VARIETAL VARIATION 
There is a much greater diversity in Vicia sativa than might be 
concluded from the number of forms given under the heading " De- 
scribed botanical varieties and subspecies." Within the different 
seed and flower color groups there are many varieties differing in 
size and shape of seed, season of maturity, producing power, pubes- 
cence on pods, shades of color in all parts of the plant, and other 
traits. Many of these characters are excellent by which to distin 
guish varieties. The color, size, and shape of the seed will often 
give sufficient information for varietal identification. While it is 
impossible to tell varieties with certainty from the seeds only, there 
usually is little difficulty in identifying commercial varieties if it is 
known that the seed under consideration is from a commercial source. 
This would preclude the possibility of its being one of the numerous 
noncommercialized sorts, which may resemble the commercial 
varieties in seed characters. 
Seed of lentil (Lentilla lens) varieties can be easily confused with 
some of the Vicia sativa varieties. In such cases the resemblance is 
very close with regard to color, shape, size of the seed, and also the 
seed scar. This fact has been mentioned and illustrated by Vavilov 
(8, p. 85) in discussing the law of homologous series in related genera. 
Lentilla, like Vicia, seems to have been first mentioned by Wiegmann 
{10), who discusses the possibility of hybrid origin. He observed*, 
however, that in the second and third generations there was no 
variation from the original seed sown. Gartner (o, p. 424) notes 
Wiegniann's observations, but states that he does not believe the 
plants are hybrids. Focke (3, p. 515) later discusses this variety, call- 
ing attention to Wiegmann's observations, and agrees with Gartner 
that it is not a hybrid. Vetch seed with lentil characteristics has 
been received from several sources by the United States Department 
of Agriculture and grown through a series of years. In no case 
has there been any tendency of the seed or the plants to vary from 
the original type. Fruwirth U), in a recent study of a lentillike 
vetch seed, concludes that this is a good vetch variety with no relation 
to lentil. 
Attempts to cross Vicia sativa varieties have always resulted in 
failures. Large numbers of flowers have been cross-pollinated by 
the writers through a series of years at Corvallis, Oreg., and Chico, 
Calif., but always with negative results. Whether or not these 
failures have been due to faulty technique can not be stated with 
certainty. It seems probable, however, that if vetches cross at all 
it is with extreme difficulty. A few cases of natural crossing of 
Vicia have been reported, but the conclusions have been based 
on very limited evidence. Gillot (6') reports the finding of a plant 
at Creusot, France, by P. M. Marchand that he considered a hybrid 
between Vicia lutea and V. sativa var. angustifolia. However, his 
conclusion was based not upon cultural tests but upon the fact that 
the specimen furnished by Marchand had characters of both species. 
It was given the name Vicia marcliandi Gillot and Rouy after the 
discoverer. In the work covering a period of 15 years, during which 
time many species and varieties have been grown together, the writers 
have never found a plant that they considered of hybrid origin. 
