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group which, we shall discuss. There are fewer leaflets 

 in the members of this family, and each leaf is endowed 

 with a tendril. The handsomest species is the Broad-leaved 

 Vetchling (Lathyrus latifolius). This is a frequent ornament 

 of gardens and shrubberies, only objectionable because of 

 spreading too quickly. Its large crimson standard, as the 

 uppermost petal in the papilionaceous order is called, and 

 purple-tinged wings, are very conspicuous. It is very rarely 

 found wild. 



The Sweet Pea is a member of this family, and is indigenous 

 in the south of Europe, especially Sicily. Keats greatly appre- 

 ciated its beauty, likening its flowers to the gay insects which 

 they resemble in form. 



" Here are sweet Peas on tiptoe for a flight, 

 With wings of gentle flush o'er delicate white ; 

 And taper fingers catching at all things, 

 To bind them all about with tiny rings." 



The Field and Marrowfat Peas are its near relations. The 

 Field Pea produces the " dried Peas " of the shops, from which 

 we make "pease pudding." The Marrowfat Peas are boiled 

 green for the table, and the young pods make excellent soup. 



Fanny describes the Narrow-leaved Vetchling (Lathyrus 

 sylvestris), as drooping over cliffs at Looe, and, in particular, 

 adorning a rocky path by which they descended to some caves, 

 among a group of rocks called the " Quakers' Meeting," which 

 was the " bathing place." After the refreshing bath they were 

 accustomed to twine the Vetchling round their hats as they sat 

 in the sunshine eating the biscuits rendered necessary by the 

 appetising air and ablution. In this plant the flowers are 

 large, the standard greenish, and the wings a purplish- crimson. 



The Blue Marsh Vetchling is a rare plant, as is also the 

 Eough-podded Vetchling, with its bright crimson standard. 

 We have no specimen of either. 



I found the Yellow Vetchling (L. aphaca), upon the railway 

 line near Warminster ; it] has glaucous foliage, large heart- 



