100 



WIJLDS AXD USEFUL PLAXT6. 



by the Mexicans, and form the basis of the " Linsen Soup " of the Ger- 

 mans. It appears from Dr. J . D. Hookeb.'s Notes, that the seeds of this 

 plant are sometimes called •• Gram." in India ; but that name is believed 

 to be more usually applied to the seeds of Cicer. 



12. PI'SUM, Tournef. Pea. 



[The Latin name for the common Pea.] 



Calyx-segments foliaeeous, the two upper ones shorter. Vexillum large, 

 reflexed. Style compressed, keeled, villous on the upper maigin. Le- 

 gume oblong. Seeds numerous, globose, with an orbicular hilum. 

 1. P. SATi'vuM, L. Leaflets rhomboid-ovate, rather obtuse, mucronate, 

 entire ; stipules very large, ovate, semi-sagittate, creuate-dentate at base ; 

 peduncles 2 or many-flowered ; legumes subcarnose. 

 Cultivated Pisum. Pea. Garden-pea. 

 Fr. Pois cultive. Germ. Gemeine Erbse. Span. Guisante. 



Plant smootli and glaucous. Root annual. 5'i<'7?i 1-3 or 4 feet long ; flaccid, climbing 

 by tendrils. Leaflets usually 2 pairs, 1-2 or 3 inches long; tendrils long and branch- 

 ing ; stipules larger than the leaflets. Peduncles axillary, 1 or 2-6 inches long, often with 

 two flowers at sammit. CoroUa white. Style reflexed. Legume about two inches long, 

 subterete. 



Gardens and lots : cultivated. Xatire country unknown. Ft June - July. Fr. July - 

 August. 



Obs. Several varieties of this are cultivated (one or more of them 

 in almost every garden), chiefly for the young seeds, or " green peas." 

 which afford a favorite dish at table. In the Xorthern states, the Held 

 cultm^e of Peas (for the mature seeds.) is much attended to ; but it is 

 rarely seen in Pennsylvania — or, I believe, south of that. The Sweet 

 Pea and the Everlasting Pea, cultivated for ornament, belong to the 

 genus Lathyrus of the same tribe. 



13. YIC'IA, Tournef. Yetch. 



[The ancient Latin name for Vetch or Tare.] 



Calyx 5-cleft, or 5-toothed, the two upper teeth shorter. Style filiform, 

 bent; stigma villous. Legume oblong, mostly many-seeded. Seeds 

 with the hilum lateral. 



1. Y. SATi'vA, L. Annual ; stem simple ; leaflets 5-7 pairs, obovate- 

 oblong to linear, refuse, mucronate ; flowers mostly in pairs, nearly 

 sessile. 



Cultivated Yicia. Common Yetch. Tare. 



Stem 1-3 feet long, procumbent or climbing by tendrils. Leaflets % of an inch to an 

 inch and a hah" in length. Flov-ers violet purple, axillary. 

 Cultivated grounds. Native of Europe. June -August. 



Ohs. This species was formerly much cultivated, and seems still to 

 be highly prized, in Europe, as a fodder for cattle ; but in this country 

 it is regarded as a mere weed. 



