126- THE PEAFLOWER TRIBE. [Lathyrus. 
very rarely, in York, Essex, Kent, Surrey, and Somersetshire, FJ. early 
summer. 
4, L. pratensis, Linn. (fig. 290). 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. #7. 
all summer. 
5, &.tuberosus, Linn. (fig. 291). Harth Nut Pea.—Rootstock 
perennial, slender, forming small tubers; the annual stems weak, branch- 
ing, ascending to the height of the corn in which it grows, glabrous, the 
angles not winged, Leafstalks ending m a branched tendril, and bearing 
a single pair of obovate, oblong, or broadly lanceolate leaflets. Stipules 
lanceolate, half-sagittate. Peduncles 3 to 6 in. long, bearing a loose raceme 
of red flowers, very handsome, although not usually so numerous as in 
LL. sylvestris, and rather smaller. Pod glabrous, rather more than an inch 
long. 
ik grassy wastes and hedge-banks but more especially in cornfields, 
frequent in many parts of central Europe and Russian Asia. In Britain, 
only around Fyfield in Essex, where it is abundant, and probably an ancient 
denizen, although first noticed, at least in modern days, by Mr. O. Corder 
in 1859. #1. summer. | 
6. &. sylvestris, Linn. (fig. 292). Hverlasting 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 bear- 
ing 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 abundant in the south. 
Occurs in many localities in England and Scotland, but probably not indi- 
genous in Scotland, and not recorded from Ireland. /'l. summer, often 
lasting late. The everlasting Pea of our gardens is a broad-leaved variety 
from southern Europe, with larger, more richly coloured flowers, and some 
slight difference in the seeds. It has been distinguished as a species, under 
the name of L. latifolius, and, escaping from cultivation, will often esta- 
blish itself in the vicinity of gardens. 
7, G. palustris, Linn. (fig. 293). Marsh Pea.—A glabrous, somewhat 
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, 
