1 38 LA TH YRUS AP HA CA AND N1SSOUA . [CHAP. 



with the leaves, but with the stipules of other species, 

 and from this point of view they are of a more 

 normal character, the principal difference, indeed, 

 being in size. It is interesting that the young plant 

 has one or two leaves composed of a pair of leaflets, 

 not unlike those of L. niger 



FIG. 90. Lathyrus nissolia. 



The grass pea (L. nissolia, Fig. 90) is also a small 

 species. It lives in meadows and the grassy borders 

 of fields, and has lost altogether, not only the leaves, 

 but also the tendrils. Instead, however, of enlarged 

 stipules, the functions of the leaves are assumed by 

 the leaf-stalks, which are elongated, flattened, linear, 

 ending in a fine point, and, in fact, so like the leaves 

 of the grasses among which the plant lives, that it is 

 almost impossible to distinguish it except when ip 



