PEA AND BEAN TRIBE 75 



small yellow flowers, i or 2 on a stalk, and remarkable for being 

 entirely destitute of leaves, the place of which is supplied by a pair 

 of stipules at the base of each tendril ; stipules large, leaflike, 

 half arrow-shaped ; plant smooth, branching, about a foot long. 

 A rare cornfield weed. Fl. June to August. Annual. 



3. L. hirsutus (Rough-podded Vetchling). Stems weak, branched, 

 about a foot long ; flowers borne singly or in pairs on long stalks, 

 the standards crimson, the rest pale blue ; legumes hairy. A rare 

 species, found in Yorkshire, Essex, Kent, Surrey, and Somerset- 

 shire. Fl. June, July. Annual. 



4. L. pratensis (Meadow Pea). A weak climbing plant 2-3 feet 

 long ; leaf of 2 narrow leaflets ; stipules arrow-shaped, as large 

 as the leaflets ; flowers yellow, all turning one way. Grassy places ; 

 common. Fl. July, August. Perennial. 



5. L. tuberosas (Earth-nut Pea). Root tuberous ; stems weak, 

 angled, branched ; leaf-tendrils branched ; leaflets ovate ; stipules 

 half arrow-shaped ; flower-stalks 3-6 inches in length, bearing 

 a number of red flowers. Very rare ; found only as a cornfield 

 weed at Fyfield in Essex. Fl. June to August. Perennial. 



6. L. sylvestris (Everlasting Pea). The stems climb to the height 

 of 3-6 feet, winged ; leaf of two long sword-shaped leaflets ; flowers 

 large, greenish yellow, tinged with purple, but not so handsome as 

 those of the garden species. Woods and thickets ; not very 

 common. Fl. July, August. Perennial. 



7. L. palustris (Blue Marsh Vetchling). A climbing plant, 

 smaller than the last ; leaf of 2-4 pairs of very narrow acute leaf- 

 lets ; tendrils generally branched ; stems winged ; flowers bluish 

 purple, 2-8 together. Boggy meadows ; rare. Fl. July, August. 

 Perennial. 



8. L. maritimus (Sea Pea). Stems prostrate, 6-12 inches long, 

 angled ; leaves of 3-8 pairs of egg-shaped leaflets ; flower-stalks 

 shorter than the leaves, 6-8 flowered ; flowers purple, variegated 

 with crimson and blue. Pebbly seashores ; rare. Fl. July, August. 

 Perennial. 



9. L. macrorrhizus (Tuberous Bitter Vetch). Leaves of 2-4 

 pairs of oblong leaflets, which are glaucous beneath ; stipules half 

 arrow-shaped ; stem simple, winged, 6-12 inches high. A pretty 

 spring Vetch, with clusters of blue and purple flowers in the angles 

 of the leaves, growing in similar situations with the Wood Anemone, 

 but appearing somewhat later. It may at once be distinguished 

 from any of the true Vetches by its being destitute of tendrils, in 

 place of which there are soft bristle-like points. The roots are 

 tuberous, and are " eaten by Highlanders, under the name of Cor- 

 meille," a very small quantity being said to aUay and prevent 



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