BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
127 
broad-leaved Everlasting Pea, it creeps at the base, and, when once established, it spreads rapidly. It is a 
perennial, and it produces its bright golden-yellow flowers in July and August. Cattle are very fond of the 
herbage ; but it has not yet been cultivated for fodder. 
4.—THE YELLOW VETCHLING. (Lathyhus aphaca, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1167 ; 2nd ed., t. 1000. 
Specific Character. —Stem erect. Petioles cylindrical, filiform, 
usually leafless, occasionally with two leaflets. Stipules very large, 
sagittate. Peduncles one-flowered, with a minute bractea at the apex. 
Segments of the calyx twice as long as the tube. Pods few-seeded, 
broad. Seeds compressed. ( Lindley .) 
Description, &c. —This is a very singular plant; the large dilated stipules and the long tendrils supplying 
the place of leaves. It is an annual plant, found on the borders of sandy or gravelly fields, generally in the 
eastern counties of England ; and producing its bright yellow flowers in succession from June till August. The 
seeds, if eaten, occasion a violent headache. 
5.— THE CRIMSON, Oil GRASS VETCHLING. (Lathyrus nissolia, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 112; 2nd ed., t. 1001. i solitary, on long stalks. Peduncles without a bractea at the apex. 
Specific Character. —Stem erect. Petioles dilated, with from Pods narrow, with projecting veins, reflexed. {Lindley.) 
three to five prominent veins. Stipules minute, subulate. Flowers j 
Description, &c. —This is a very singular-looking plant: when not in flower, it has the appearance of 
grass; and nothing can be more singular than the appearance of its bright crimson flowers when they expand, 
as they look at first sight as though they had been gathered from some kind of pea, and then thrown upon a 
tuft of grass. This plant is an annual, flowering in May and June, and it is by no means uncommon in shady, 
unfrequented lanes in different parts of England ; growing best, however, in sandy soils that are somewhat moist. 
6. — THE HAIRY VETCHLING. (Lathyrus iiirsutus, Lin .) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1255 ; 2nd ed., t. 1002; and our 
fig. 5, in PI. 29. 
Specific Character. — Stems diffuse, winged. Leaflets linear, 
oblong. Stipules linear, half-sagittate, about as long as the petiole. 
Peduncles with from one to three flowers, scarcely longer than the 
leaves. Segments of the calyx ovate, the length of the tube. Pods 
oblong, hairy. Seeds round, scabrous. {Lindley.) 
Description, &c.—This species is occasionally met with in the southern counties of 
England on the borders 
of cultivated fields, where it flowers about July. The seeds, though not absolutely poisonous, are decidedly 
unwholesome ; but fortunately they have so disagreeable a flavour that children are not likely to eat them. 
The plant is an annual. 
GENUS XVI. 
THE BITTER VETCH. (Orobus, Lin.) 
Generic Character. —Calyx campanulate, 5-cleft, the two upper 
lobes the shortest. Stamens diadelphous. Style slender, linear, 
villous at the end. Pod cylindrical, oblong, 1-celled, 2-valved, many- 
Lin. Syst. DIADELPHIA DECANDllIA. 
seeded. Seeds with a linear hilum.—Erect herbaceous plants. Stipules 
half-sagittate. Leaves abruptly pinnate, with a short simple seta in 
place of the terminal leaflet. Racemes axillary, stalked. {Dec.) 
Description, &c.— The plants belonging to this genus are distinguished from those to which they are most 
nearly allied, by having no tendrils; a short bristle supplying their place. The name of Orohus is derived from 
two Greek words, signifying to strengthen or invigorate an ox. 
