126 THE PEAFLOWER TRIBE. [Lathyrus. 



Ireland. Fl. summer, often lasting late. The everlasting Pea of our 

 gardens, L. latifolius, Linn., is a broad-leaved variety from southern 

 Europe, with larger, more richly coloured flowers, and some slight 

 difference in the seeds. As an escape from cultivation, it will often 

 establish itself in the vicinity of gardens. 



7. L. palustris, Linn. (fig. 294). Marsh Pea. — A glabrous, some- 

 what climbing perennial, not half the size of the L. sylvestris, and the 

 wings of the stem much narrower. Stipules half- sagittate. Leaflets 

 oblong-lanceolate, 2 to 4 pairs to each leaf, the tendril usually branched. 

 Flowers smaller and not so broad as in L. sylvestris, of a bluish-purple 

 colour, from 2 to 8 in the raceme. Pod glabrous, rather more than an 

 inch long. 



In moist meadows and boggy places, in northern and central Europe, 

 Russian Asia, and northern America. Dispersed over a few localities in 

 England and Ireland, but only a very doubtful inhabitant of Scotland. 

 Fl. summer. 



L. maritinms, Bigel. (fig. 295). Sea Pea. — A glabrous, rather stout, 

 branching perennial, with a creeping rootstock, and sharply angular 

 spreading stems about a foot long. Stipules broad and leaf -like, sagittate 

 at the base, both sides nearly alike. Leaflets 5 or 6 pairs to each leaf, 

 those next the stem often 2 inches long by 1 broad, the tendril simple 

 or branched. Peduncles about the length of the leaves, with a raceme 

 of 6 to 8 large flowers of a bluish-purple. Pod hairy, at least when 

 young, 1 to 2 inches long. 



On gravelly sea-coasts, in northern and Arctic Europe, Asia, and 

 America, not extending southwards in Europe beyond the shores of 

 Picardy. Occurs in a few localities on the coasts of southern and 

 eastern England, of Shetland, and of Kerry in Ireland. Fl. summer. 



9. L. macrorrhizus, Wimm. (fig. 296). Tuberous Pea.— Rootstock 

 perennial, forming small tubers ; the annual stems glabrous, nearly 

 erect, simple or nearly so, 6 inches to a foot high. Leaves without 

 tendrils ; the leafstalk ending in a fine point, or sometimes in a narrow 

 leaflet ; the leaflets usually 2 pairs, sometimes 3 or even 4 pairs, oblong- 

 lanceolate or linear. Peduncles slender, bearing a loose raceme of 2 to 

 4 flowers of a bright reddish-purple. Pod glabrous, about 1J inches 

 long. The whole plant dries black like the following species. L. 

 montanus, Bernh. Orobus tuberosus, Linn. 



In thickets and open woods, under hedges, &c, throughout Europe, 

 except the extreme north. Abundant in Britain. Fl. spring and early 

 summer. This and L. niger form part of the old genus Orobus, still kept 

 up by many botanists, but only differing from Lathyrus by the want of 

 tendrils to the leaves. 



10. L. niger, Wimm. (fig. 297). Black Pea.— A glabrous perennial, 

 always turning black in drying ; the rootstock short and not tuberous ; 

 the stems erect or ascending, branched, 1 to 2 feet high or even more. 

 Stipules small and narrow. Leaflets 4 to 6 pairs to each leaf, ovate or 

 elliptical, 6 lines to an inch long, the common stalk ending in a short 

 point. Peduncles longer than the leaves, with a short raceme of 6 to 8 

 flowers. Pod glabrous, near 2 inches long. 



In mountainous and rocky districts, throughout temperate Europe to 

 the Caucasus, extending far into Scandinavia. In Britain, only known 

 from two localities, in Perth and Forfar. Fl. summer. 



