Lathyrus.] XXYV. PAPILIONACE. 125 
2 large, broadly heart-shaped or sagittate stipules assume the ap- 
pearance of simple opposite leaves, with a slender branching tendril 
between them. Peduncles long and slender, with 1 or rarely 2 small 
yellow flowers. Pod rather more than an inch long, flattened, glabrous, 
containing 4 to 8 seeds. 
In waste and cultivated places, in central and southern Europe, and 
central Asia, spreading northwards as a cornfield weed, and, as such, 
appearing occasionally in the midland and southern counties of England. 
Fl. carly summer. 
3. L. hirsutus, Linn. (fig. 290). Rough Pea.—A weak annual, much 
branched at the base, a foot long or more, with the young shoots 
slightly hairy. Stipules narrow. Tendrils branched, with a single pair 
of linear-lanceolate leaflets. Peduncles long, with 1 or 2 rather small 
flowers. Standard bright red, the keel and wings paler. Pod hairy. 
In cultivated and waste places, in southern Europe to the Caucasus, 
spreading northwards as a cornfield weed, and as such found, but very 
rarely, in York, Essex, Kent, Surrey,and Somersetshire, V. early summer. 
4, L. pratensis, Linn. (fig. 291). Meadow Pea.—A weak, much 
branched, glabrous perennial, straggling or half climbing to the length 
of 1 to 2 feet or rather more. Stipules large, broadly lanceolate, and 
sagittate. Tendrils branched, with one pair of narrow-lanceolate or 
linear leaflets. Peduncles elongated, with a short raceme of 6 to 10 or 
rarely more yellow flowers. Pod glabrous, 
In moist meadows and pastures, throughout Europe and Russian 
Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle. Abundant in 
Britain. Fl. all summer. 
5. L. tuberosus, Linn. (fig. 292). arth Nut Pea.—Rootstock peren- 
nial, slender, forming small tubers ; the annualjstems weak, branching, 
ascending to the height of the corn in which it grows, glabrous, the 
angles not winged. Leafstalks ending in a branched tendril, and 
bearing a single pair of obovate, oblong, or broadly lanceolate leaflets. 
Stipules lanceolate, half-sagittate. Peduncles 3 to 6 inches long, bear- 
ing a loose raceme of red handsome flowers, although not usually so 
numerous as in L. sylvestris, and rather smaller. Pod glabrous, rather 
more than an inch long. 
In grassy wastes and hedge-banks, but more especially in cornfields, 
frequent in many parts of central Europe and Russian Asia. In Britain, 
only in cornfields around Fyfield in Essex, where it is abundant, and 
probably an ancient denizen. Fl. summer. 
6. L. sylvestris, Linn. (fig. 293). Everlasting Pea.—A glabrous 
perennial, with a creeping rootstock, and straggling or climbing stems, 
attaining 3 to 5 or even 6 feet, the angles expanded into narrow green 
wings. Leafstalks also flattened or winged, ending in a branched 
tendril, and bearing a single pair of long lanceolate leaflets. Stipules 
narrow. Peduncles 6 inches long or more, bearing a loose raceme of 
rather large flowers of a pale reddish-purple ; the standard very broad, 
with a green spot on the back, and the keel also partially green. Pod 
2 or 3 inches long or even more. Seeds numerous, slightly flattened. 
In hedges, thickets, and bushy or rocky places, scattered over the 
greater part of Europe except the extreme north, but chiefly abun- 
dant in the south. Occurs in many localities in England and Scot- 
land, but probably not indigenous in Scotland, and not recorded from 
