96 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



Sub-Species I.— Vicia eu-sativa. 



Plate CCCXCII. 



"V. sativa, Fries, Sum. Veg. Scand. p. 47. Koch, Syn. FL Germ, et Helv. ed. iL p. 217 



Gi: & Godr. Fl. de Fr. Vol. I. p. 458. 

 V. sativa, var. a, Bab. Man. Brit. Bot. ed. v. p. 85. Benth. Handbook Brit. Fl. p. 179. 



Hook. & Am. Brit. Fl. ed. viiL p. 111. 



Stems stout. Leaflets of all the leaves obovate or oblong 

 oblanceolate, notched at the apex. Stipules frequently with a 

 purplish blotch. Flowers nearly 1 inch long, with the standard 

 lilac and the wings deep purple. Pods 2 to 3 inches long, gene- 

 rally erect or ascending, pale reddish-brown when ripe, ■«"ith 

 imperfect fibrous cellular partitions between the seeds, which pro- 

 duce strongly - marked bosses on the exterior of the pod. Seeds 

 nearly ^ inch in diameter. 



On the margins of fields and amongst corn ; not unfrequent, but 

 only in jilaces where the vetch is cultivated, and having no claims 

 to be considered indigenous. 



[England, Scotland, Ireland.] Annual. Spring to Autumn. 



Stem climbing or decumbent, 18 inches to 3 feet long, slightly 

 branclied towards the base. Leaflets ^ to 1 inch long, variable in 

 breadth. Standard with the lamina broader, moi'e reflexed, and 

 more suddenly contracted into the claw than in any of the pre- 

 ceding species, longer than the wings, and much longer than the 

 keel. Keel with a purple blotch at the apex. Pod rupturing the 

 calyx, sparingly clot lied with short Aveak hairs, which remain even 

 until maturity. Seeds brown, sometimes spotted with black, rarely 

 white. Plant bright-green, slightly hairy. 



Common Cultivated Vetch. 



French, Vesce CuUivee. German, Saat Wicke. 



From very ancient times the Vetch has been gromi in Southern and Central 

 Europe as a fodder-plant, and in England has been commonly cultivated certainly as 

 far back as the time of Ray. Gerarde does not attribute any good qualities to it, but 

 quotes Galen, who says : " I have known some who in time of famine have fed hereof, 

 especially in the spring, it being but greene ; yet it is hard of digestion, and it is mani- 

 fest that the nourishment that commeth thereof hath in it no good juice at all, but 

 ingendereth a thick blood, and apt to become melancholy." This species is known as 

 the Tare as commonly as the Vetch ; in fact, it appears as though it was indiflerently 

 culled one or the other by the farmers. Kay informs us that in 168(5 it was then sown 

 all over Europe, and that it was chiefly used in England, mixed with peas and oats, 

 to feed hor.ses, but that it was souietiuies sown separately for soiling cattle, and was 

 reputed to cause milch-cows to yield much milk. The Tare, Brown observes, is of 



