PAPILI0NACE7E. 



225 



rather broad pods are reflexed, and co- 

 vered with long hairs. Seeds few, with 

 a 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, probably introduced with bal- 

 last. Not recorded from Ireland. Fl. 

 early summer. 



Fig. 279. 



8. Common Vetch. Vicia sativa, Linn. (Eig. 280.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 334. V. laevigata, Eng. Bot. t. 483.) 



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 spot in the centre. 

 Leaflets usually 4 to 7 to each leaf, vary- 

 ing from obcordate or obovate to narrow- 

 linear, the tendrils usually branched. 

 Elowers sessile and solitary, or rarely 

 two together in the axils of the leaves, 

 usually large, of a reddish or bluish pur- 

 ple. 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 cul- 

 tivated for forage, is now widely spread Tig. 280. 



