400 
The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. XV, No. 2, 
Key to the Species. 
1 . Flowers white, seeds globular. Pisum sativum. ( 1 ). 
1 . Flowers bluish to dull white with puqjle on the wings, seeds slightly 
angular, usually gray. Pisum arvense. (2). 
1. Pisum sativum L. Common Pea. An erect or climbing 
glabrous annual with a hollow angular stem %-6 ft. high and % in. 
in diameter. Leaflets 1-3 pairs, 1-2 in. long, in. wide, 
the stipules as large, or larger than the leaflets. Flowers 
in. long, white; pods 2-3 in. long, %-% in. wide, the seeds globular, 
green to yellow, smooth or wrinkled. 
The Common Pea has been cultivated for food for many 
hundred years. The seed is used in the green or dry condition. 
By the use of a machine called the viner, the green peas are 
ready for the cans in a few hours after being cut, making it pos¬ 
sible for the canned product to be in good condition. The ripe 
seed is used for split-pea soup. 
2. Pisum arvense. L. Field Pea. A climbing or erect 
glabrous annual with an angular stem, 2-5 ft. high and % in. in 
diameter. Leaflets 1-3 pairs, 1-2 in. long, in. wide, the 
stipules as large or larger than the leaflets. Flowers in. 
long, blue to dull white with purple on the wings; pods l%-2 in. 
long, %-% in. wide, the seed angular, usually gray. 
The Field Pea is cultivated in Ohio for soiling, pasturage and 
dry feed. It thrives best in a cool, moist climate. For this 
reason, Canada has made the greatest advance in Field Pea 
culture. It is often called Canada Pea. 
Phaseole^;. Bean Tribe. 
Dark-green herbs or vines usually pubescent, the stem round 
or roundish, erect or twining counter-clockwise. Leaves odd- 
pinnate, usually trifoliate, but leaflets sometimes 1-7. Flowers 
axillary, usually racemose, but sometimes capitate or solitary. 
The cotyledons are usually pushed above ground during 
sprouting. The Phaseolete are cultivated for soiling, hay and 
seed. They supply an important part of the food of man. 
Key to the Genera. 
1 . Leaves pinnate with 5-7 leaflets. Glycine. 2. 
1. Leaves trifoliate or uniofoliate. 2. 
2. Style bearded along the inner side. 3. 
2. Style glabrous or pubescent only at the upper end or at the base. 4. 
3. Flowers racemed, the keel of the corolla spirally coiled. Phaseolus. (5). 
3. Flowers capitate, or if somewhat racemose, then the keel of the corolla 
only slightly incurved. 6. 
4. Style bearded at the summit about the stigma. Dolichos (1). 
4. Style glabrous at the upper end, sometimes pubescent at the lower part.5. 
5. Stem erect; annual; cultivated. Soja. (3). 
5. Stem trailing; perennial; native. Falcata. (4). 
6. Flowers capitate or in peduncle heads; corolla purple, keel of the corolla 
strongly incurved; native. Strophostyles. (6). 
6. Flowers capitate or somewhat racemose, corolla yellow, white or 
purple. Keel of the corolla short, slightly incurved; cultivated. 
Vigna. (7). 
