130 SUB-ALPINE PLANTS 



Lathyrus montanus Bernh. 



A glabrous species about a foot high, with winged stem and in- 

 flated nodes on the underground stolons. (Linnaeus called it 

 Orobus tuberosus.) Stipules more or less arrow-shaped. Leaves with 

 2-3 pairs of linear-lanceolate leaflets, glaucous beneath. Some- 

 times the leaflets are quite linear (var. angustifolia} and occasionally 

 broadly oval. Inflorescence 4-6 flowered, equalling or longer 

 than the leaves. Corolla at first purple-red, afterwards turning a 

 dull blue. 



Woods and thickets common in the plains, hills, and sub-Alps. 

 April to June. 



Distribution. Europe, especially Western and Central. British. 



Lathyrus vernus Bernh. 



A glabrous plant about i-ij feet high. Stem angular. Leaves 

 with 2-4 pairs of oval-lanceolate leaflets, very pointed, bright 

 green and shining. Flowers reddish violet, then bluish, larger 

 than the last. Pods linear, glabrous, brown when ripe. Seeds 

 yellow. 



Mountain woods, especially on limestone. April to June. 



Distribution. Most of hilly Europe from the Pyrenees to the 

 Caucasus, Western Asia. 



Lathyrus heterophyllus L. 



A climbing species about 3 feet long, glabrous. Stems and leaf 

 petioles broadly winged. Lower leaves with one pair of leaflets, 

 upper leaves with 2-3 pairs ; leaflets oval or lanceolate. Corolla 

 purple ; inflorescence longer than the leaves. 



Mountain woods and pastures up to 6000 feet ; local. June, 



Distribution. Alps, Jura ; Central Europe from Portugal to 

 Sweden and Russia. 



ROSACES 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with mostly alternate leaves, usually 

 toothed or divided, the stipules seldom wanting and often leaf- 

 like. Flowers in cymes, or solitary at the end of the year's shoots, 

 or more rarely in lateral bunches. Sepals 4 or 5, united at the 

 base into a lobed calyx. Petals 4 or 5 or rarely none. Stamens 

 numerous, inserted with the petals on the calyx below its lobes. 

 Ovary of one, two, or more carpels. As the fruit enlarges the carpels 

 either remain free or are combined with each other or with the calyx. 

 Often only I or 2 seeds in each carpel. 



A numerous family widely spread over the globe, but more in the 

 northern hemisphere than in the tropics. 



