LATHYRUS ARMITAGEANUS. 



( Mr. Armitages Lathyrus.) 



NATURAL ORDER. 



LEGUMINOSvE. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Lathyrus. (Linn.) Calyx campanulatus, 5-fidus, lobis 2-superioribus brevioribus. Corolla 

 papilionacea. Stamina diadelphous. Stylus complanatus apice dilatus, antice villosus aut 

 pubescens. Legumen oblongum polyspermum bivalve, 1-loculum. Semina globosa aut angulata. 

 Herbce saepius scandentes.. Stipules semisagittse. Petioli apice in cirrhum ramosum abeuntes. 

 Foliola 1-3 juga. Pedunculi axillares. — {Decand. Prod. vol. ii. p. 369.) 



Calyx bell-shaped, 5-lobed, having the 2 upper lobes shorter than the rest. Corolla papi- 

 lionaceous. Stamens in two sets, 9 and 1. Style flattened, dilated at the apex, and either villous 

 or pubescent in front. Legume oblong, many-seeded, two-valved, one-celled. Seeds round, or 

 angular. Herbs mostly climbing. Stipules half arrow-shaped. Petiole passing into a tendril 

 branched at the apex. Leaflets from 1 to 3. Peduncles axillary. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



L. Armitageanus. Suffruticosus, ramosus, glaucus ; foliis unijugis, foliolis ovatis sessilibus 

 mucronatis venosis marginibus cartilagineis ; stipulis sagittiformibus venosis foliolis sequalibus 

 vel latioribus ; floribus pedunculatis racemosis cseruleis ; pedunculis foliis coaequalibus ; cirrhis 

 foliis longioribus ramosis. 



Suffruticose, branched, glaucous ; leaves one pair ; leaflets ovate, sessile, mucronate, veined, 

 margins cartilaginous ; stipules arrow-shaped, veined equal or broader than the leaflets ; flowers 

 pedunculate, racemose, blue ; peduncles equal in length to the leaves ; tendrils longer than the 

 leaves, branched. 



This is certainly a very beautiful and distinct species of Lathyrus. It was 

 raised by the Birmingham Botanical and Horticultural Society in 1834, from 

 cuttings which were presented to that establishment by the late Charles Cope, 

 Esq., who received them from the Brazils, of which country it is a native. We 

 have named it after the late Treasurer of the Birmingham Botanical and Horti- 

 cultural Society, Mr. Armitage, whose well-known devotion to the study of 

 Botany entitles his memory to this respect. To the exertions of this gentleman, 

 together with the late Dr. Darwall, and a few other individuals, the Birmingham 

 Botanical and Horticultural Society may be said to have owed its origin. 



VOL. III. — no. xxx. — august, 1839. M 



LINNEAN SYSTEM. _ 



No. 110. 



DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 



