PULSE FAMILY. 



105 



Obs. The summers are rather short for this plant, in Pennsylvania, — 

 ■where it is sometimes seen in gardens, as a curiosity : but, in the Soutli- 

 eru states it is cultivated to a great extent, — and from thence our nut- 

 merchants derive their supply. The seeds, — either raw, or roasted in 

 the legumes — are quite a favorite with children, and others ; and large 

 quantities of them are consumed at all public gatherings. The seeds 

 are said, also, to yield a valuable oil. 



10. FA'BA, Tournef. Horse-bean. 



[The Latin name for a Bean; appropriated to this genus.] 



Calyx tubular, 5-cleft, — the two upper segments shorter. Style bent 

 nearly at a right angle with the ovary ; stigma villous. Legume large, 

 coriaceous, somewhat tumid. Seeds oblong, subcompressed, with the 

 hilum at one end. Stem erect. Tendrils simple and nearly obsolete. 

 1. F. vulga'ris, ilfoencA. Leaflets 2 - 4, oval, mucronate ; stipules semi- 

 sagittate, obliquely ovate. 

 Common Faba. Horse Bean. "Windsor Bean. 

 Fr. Feve de Marais. Germ. Die Sau-Bohne. Span. Haba. 



Root annual. Stem 1-2 feet high, simple, smootli. Leaflets 2-3 inches long, entire, 

 smooth ; tendrils obsolete ; stipules large. Flowers in simple erect axillary racemes. 

 Corolla white, with a large black spot on each wing. Legume 2-3 inches long, torulose. 



Gardens : cultivated. Fl. June- July. IV. August. 



Ohs. This bean — originally from the shores of the Caspian Sea — 

 is sometimes cultivated for the table, — but is not generally admired. 

 The seeds have a strong and rather unpleasant flavor. 



11. ER'VUM, Tournef. Lentil. 



[The Latin name for a species of Vetch or Tare.] 



Calyx 5-parted ; segments lance-linear, acute, about as long as the 

 corolla. Style ascending ; stigma glabrous. Legume 2 - 4-seeded. 



1. E. Lens, L. Stem erect, branching ; leaflets elliptic oblong, some- 

 what pilose ; stipules obliquely ovate-lanceolate, ciliate ; peduncles 

 axillary, 2 - 3-flowered ; legumes broad, short, finely reticulated, smooth, 

 2-seeded ; seeds lenticular. 



Lentil. 



Fr. La Lentille. Germ. Gemeine Linse. S'pan. Lenteja. 



Root annual. Stem 6-12 rnches high. Leaflets 3-6 or 8 pairs, half an inch long ; ten- 

 drils nearly simple. Corolla white or pale purple. Legume about half an inch long. Seeds 



2, orbicular, compressed, white or tawny yellow. 



Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. June - July. Fr. August. 



Obs. This Yetch is cultivated in the old world, chiefly, I believe, as 

 food for stock, — both herbage and seeds serving that purpose. The 

 plant is sometimes seen in gardens here ; but it will scarcely command 

 the attention of American agriculturists. When properly cooked, len- 

 tils are a tolerable substitute for beans ; they are much prized as food 



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