Vicia.) . XXV. PAPILIONACEA. 123 
and occurs in most hilly, wooded districts of England and Ireland. 1. 
summer. 
5. V. orobus, DC. (fig. 281). Upright Vetch.—A slightly hairy 
branching perennial, with a somewhat creeping rootstock ; the stems more 
erect than in other Vicie, and the tendrils all reduced to a fine point ter- 
minating the leafstalk, or in the upper leaves replaced by a terminal leaflet, 
as in Lathyrus niger, but the plant does not usually dry black, as in 
that species, and the style is that of Vicia cracca. Stipules broader than in 
the last two species, and slightly toothed. Leaflets 8 to 10 pairs to each 
leaf, narrow-oblong, with a fine point. Peduncles about the length of 
the leaf, witha close raceme of 6 to 10 rather large flowers of a purplish- 
white. Pods flattened, about an inch long, with 3 or 4 seeds, or rarely 
more. 
_In mountain pastures and woods, in western Europe, from the Pyrenees 
to southern Norway, reappearing eastward in Bavaria and Transylvania. 
In Britain, spread over Wales, northern England, and a great part of 
Scotland, very rare in Ireland. 1. early summer. 
6. V. sepium, Linn. (fig. 282). Bush Vetch.—A slightly hairy peren* 
nial; the stems 1 to 2 feet high, weak and straggling but scarcely climb- 
ing. Stipules small and entire, or larger and toothed. Leaflets 4 to 6 pairs 
in each leaf, ovate or oblong; the leafstalk ending in a tendril, usually 
branched. Flowers smaller than in V. sativa, of a light reddish-purple, 
2 to 4 together in the axils of the upper leaves, drooping from short pedi- 
cels, and forming a sessile cluster or a very short raceme. Style witha 
dense tuft of hairs under the stigma on the outer side, with a few short 
hairs on the opposite side. Pod glabrous, about an inch long. Seeds few, 
half encircled by the long, linear hilum. 
In woods and shady places, and hedges, extending over Europe and 
Russian Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle. Common in 
Britain. £7, all summer. 
7. W. lutea, Linn. (fig. 283). Yellow Vetch.—A glabrous or slightly 
hairy annual, said however by some to form a perennial rootstock ; 
the stems spreading, branched, usually low, but sometimes ascending to a 
_ foot or more. Stipules, foliage, and solitary flowers of V. sativa, but the 
corolla is of a pale yellow, and the rather broad pods are reflexed, and covered 
-with long hairs. Seeds few, witha short hilum. 
In dry, stony, waste, or cultivated places, in central and southern Europe 
to the Caucasus, not extending into northern Germany. In Britain, chiefly 
near the sea in southern England, and again on the rocky coasts of eastern 
~ Scotland. Not recorded from Ireland. 7. early summer. 
8. WV. sativa, Linn. (fig. 284). Common Vetch.—An annual or biennial, 
glabrous or hairy ; the stems short and spreading, or nearly erect, or almost 
climbing, 1 to 2 feet high. Stipules toothed, and usually marked by a dark 
spotin the centre. Leaflets usually 4 to 7 pairs to each leaf, varying from 
obcordate to obovate to narrow-linear, the tendrils usually branched. 
Flowers sessile and solitary, or rarely two together in the axils of the leaves, 
usually large, of a reddish or bluish purple. Pod glabrous, 1 to 2 inches 
long, rather narrow, with 10 to 12 smooth, globular seeds. 
In dry pastures, open woods, and waste places, throughout Europe and 
Russian Asia, and having been long cultivated for forage, is now widely 
