62 Pulse (Leguminosce). [No. 7 



Pod, oblong. Seeds, several. 



Found, from Ontario and New York to Georgia, and west- 

 ward to Minnesota and Kansas. 



A slender, nearly smooth climber, four to six feet high 

 with branching stems. 



Fig. 31. American Vetch. V. Americana, Muhl. 



Flowers, purplish, two thirds inch in length, in clusters of 

 four to eight blossoms. Calyx, teeth unequal, the 

 lower broad, lance-shape, and much longer than the 

 upper. Style, very hairy at the apex. Cluster-stems, 

 shorter than the leaves. May. 



Leaflets (five to seven pairs), very blunt, five sixths to one 

 inch long, nearly stemless. 



Pod, many-seeded. 



Found, in moist ground from New York and New Jersey 

 westward. 



A slender, smooth vine, one to three feet in length. 



(9) Genus LATHYRUS, Tourn. (Vetchling. Everlasting 



Pea.) 



This genus closely resembles the preceding ( Vicia). It 

 has the characteristic arrangement of tendrils, at the end 

 of the compound leaf ; but it differs in having the style 

 flattened, and bearded on the side toward the banner (and 

 toward the free stamen), arid in its usually few leaflets, 

 one to six pairs. 



The Sweet Pea [Z. odoratus, L.], one of the best-loved 

 of our garden flowers, belongs with this genus. It is a 

 native of Sicily. 



