KEY TO THE SPECIES 45 



9. ARAGALLUS (Loco) 



Tufted perennials witli many of the characters of Astragalits^ leaves mostly 

 basal and the strict stems scape-like. 



1. Aragallus splendens (Dougl.) Greene (Showy Loco). Densely silvery- 

 woolly, stemless ; leaves long, crowded on the crown, tufted- spreading ; leaflets 

 numerous, in whorls of 3-6 ; peduncles longer than the leaves (.2-3 dm.) ; flowers 

 deep purple, in dense bracteate spikes, pod pubescent, 2-celled, long-acuminate. 

 Frequent in grassy mountain-valleys. 



2. Aragallus multiceps (Nutt.) Heller. (Tufted Loco). Silky-hairy, low 

 and matted ; leaflets 7-11, oblong ; peduncles 1-3-flowered ; pod 1-celled, ovate, 

 somewhat turgid, wholly inclosed in the enlarged, bladdery, sub-globose calyx. 

 Frequent on gravelly banks agd slopes. • 



3. Aragallus Lamberti (Pursh) Greene (Lambert's Loco). Stems singly or 

 in small tufts, erect, as are also the rather few leaves ; leaves basal, with 9-17 

 lanceolate leaflets ; flowers purple, in a short spike ; pod terete, half 2-celled, 

 taper-pointed, considerably longer than the calyx. This plant is the one oftenest 

 referred to by the term " Loco." Plains and gravelly slopes. 



4. Aragallus saxlmontanus Aven Nelson (Rockt Mountain Loco). Mostly 

 in large dense tufts of crowded leaves and scapes, somewhat grayish-pubescent ; 

 scapes stout, erect, surpassing the leaves ; flowers white, varying to a cream- 

 yellow, keel often tipped with purple ; pod oblong, with a straight tip. Frequent 

 on denuded hills and gravelly plains. 



10. VICIA (Vetch) 



Herbaceous, often climbing and vine-like, with pinnate, tendril-bearing leaves, 

 half -sagittate stipules, racemose purple flowers and stigma pubescent at the tip. 



1. Vieia Americana Muhl. (American Vetch). A stoutish climber ; leaflets 

 6-14, ovate or oblong ; flowers 4r-8 on each peduncle ; pod stipitate, glabrous, 

 oblong, few-seeded. Moist open copses. 



2. Vicia linearis (Nutt.) Greene (Narrow-leaved Vetch). Lower, scarcely 

 climbing ; leaflets linear, 6-12, 2-3 cm. long, otherwise much like the preceding. 

 Often on open ground. 



11. LATHYRUS (Pea) 



Much like Vicia, except that the style is flattened and pubescent down the 

 inside ; not climbing. 



1. liathyrus decaphyllus Pursh (Wild Sweet-pea). Somewhat branched, 

 3-5 dm. high, nearly glabrous or even glaucous ; leaflets 6-12, thick and strongly 

 nerved, narrowly oblong ; flowers very large (2-3 cm. long), purple ; pod broadly 

 linear. 



2. Lathyrus ornatus Nutt. (Showy Wild-Pea). Similar, but smaller in every 

 way; leaflets linear and pod relatively broader, the peduncle few-flowered (2-5). 

 Sandy plains and draws. 



3. r.athyru6 ornatus incanus Smith and Rydb. Like the species but very 

 white, with a short, dense, woolly pubescence. 



