THE PEA FAMILY 
73 
roundish, and flattened, spiny or with raised dots (tubercles), and a network of veins, i -seeded, not 
opening by valves but decaying to free the seed. Herbs or undershrubs with leaves divided to 
the midrib into numerous pairs of leaflets and one terminal one (imparipinnate). 
Common Sainfoin. (Onobrychis viciaefolia, Scop.)— The only British species (as 
just described). The flowers J inch long, rose-coloured, veined with darker rose, in compact spikes, 
on long stalks ; the small pod semicircular, covered with raised veins, spiny along its curved 
edge, downy, flattened; the stems 1-2 feet high, erect ; the leaves divided to the midrib into 8-12 
pairs of oblong, pointed leaflets, with one terminal one (imparipinnate), and the stipules broadly 
lance-shaped. [Plate 35. 
Local. On chalky banks and borders in the south-east of England. Often cultivated for fodder. 
June — August. Perennial. 
VETCH. (VICIA, LINN.) — Flowers, of various colours, 1, 2, or many, in clusters, terminating 
long stalks (peduncles). Calyx tubular, terminating in 5 teeth, which are nearly equal, or the 
2 upper ones shorter ; corolla of 5 petals, butterfly-shaped (papilionaceous), with the standard 
spreading; stamens 10, 9 united, the upper one usually quite free (diadelphous) ; carpel 1, the 
style thread-like, with a tuft or ring of hairs below the stigma. Pods long, slightly flattened, 
and many-seeded. Herbs, often climbing by means of tendrils terminating the leaves, which 
are divided to the midrib into numerous pairs of leaflets (pinnate). Stipules generally half 
arrow-shaped. 
Hairy Tare. (Vicia hirsuta, Gray.) — As just described. Flowers small, ^ inch long, 
whitish tinged with mauve, 2-6 in short-stalked clusters (racemes) ; the calyx half as long as the 
corolla, the pods short, stalkless, hairy, oblong, and flattened, ending in a short beak, 2-seeded. 
The stems 1-2 feet long, slender, weak, hairy, forming tangled masses ; the leaves divided to the mid- 
rib into 6-10 pairs of narrow, oblong leaflets (pinnate), and ending in a branched tendril. [Plate 36. 
Common. Fields, hedges, waysides. June — August. Annual. 
Smooth Tare. (Vicia g-emella, Crantz.)— A similar plant, with only I or 2 flowers, 
shortly-stalked hairless pods with 4 seeds, and fewer leaflets. 
Not uncommon. Fields, hedges, waysides. June — August. Annual. 
Slender Tare. (Vicia gracilis, Loisel.) — A very similar plant to the last, but with 
flowers twice as large, more numerous, and of a deeper lilac ; pods longer, and 5-8-seeded ; stems 
stouter, and fewer, and more pointed leaflets. 
Not common. Cornfields and waste places in the south of England. June — August. Annual. 
Tufted Vetch. (Vicia Cracca, Linn.) — Flowers many, I inch long, blue shading to 
mauve and purple, 10-30 in. long, one-sided, compact, long-stalked clusters (racemes) ; the 
calyx only % as long as the corolla, the teeth very unequal ; the style with a ring of hairs below the 
stigma ; the pods, without hairs, flattened, about an inch long, 6-8-seeded. [As described in the 
genus Vicia.] Stem 18 inches to 6 feet long, climbing, weak, with prominent ridges ; the 
leaves divided to the midrib into 8-12 pairs of narrow, oblong, pointed, silky leaflets (pinnate), 
and ending in a branched tendril, by which the plant climbs ; and the stipules half arrow-shaped. 
[Plate 36. 
Common. Hedges, bushy and waste places. June — August. Perennial. 
Bitter Vetch. (Vicia Orobus, DC.) — A somewhat similar species, with larger flowers, 
f inch long, white tinged with purple, 6-20 in loose, i-sided, long-stalked clusters (racemes); the 
pod flattened, about 1 inch long, with 3-4 or rarely more seeds; the stem 1-2 feet high, much 
branched, and more erect; the leaves hairy, divided to the midrib into 6-14 pairs of oval or 
