186 
XXX. LEGrUMINOSiE 
L. Aphaca none ; rachis ending in a long tendril or in a short* 
bristle. Stipules large, acute, in L. Aphaca very large and leaf- 
like, usually produced below the attachment in 2 long, pointed 
lobes. Flowers axillary, stalked, solitary or in pairs or racemed. 
Calyx-tube bell-shaped ; teeth 5, nearly equal or the 3 lower longer.. 
Petals longer than the calyx : standard broad, erect, notched ; keel 
nearly straight, obtuse, shorter than the wings. Upper stamen 
free, others united. Style incurved, flattened below the stigma, 
bearded along the inner face ; stigma small. Pod oblong, flat,, 
tipped with the persistent style ; seeds several or many. 
L. sativus, Linn., is cultivated throughout India, and occasionally up to 
4000 ft. in the hills. The seeds ( Khesari dhal) are eaten, but are poisonous if 
used habitually or in large quantities. Stems 4-angled, 2 of the angles broadly 
winged. Rachis ending in a long, 3-branched tendril. Leaflets 2. Mowers § 
in. long, solitary. Standard and wings blue-purple ; keel pale pink. Pod 1 in. ; 
upper margin 2-winged ; seeds 4 or 5. Cultivated in S. Europe from very 
early times for fodder and for the seeds. 
Rachis ending in a long tendril. 
Leaflets none. Stipules leaf-like. Flowers yellow . 1. L. Aphaca. 
Leaflets two. 
Flowers red, solitary ...... 2. L.sphcericus. 
Flowers yellow, racemed . . . . . 3. L. pratensis. 
Rachis ending in a short bristle. 
Leaflets 2. Flowers red, ^ in 4. L. inconspicuus . 
Leaflets 6-8. Flowers yellow, tinged with orange, 
1 in 5. L. luteus. 
1. Lathyrus Aphaca, Linn.) FI. Br. Ind. ii. 179. Annual, 
glabrous ; stems trailing, about 1 ft. Rachis ending in a tendril. 
Leaflets none. Stipules leaf-like, cordate, triangular, about 1 x \ in., 
entire. Flowers yellow, ^ in. long, solitary, rarely two, at the end 
of long, axillary stalks. Pod 1-lj in. ; seeds 4-6. 
Simla, Mushobra, on waste ground or in fields; April, May. — Throughout 
N. India, ascending to 7000 ft. — W. Asia, N. Africa, Europe (Britain). 
2. Lathyrus sphsericus, Betz . ; FI. Br. Ind. ii. 180. Annual, 
glabrous ; stems trailing, 6-18 in. Rachis ending in a tendril. 
Leaflets 2, narrowly lanceolate, 2-3 in. Stipules narrow, base 2- 
lobed. Flowers red, ^ in., solitary, shortly stalked. Pod 1-2^ in. ; 
seeds 10-12. 
Simla, Boileaugunge ; April, May. — Throughout N. India, ascending to 
5500 ft. — W. Asia, N. Africa, Europe. 
3. Lathyrus pratensis, Linn . ; FI. Br. Ind. ii. 180. Annual, 
hairy ; stems trailing, 1-3 ft. Rachis ending in a tendril. Leaf- 
lets 2, lanceolate, 1-2 in. Stipules large, leaf-like, base 2-lobed. 
Flowers yellow, in. long, in long, stalked racemes. Staminal tube 
nearly abruptly truncate. Pod glabrous, 1^ in. ; seeds numerous. 
Mahasu, Fagu ; June-September. — W. Himalaya, 6000-8000 ft. — W. Asia,. 
N. Africa Europe (Britain). 
