THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
195 
From the trefoils proper we pass to the Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Lotus 
comiculatus, with flowers most distinctly papilionaceous, aud re- 
motely resembling those of the laburnum ; the seed-pods being long 
and narrow, and in groups of threes, like the foot of a bird. It is 
well known in gardens, and one of the best of rockery plants. Next 
the vetches, and trouble enough they will give you. The Sweet- 
milk Vetch, Astragalus glycophyllus, is a bold and handsome plant, 
with larger leaves than we generally meet with amongst the her- 
baceous members of the pea-tribe. The plant is sometimes mis- 
taken for a young Robina, but it maybe distinguished from anything 
of the kind by its prostrate stem and large dull yellow flowers. 
The loveliest of the vetches is the Wood Vetch, Ficia sylvatica, 
which adorns the hedgerows in mountainous woody diftricts all the 
summer long, with garlands of blush flowers of the most elegant 
character. More common, indeed, most common, is the splendid 
Tufted Vetch, V. cracca, which loves to climb through the tangled 
rough herbage of the hedge, to toss out its showy tufts of purplish- 
blue flowers at the very summit, and mixes in the midst of brambles 
and rest-barrows on the plain, to adorn them all with flowers that 
seem to belong to them, but which, we need not be told, are not 
theirs. In the north, the Bitter Wood Vetch, V. orohus, with cream- 
coloured flowers, takes its place, and grows in the same way. The 
Common Vetch or Tare, V. saliva, may be seen more often on the 
farm and in the market-cart than as a wilding; and for that very 
reason, perhaps, on the principle that familiarity breeds contempt, 
it is one of the last of our native plants with which a field botanist 
makes a thorough acquaintance. Equally valuable is the Bush 
I etch, V. sepium; its dull blue or pink flowers are extremely com- 
mon in hedgerows, and on the skirts of plantations. It forms a 
distinct dull green bush, with small clusters of flowers, which are 
followed by an immense number of pods. The leaflets are (gg- 
shaped or elliptic, the pods smooth. It is the least attractive of all 
the vetches. 
The most common of the wild peas is the Meadow Vetchling, 
Lathyrus pratensis, which has large yellow flowers borne on slender 
stems, high up amidst brake and bush, above which it climbs by the 
help of its tendrils. The Everlasting Pea, L. latifulius, is rarely 
met with wild, and is probably not a native, though to be found in 
woods in Cumberland and Worcestershire. The reader does not 
need to be told that it is a favourite in the garden, and one of the 
most beautiful and various of hardy plants known. The Sea>ide 
Pea, L. maritimus, is rare, and probably not a native. It is well 
worth finding, both for its beauty and the story of its appearing in 
great plenty in a season of dearth, and thus helping to mitigate the 
eflects of a general scarcity. It has a very distinct leafage, and 
roundish heads of purple flowers. It may be found at seveial sta- 
tions on the eastern coast of England, and usually on rocky sites far 
away from either mud or sand. Many more of this great family are 
flowering now, and scarcely one that is not worth a long journey 
to obtain it, and a little patience to determine its name and learn 
its fame. 
July. 
