74 CALYCIFLOR/E 



drooping racemes, cream-coloured, with bluish veins. Moun- 

 tainous woods ; not common. — Fl. June to August. Perennial. 



6. V. orohus (Wood-bitter Vetch). — Leaflets in 7-10 pairs, oblong, 

 acute, without tendrils ; stipules half arrow-shaped, slightly toothed. 

 A branched, herbaceous plant, with many prostrate stems and 

 one-sided racemes of large purplish white flowers. Rocky woods 

 in the north. — Fl. May, June. Perennial. 



7. V. sepimn (Bush Vetch). — Flowers in axillary clusters of from 

 4-6 ; legumes smooth ; leaflets egg-shaped, obtuse, in 4-6 pairs, 

 gradually decreasing in size towards the end of the leaf-stalk. 

 Very common in woods and shady hedges, and distinguished by 

 its clusters of bluish purple flowers, which grow on short stalks in 

 the axils of leaves. — Fl. May, June. Perennial. 



8. V. lutea (Yellow Vetch). — Stems prostrate or ascending, 

 about 2 feet long ; flowers solitary, sessile, rather large, pale yellow ; 

 legumes hairy. Sea coast ; rare. — Fl. June, July. Perennial. 



g. V. sativa (Common Vetch). — Flowers solitary or in pairs, 

 with very sliort stalks ; leaflets from obcordate to narrow in 5-7 

 pairs ; stipules half arrow-shaped, toothed at the base, marked with 

 a dark sj)ot ; tendrils usually branched. This species being ex- 

 tensively cultivated for fodder for cattle varies considerably in 

 luxuriance according to soil. It usually grows about 2 feet high, 

 and bears blue and purple or red flowers. — Fl. June, July. Annual. 



A small variety, V. angusfi folia (Narrow-leaved Vetch). — By 

 some botanists considered a distinct species, has very narrow 

 leaves and crimson flowers. 



10. V. lathyroides (Spring Vetch). — Nearly allied to the last, 

 but very much smaller ; stems low and spreading, rarely exceeding 

 6 inches ; flowers solitary, sessile, rich purple ; legumes smooth ; 

 leaflets in 2-3 pairs ; stipules entire, not marked with a dark spot ; 

 seeds nearly cubical, roughish. Dry places, but not very common. 

 — Fl. April, May. Annual. 



11. V. Bilhynica (Bithynian Vetch). — Stems angular, 1-2 feet 

 long ; leaflets 2 or 4 together with branched tendrils ; flowers 

 rather large, purpile, with whitish wings, i or 2 together on a stalk. 

 Bushy places on a gravelly soil near the sea ; not common. 

 — Fl. May to August. Annual. 



14. Lathyrus (Vetchling) 



1. L. nissolia (Crimson Vetchling). — Leaves simple, very narrow, 

 destitute of tendrils ; flower-stalks long, bearing i or 2 small bright 

 crimson flowers ; whole plant about i foot high. Grassy places ; 

 rare. — Fl. June, July. Annual. 



2. L. aphaca (Yellow Vetchling) —A pretty little plant with 



