136 
XXX. LEGUMIXOSiE 
L. A'pinaca none ; rachis ending in a long tendril or in a short 
bristle. Stipules large, acute, in L. Ajphaca very large and leaf- 
like, usually produced below the attachment in 2 long, pointed 
lobes. Mowers 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, h’w., 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. Flowers f 
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 J in., 
entire. Flowers yellow, ^ in. long, solitary, rarely two, at the end 
of long, axillary stalks. Pod 1-1 J in. ; seeds 4-6. 
Simla, Mushobra, on waste ground or in fields ; April, May. — Throughout 
X. India, ascending to 7000 ft. — W. Asia, X. Africa, Europe (Britain). 
2. Lathyrus sphserieus, 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, J in., solitary, shortly stalked. Pod 1-2 J in. ; 
seeds 10-12. 
Simla, Boileaugunge ; April, May. — Throughout X. India, ascending to 
5500 ft. — W. Asia, X. 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, 
X. Africa, Europe (Britain). 
