50 
Vicia americana. Common wild vetch. 
A smooth perennial with compound leaves, elliptical or oblong obtuse leaflets, and 
o 8 purple flowers on elongated flower stalks. grows in moist soil from 
New York westward to the prairie region. A valuable native vetch, which 
should be given a trial in cultivation. 
Vicia cracca. Bird vetch; Chicken vetch.  (Fig.55.) 
A downy pubescent perennial with compound leaves of 20 to 24 narrowly oblong, 
abruptly pointed leaflets, and numerous blue or purple reflexed flowers in a one- 
sided spike. Common in the borders of thickets from New England to the upper 
prairie region. The species is cultivated in Europe for fodder, and is rec 
mended for cultivation in wet meadows. In the shade it yields a return three 
times larger than in open places. It would, therefore, be valuable in woodland 
pastures and alpine regions. 
WN 1 i 
Wi) MUME 
A "y | ¿EN NS 
ad. 
Fa 
EA 
Tid 
NW 
ZA 
NE Y 
ye 
N 
NN 
WN 
D 
T 
Fig. 54.—Gorse (Ulex europceus). Fic. 55.—Bird vetch (Vicia cracca). 
Vicia faba. Faba vulgaris. 
Vicia gigantea. 
A tall perennial, growing in the forest regions of Oregon and Washington, and 
highly valued there as a forage plant. It des to bel ghtint ltivation 
Vicia ludoviciana. Louisiana vetch. 
A wild vetch, occurring in the southern prairie region and in the Southern States, 
where it makes a fair amount of nutritious grazing. 
Vicia micrantha. Small flowered vetch. 
A smooth vetch, with 4 to 6 linear obtuse leaflets, common throughout the Southern 
States. It is eaten by cattle wherever it occurs, and should be grown under 
improved conditions, 
