THE 

 MEADOW VETCHLING. 



Lathyrus pratensis. Nat. Ord., 

 Leguminos(e. 



LTHOUGH the plant here figured 

 has full claim to rank with our 

 commonest species, it will probably 

 have scarcely received at the hands 

 of many of our readers the full 

 attention that it deserves, belong- 

 ing as it does to a very numerous 

 order of plants, the Leguminosae, 

 and being therefore often merely 

 noticed as " some sort of wild pea 

 or vetch, you know." The rich- 

 ness of the colour of the blossoms 

 a nd the quaint forms of the leaves 

 are, however, points of detail that 

 amply repay a closer inspection, 

 while its luxuriant growth as it 

 trails over and amongst the other 

 plants of the hedgerow, renders it a beautiful and 

 conspicuous addition to the flora of the country 

 lane. Though called the meadow vetchling, it would, perhaps, 

 could the past be effaced, be more appropriately called the 

 hedge-pea, since it cannot really be considered a meadow 

 plant in any true sense in the sense, for instance, that the 



