Lathyrus pratensis. Meadow Vetchling. 
LATHYRUS Lhin. Gen. P/. Diadelphia Decandria. 
Stylus planus, fupra villofus, fuperne latior. 
Cal. laciniiE fuperiores 2 breviores. 
"Ran Syn. Gen. 23 Herb.® flore papilionacea: seu leguminos.®. 
LATHYRUS pratenfis pedunculis multifloris, cirrhis diphyllis fimpliciffimis ; foliolis lanceolatis. Lm. 
Syjl- Vegetab. p. 553. Sp.pl. p. io 33 * 
LATHYRUS fcapis multifloris, foliis lanceolatis, capreolis fimpliclbus. Haller, hljl. 436. 
LATHYRUS pratenfis. Scopoli FI. Carmol. p. 64. 
LATHYRUS fylveftris luteus, foliis viciae. Bauhh, pm. 344. 
LATHYRUS luteus fylveftris dumetorum. Bauh h'tji. 2. p. 304. i. 304. 
LATHYRUS fylveftris flore luteo. Ger. emac. 1231. Park. 1062. Rail Syn. p. ^20. Tare-everlafting, 
common yellow baftard Vetchling. 
Hudfon, FL Angl p. 317. ed. 2. Lighifoot FI. Scot. p. 391. Oeder. FI. Dan. k. 527. 
RADIX perennis, albida, repens. 
CAULIS pedalis, etiam tripedalis et ultra, debilis, ; 
cirrliis fuftentatus, angulatus, fubpilofus, ; 
ramofus. : 
FOLIA bina, lanceolata, trinervia, fubtus villo- :■ 
fula. _ _ ' : 
PETIOLI trigoni, fubpilofi, longitudine ftipularum. ^ 
STIPUL./® femifagittata?, latitudine foliorum, hamis 
duobus fubinde inftruifti. ■ 
PEDUNCULI tetragoni, longi, fubo£toflori. ; 
FLORES lutei, eredi, racemoft, fecundi. E 
PEDICELLI teretes, villofi, longitudine calycis. | 
CALYX: pERiANTHiUM monophyllum, tubulatum, ;; 
breve, cylitidraceum, fubpilofum, quinque- .. 
dentatum, dentibus acuminatis, inferioribus • 
longioribus, furfum paulifper curvatis, i. ; 
COROLLA papilionacea, vexillum fubemarginatum, : 
reflexum, prope bafin fuperne foveis duabus ; 
intus prominentibus notatum jig. 2 ; Ala . : 
duae ; apice rotundatae Jig. 3 ; Carina longitu- • 
dine alarum, jig. 4. : 
STAMINA: Filamenta diadelpha, (fimplex et no- - 
vemfidum, Jig. 5. 6. aflurgentia ; Anther.® : 
fubrotundae, flavae. ■ ; 
PISTILLUM: Germen viride, comprelTura, oblon- :: 
gum; Stylus eredus, fuperne latior apice ;; 
acuto; Stigma a medietate ftyli ad apicem ^ 
antice vlllofum. Jig. 7. a fculptore male ex- | 
preflum. ^ 
PERICARPIUM : Legumen fefquiunciale, coraprefliim, ? 
nigricans, continens Semina odo ad duodecim, | 
fubrotunda. % 
ROOT perennial, whitifh and creeping. 
STALKS a foot high, fometimes even three feet or 
more, weak, fupported by its tendrils, angular, 
nightly hairy, and branched. 
LEAVES growing in pairs, lanceolate, having three 
ribs, and ftightly downy underneath. 
LEAF-STALKS three-cornered, fomewhat hairy, the 
length of the ftipulae. 
STIPULiE in the Ihape of an half arrow, the breadth 
of the leaves, fometimes having two projec- 
tions behind. 
FLOWER-STALKS four cornered, long, fupporting 
about eight flowers. 
FLOWERS yellow, upright, growing in a bunch, all 
one way. 
PARTIAL FLOWER-STALKS round, villous, the 
length of the calyx. 
CALYX: a Perianthium of one leaf, tubular, ftiort, 
cylindrical, fomewhat hairy, furniftied with 
five teeth, which are long and pointed, the 
lowermoft longeft, and bent a little upwards. 
COROLLA papilionaceous. Standard ftightly notched, 
turned back, on the upper fide near the bafe 
marked with two little cavities which projed 
inwards, fig. 2 ; Winge rounded at top Jig. 3 ; 
Keel the length of the wings fig. 4. 
STAMINA: ten Filaments, rifing upwards, nine 
united ’ together, and one forming a feparate 
body;y?g. 5. 6. Anther® roundilh and yellow. 
PISTILLUM: Germen green, flattened, oblong; 
Style upright, broadeft above with a pointed 
top; Stigma from the middle of the ftyle 
to the top villous on the fore part, fig. 7. 
badly exprefled in the engraving. 
SEED-VESSEL a Pod an inch and an half long, flat- 
ten’d, of a blackhh colour, containing from 
eight to twelve roundifti Seeds. 
THE following obfervatlons on this plant by the ingenious author of Eftays relating to Agriculture and rural 
Affairs, will not be unacceptable to fuch of our readers as are fond of Hulbandry and rural improvements ; before 
I had feen his remarks, I had often thought it a plant which at leaft deferved a trial, and might, in particular 
foils, be cultivated to advantage. I remember once in particular to have feen a piece of ftiff foil belonging to 
Lord Loughborough, at his feat near Mitcham, which produced an excellent crop of pafturage, confifting chiefly 
of this plant, and the Feftuca pratenfis. 
It gC5ws very frequently in paftures and hedges, and flowers In June and July. “ The 
