Dec., 1914] 
Viciece and Phaseolece of Ohio. 
397 
8. Vicia sativa L. Common Vetch. A three to five-branched 
climbing annual, 1-4 ft. high, with the stem % in. in diameter. 
Leaves 4-6 in. long, oval or obovate, in. long, %-/ in. wide, 
mucronate; tendrils branched; stipules broad. Peduncle short 
or wanting; flowers axillary 1-2, in. long, purple, pod pubes¬ 
cent, 2-3 in. long, % 6 in. wide, the 5-10 seeds brown to black. 
Beneath the outer coat the seed of Vicia sativa is orange- 
yellow. It may readily be distinguished from Vicia villosa, 
which is lemon-yellow under the seed coat. Vicia sativa has been 
introduced from Europe, and is used as a forage or cover crop. 
Care must be observed in feeding this plant to pigs as cases of 
poisoning have been reported. It is also called Spring Vetch 
and Smooth Vetch. 
9. Vicia angustifolia L. Narrow-leaf Vetch. A small climb¬ 
ing glabrous annual, 1-2 ft. long, the diameter of the stem }{ 6 in. 
Leaves 2 in. long, leaflets, except the lower ones linear or linear 
oblong, %-1 in. long, in. wide; tendrils branched, the stipules 
half-sagittate, entire. Peduncle very short or wanting the 
flowers, 1-2 in the upper axils, purple; pods linear, glabrous, 
1-2 in. long, in. broad. 
Vicia angustifolia has been introduced from Europe and is 
found escaped in Lake County. 
3. Ervum L. Lentil. 
Weakly erect herbaceous annuals with angled stems. Leaves 
pinnate, the leaves two to many; tendrils simple or compound, 
stipules semisagittate. Flowers small, racemose or solitary on 
axillary peduncles; calyx lobes elongated; style usually more or 
less hairy, flat; stamen tube diagonal at the summit; pod two- 
seeded. 
1. Ervum lens L. Lentil. A glabrous or finely pubescent 
annual with a 4-angled stem 1-2 ft. high and jb-% in. in diameter. 
Leaflets oblong, %-l in. long, % 6 -/6 in. wide; tendrils branched, 
stipules semi-sagittate. Flowers %-% in. long, white to purple; 
pod 2-seeded, the seeds orbicular, gray or red. 
The lens of optical instruments is named from its resemblance 
to this seed. The mess of pottage for which Esau sold his birth¬ 
right to his brother Jacob is said to have been made of lentils. 
They are very commonly used for soup. 
4. Lathyrus L. 
Climbing or trailing vines with tendril-bearing leaves and 
often with a winged stem. Leaves ending in a simple or branched 
tendril; the leaflets 1-6 pairs; veining on the underside prominent; 
stipules generally smaller than the leaflets. Flowers racemose or 
solitary, generally showy, purple, yellow or white; stamen tube 
with a flat top; style without a groove, bearded along the inner 
side; pods dehiscent, the seeds brown to black. 
