rz THE PEAFLOWER TRIBE. _ [Vicia 
Flowers 3 or 4 together, shortly stalked. : ‘ é . 6. V. sepium. 
Flowers sessile, solitary or rarely two together. 
Flowers large. Seedssmooth . : . : a . 8. V. sativa. 
Flowers small. Seeds granulated F ° ‘ 3 . 9. V. lathyroides 
1, V. hirsuta, Koch. (fig. 277). Hairy Vetch, common Tare.—A 
more or less hairy annual, with slender, weak stems, 1 to 3 feet long, often 
climbing by means of the branched tendrils. Stipules small, narrow, often 
divided. Leaflets small, oblong, 6 or 8 pairs to each leaf. Peduncles 
slender, with very few, usually 2 or 3, insignificant, pale blue flowers, the 
fine teeth of the calyx almost as long as the standard. Style glabrous. 
Pod nearly 6 lines long, flat and hairy, containing two slightly compressed 
seeds, with a long, linear hilum. 
In hedges, cornfields, and waste places, common in Europe and Russian 
Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle. - Extends all over 
Britain, but is rare in the Highlands of Scotland. FJ. the whole summer. 
2, V. tetrasperma, Mench. (fig.278.) Slender Vetch.—-A slender annual, 
glabrous, or nearly so, the weak stems often climbing, from 6 inches to near 
2 feet long. Leaflets narrow, the lower ones obtuse, 3 to 6 pairs in each 
leaf, the tendrils simple or branched. Peduncles slender, with 1 to 6 or 7 
pale bluish flowers, larger than in V. hirsuta, but much smaller than in any 
other British Vicia, seldom exceeding 3 lines. Calyx-teeth much shorter 
than thestandard. Pod flat, not above 6 lines long, usually containing about 
4 seeds, but sometimes 5 or 6. ; 
In fields, hedges, and waste places, all over temperate Europe and 
Russian Asia. Not uncommon in England, hardly wild in Scotland, and 
very rare in Ireland. Fl. the whole summer. A variety with more pointed 
leaflets, and with the number of seeds more frequently 5 or 6, has been dis- 
tinguished under the name of V. gracilis, Loisel.; it is confined to the 
middle and south of England, and is a doubtful nature. 
3, V.Cracea, Linn, (fig. 279). Tufted Vetch.—Rootstock perennial, 
the annual stems weak, and climbing by means of the branched tendrils to 
the length of 2 or 3 feet or rather more; the whole plant hairy, or nearly 
glabrous. Stipules narrow aud entire. Leaflets numerous, oblong or 
linear, the largest 8 or 9 lines long. Flowers numerous, in one-sided 
racemes, on peduncles rather longer than the leaves, of a fine bluish-purple, 
each one about 5 lines long. Style hairy, all round below the stigma. Pod 
flattened, glabrous, about an inch long, with 6 or 8 seeds. 
In hedges and bushy places, throughout Europe and Russian Asia, from 
the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle, and in northern America. Common 
in Britain. Fl. summer. 
4, W. sylvatica, Linn. (fig. 280). Wood Vetch.—A handsome, usually 
glabrous species, climbing over shrubs and small trees, sometimes to the 
length of 6 or 8 feet. Stipules deeply divided at their base. Leaflets 
fewer and broader than in V. eracea, usually 8 or 10 pairs to each leaf, 
oblong, or the lower ones ovate, obtuse or notched at the top. Flowers 
considerably longer than in V. cracca, white with bluish streaks, loosely 
one in long racemes. Pod glabrous, broad, an inch long, with 4 to 
seeds. 
In open woods and bushy places, in the hilly, and especially the northern 
districts, of Europe and Russian Asia to the Arctic Circle, and in the moun- 
tains of southern Europe and central Asia. Net uncommon in Scotland, 
