Localities. —In corn-fields, In dge«, and pas'ures ; ofseti a tioublesome weed. 
Annual. — Flowers from June to August. 
Root tapering, long, slender, and furnished with few fibres, some 
of them frequently bearing small granulations. Steins from 6 inches 
to 2 feet or more long, branched from the bottom, weak, slender, 
4-cornered, nearly smooth, zigzag, and somewhat twisted ; either 
climbing, or nearly prostrate, leafy. Leaves alternate, pinnated, 
the petiole terminated by a branched tendril ; leaflets either alter- 
nate or opposite, from 5 to 12 pair, their summits either blunt or 
notched, with a small point, darkish green above, and when viewed 
with a microscope, beautifully spotted with white, silvery dots; the 
under side of a silvery white. Stipulas in from 3 to 5 slender 
divisions, the upper one of which is usually the largest. Peduncles 
nearly as long as the leaves, axillary, supporting from 3 to 8 very 
small flowers, forming a small, unilateral raceme, and lying one over 
another. Calyx with strap-spear-shaped, nearly equal segments, 
longer than the tube. Corolla very small, pale blue, or almost 
white ; standard (see figs. 2 & 3.) roundish, scarcely notched, a 
little recurved ; wings (fig. 5.) adhering to the keel, oval, blunt, 
tapering at the base ; keel shorter than the w ings, and marked in- 
ternally on each side with a dark spot. Legume (fig. 8.) short, 
compressed, rather truncate, hairy, dark brown, finely reticulated, pen- 
dulous, 2-seeded. Seeds globose, variegated, large and prominent. 
This is a very troublesome weed in corn-fields ; in wet seasons 
whole crops have been overpowered and w holly destroyed by it ; 
hence it is sometimes called Strangle Tare. All sorts of cattle will 
eat it. The seeds when ground in flour affect it with a strong dis- 
agreeable flavour. 
Dr. Withering observes, that both the Tine Tares (Ervum 
tetraspermum, and E. liirsutumj not only illustrate the old adage, 
that “ ill weeds grow apace,” but that they likewise increase by 
superabundant fertility ; for it appears from experiment, that a single 
seed will, by the produce of one plant only, multiply itself a thou- 
sand fold in a very short time. 
As far as I have observed, neither of the Tine Tares are very 
common about Oxford ; but in the neighbourhood of Rugby, in 
Warwickshire, in July, 1831, they w T ere very abundant, not only 
in corn-fields, but also in meadow's, pastures, under hedges, and 
by road-sides. 
“ The smallest flower 
That twinkles through the meadow grass, can serve 
For subject of a lesson ; aye, as well 
As the most gorgeous growth of Indian climes ; 
For love of nature dwells not in the heart 
Which seeks for things beyond our daily ken 
To bid it glow. It is in common life, 
In objects most familiar, we find 
Exhauslless matter for our privilege, 
Our glorious privilege of reading Goo 
Amid his bright oreation.” L. A. Twajilet. 
