Lathyrus.] XXV. PAPILIONACE.E. 126 



2 large, broadly heart-shaped or sagittate stipules assume the ap- 

 pearance of simple opposite leaves, with a slender branching tendril 

 between them. Peduncles long and slender, with 1 or rarely 2 small 

 yellow flowers. Pod rather more than an inch long, flattened, glabrous, 

 containing 4 to 8 seeds. 



In waste and cultivated places, in central and southern Europe, and 

 central Asia, spreading northwards as a cornfield weed, and, as such, 

 appearing occasionally in the midland and southern counties of England. 

 Fl. early summer. 



3. L. hirsutus, Linn. (fig. 290). Rough Pea. A weak annual, much 

 branched at the base, a foot long or more, with the young shoots 

 slightly hairy. Stipules narrow. Tendrils branched, with a single pair 

 of linear-lanceolate leaflets. Peduncles long, with 1 or 2 rather small 

 flowers. Standard bright red, the keel and wings paler. Pod hairy. 



In cultivated and waste places, in southern Europe to the Caucasus, 

 spreading northwards as a cornfield weed, and as such found, but very 

 rarely, in York, Essex, Kent, Surrey, and Somersetshire. Fl. early summer. 



4. L. pratensis, Linn. (fig. 291). Meadow Pea. A weak, much 

 branched, glabrous perennial, straggling or half climbing to the length 

 of 1 to 2 feet or rather more. Stipules large, broadly lanceolate, and 

 sagittate. Tendrils branched, with one pair of narrow -lanceolate or 

 linear leaflets. Peduncles elongated, with a short raceme of 6 to 10 or 

 rarely more yellow flowers. Pod glabrous. 



In moist meadows and pastures, throughout Europe and Russian 

 Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle. Abundant in 

 Britain. Fl. all summer. 



5. L. tuberosus, Linn. (fig. 292). Earth Nut Pea. Rootstock peren- 

 nial, slender, forming small tubers ; the annual stems weak, branching, 

 ascending to the height of the corn in which it grows, glabrous, the 

 angles not winged. Leafstalks ending in a branched tendril, and 

 bearing a single pair of obovate, oblong, or broadly lanceolate leaflets. 

 Stipules lanceolate, half-sagittate. Peduncles 3 to 6 inches long, bear- 

 ing a loose raceme of red handsome flowers, although not usually so 

 numerous as in L. sylvestris, and rather smaller. Pod glabrous, rather 

 more than an inch long. 



In grassy wastes and hedge-banks, but more especially in cornfields, 

 frequent in many parts of central Europe and Russian. Asia. In Britain, 

 only in cornfields around Fyfield in Essex, where it is abundant, and 

 probably an ancient denizen. Fl. summer. 



6. L. sylvestris, Linn. (fig. 293). Everlasting Pea. A glabrous 

 perennial, with a creeping rootstock, and straggling or climbing stems, 

 attaining 3 to 5 or even 6 feet, the angles expanded into narrow green 

 wings. Leafstalks also flattened or winged, ending in a branched 

 tendril, and bearing a single pair of long lanceolate leaflets. Stipules 

 narrow. Peduncles 6 inches long or more, bearing a loose raceme of 

 rather large flowers of a pale reddish-purple ; the standard very broad, 

 with a green spot on the back, and the keel also partially green. Pod 

 2 or 3 inches long or even more. Seeds numerous, slightly flattened. 



In hedges, thickets, and bushy or rocky places, scattered over the 

 greater part of Europe except the extreme north, but chiefly abun- 

 dant in the south. Occurs in many localities in England and Scot- 

 land, but probably not indigenous in Scotland, and not recorded from 



