LATHTRUS MACR.E'1. 
MAC RAE’S LATHYRUS. 
Class. Order. 
DIADELPHIA. DECANDRIA. 
Natural Order. 
leguminosa;. 
Native of 
Height 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
Chili. 
3 feet. 
October. 
Perennial. 
in 1824. 
No. 874. 
Lathy rus is an antient Greek name, applied by 
the Greeks to a leguminous plant, but the exact 
species is doubtful. The natural order, Legumi- 
nosae, to which the Lathyrus belongs, is the most 
important in cultivation. The term is said to have 
been deduced from lego, to gather, on account of 
its fruit being gathered — not mown, or collected 
with the stalks. 
Nearly the whole of the plants, belonging to this 
order, have, what are called papilionaceous flowers, 
that is, butterfly-shaped, from papilio, the system- 
atic name of the insect, and by this character they 
may be recognised at sight. Their foliage too, 
possesses peculiarity of character, being more or 
less irritable through the whole order, insomuch 
that some botanists have considered it as claiming 
a place next to the animal kingdom. 
The Lathyrus Macrsei forms a neat plant, when 
supported against a wall or trellis, but is unsuitable 
for mingling with others, in the flower borders. 
When well established it increases freely by run- 
ners from the roots, and these may be divided in 
spring. 
