8 BULLETIN 1289, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
VICIA SATIVA LINEARIS 
S. P. I. 18822. — Stems fine to mid-stout, branching above, 6 to 10 dm. long; 
leaves 6 to 8 cm. long, leaflets 10 to 12, linear-obovate, obtuse or acute, 14 to 
32 mm. long, 4 to 6 mm. wide; flowers two, lilac purple; pods glabrous, dark 
brown, 4 to 5 cm. long; 4 to 5 mm. wide, cylindrical, 8 to 10 seeds; seeds small, 
2.5 to 3.5 mm. in diameter, dark brown or slightly mottled with gray; season very 
early. 
This variety is especially distinguished by its narrow leaflets and by conspic- 
uous branching near the top. The leaflets on the branches and on the upper 
leaves are small, pale in color, crowded, giving a clustered appearance which 
makes the herbage dense above. The pods shatter but little. The maximum 
growth of the plant compares favorably with other varieties, but the only point 
of superiority is its comparative freedom from shattering. 
VICIA SATIVA TORULOSA 
S. P. I. 21582. — Similar to 18822 (Vicia sativa linearis), but differs by having 
truncate leaflets. No. 21944 is another variety with this characteristic. Both 
make vigorous growth, but do not attain so large a size as some other varieties. 
The pods shatter but little, which is a desirable habit in a variety to be grown 
for seed. 
VICIA SATIVA LEUCOSPERMA 
F. C. I. 04385 and S. P. I. 31084.—~Pear\ vetch; stems mid-stout, 6 to 12 dm. 
long, slightly pubescent; stipules with white glands; leaves 6 to 12 cm. long; 
leaflets 12 to 15, 11 to 22 mm. long, 6 to 10 mm. wide, obovate to linear-obovate; 
corolla violet purple, 2 to 2.5 mm. long; pods 5 to 6.5 cm. long, 6 to 8 mm. wide, 
pubescent, very slightly compressed, 6 to 8 seeds; seeds 3 to 4 mm. in diameter, 
light pink. 
Pearl vetch is readily distinguished by its light-colored seeds. It is less winter 
hardy than Oregon vetch and is especially adapted for spring seeding when or 
where such is necessary. The production of both hay and seed compares favor- 
ably with the heaviest producing varieties of common vetch. 
VICIA SATIVA ERYTHROSPERMA 
Stems coarse, 6 to 12 dm. long, pubescent; leaves 7 to 12 cm. long; leaflets 12 
to 14, each 12 to 20 mm. long, 7 to 12 mm. wide, obovate, nearly glabrous; 
flowers 16 to 20 mm. long, purple. 
S. P. I. 17021. — Flowers lilac purple, pods slightly pubescent, 5 cm. long, 63^ 
mm. wide; seed light reddish, round, 33^ mm. in diameter. 
S. P. I. 18134- — Flowers violet purple; pods very pubescent, large, and some- 
what compressed, 5 to 7 cm. long, 8 to 10 mm. wide, 6 to 8 seeds; seeds buff to 
pale buff, round, 43^ to 5 mm. in diameter. 
Both 17021 and 18134 are strong-growing varieties. The former can not be 
distinguished readily from many other varieties with reddish seed; but the latter 
can be distinguished by the color of the seeds, which are also larger than those 
of most varieties otherwise similar. 
VICIA SATIVA MELANOSPERMA 
Stems mid-stout to coarse, leafy, slightly to prominently pubescent, little 
branched; leaves 5 to 16 cm. long; leaflets 12 to 16, each 1.5 to 2.5 cm. long, 
5 to 18 mm. wide, obovate to obcordate; flowers two, 2.5 to 3 cm. long, calyx 
14 mm. long, corolla violet purple; pods somewhat pubescent, 5 to 8 cm. long, 
6 to 10 mm. wide, not compressed, each containing 5 to 8 seeds; seeds globose, 
4 to 5 mm. in diameter, mottled brown and gray. 
F. C. I. 02831. — Swedish sweet; a strain developed in Sweden. It makes a 
vigorous growth, but does not yield so much seed as Oregon vetch. The whole 
plant is prominently pubescent. 
F. C. I. 02992. — Oregon vetch; a strain of common vetch that has been grown 
in western Oregon for the past 20 years or more. It is characterized by its win- 
ter hardiness in comparison with other varieties of common vetch and also makes 
a very vigorous growth. It is similar to what is known as the winter strain or 
Vicia sativa in European countries. 
F. C. I. 04324. — Crown vetch; a variety received from Denmark. It is very 
much like 13420, 04432, and Oregon vetch. It is characterized by winter hardi- 
ness, but has no morphological features by which it can be readily distinguished 
