62 Pulse (Leguminbsce). [No. 7 



Pod, oblong. Seeds, several. 



Found, from Ontario and New York to Georgia, and west- 

 ward to Minnesota and Kansas. 



A slender, nearly smooth climber, four to six feet high 

 with branching stems. 



Fig. 31. — American Vetch. V. Americana, Muhl. 



Flowers, purplish, two thirds inch in length, in clusters of 

 four to eight blossoms. Calyx, teeth unequal, the 

 lower broad, lance-shape, and much longer than the 

 upper. Style, very hairy at the apex. Cluster-stems, 

 shorter than the leaves. May. 



Leaflets (five to seven pairs), very blunt, five sixths to one 

 inch long, nearly stemless. 



Pod, many-seeded. 



Found, in moist ground from New York and New Jersey 

 westward. 



A slender, smooth vine, one to three feet in length. 



(9) Genus Lathyrus, Tourn. (Vetchling. Everlasting 



Pea.) 



This genus closely resembles the preceding ( Vicia). It 

 has the characteristic arrangement of tendrils, at the end 

 of the compound leaf ; but it differs in having the style 

 flattened, and bearded on the side toward the banner (and 

 toward the free stamen), and in its usually few leaflets, 

 — one to six pairs. 



The Sweet Pea \L. odoratus, L.], one of the best-loved 

 of our garden flowers, belongs with this genus. It is a 

 native of Sicily. 



