow ; 

 legumes hairy. Sea coast ; rare. Fl. June, July. Perennial. 



9. V. sativa (Common Vetch). Flowers solitary or in pairs, 

 with very short stalks ; leaflets from obcordate to narrow in 5-7 

 pairs ; stipules half arrow-shaped, toothed at the base, marked with 

 a dark spot ; tendrils usually branched. This species being ex- 

 tensively cultivated for fodder for cattle varies considerably in 

 luxuriance according to soil. It usually grows about 2 feet high, 

 and bears blue and purple or red flowers. Fl. June, July. Annual. 



A small variety, V. angusti/olia (Narrow-leaved Vetch). By 

 some botanists considered a distinct species, has very narrow 

 leaves and crimson flowers. 



10. V. lathyroides (Spring Vetch). Nearly allied to the last, 

 but very much smaller ; stems low and spreading, rarely exceeding 

 6 inches ; flowers solitary, sessile, rich purple ; legumes smooth ; 

 leaflets in 2-3 pairs ; stipules entire, not marked with a dark spot ; 

 seeds nearly cubical, roughish. Dry places, but not very common. 

 Fl. April, May. Annual. 



11. V. Bithynica (Bithynian Vetch). Stems angular, 1-2 feet 

 long ; leaflets 2 or 4 together with branched tendrils ; flowers 

 rather large, purple, with whitish wings, 1 or 2 together on a stalk. 

 Bushy places on a gravelly soil near the sea ; not common. 

 Fl. May to August. Annual. 



14. Lathyrus (Vetchling) 



1. L. nissolia (Crimson Vetchling). Leaves simple, very narrow, 

 destitute of tendrils ; flower-stalks long, bearing 1 or 2 small bright 

 crimson flowers ; whole plant about 1 foot high. Grassy places ; 

 rare. Fl. June, July. Annual. 



2. L. aphaca (Yellow Vetchling) -A pretty little plant with 



