842 
BIADELPHIA. DECANDRIA. Vicia. 
V. crac'ca. Flowers tiled: leafits spear-shaped, pubescent: stipube 
mostly entire. 
Kniph . 10— Curt. 310— FI. Fan. 804—(E. Bot. 1168. E.)— Hip. Tetr. 49, 
Cracca — H. Ox. ii. 4. 1. 
Leafits rolled in. In corn-fields large and luxuriant, in meadows small and 
hoary. Blossom sometimes white. Linn, ^mwhen climbing on bushes 
three or four feet high, quadrangular, scored, slightly hairy. Branches 
numerous, short, alternate, from the bosom of the upper-leaves. Leaves 
alternate, very long; leafits strap-spear-shaped, oftener alternate than 
opposite, hairy, pointed, from ten to twelve pair. Tendril terminating 
the leaf-stalk, branched. Stipulce half-arrow-shaped, pointed. Calyx 
bluish, the two upper teeth extremely short, the lowermost longest. 
Flowers small, very numerous, pendent, closely tiled. Woodw. Blossom 
bluish purple, with two deeper purple spots at the extremity of keel; 
standard heart-shaped, without a short point in the notch. Legume with 
five seeds, (smooth, brown. E.) 
Tufted Vetch. (Welsh: Tagwyg hysen. Gaelic : Peasair-luch na coille. 
able compared with that of V. cracca or V. sepium; though in its natural place of 
growth, the produce is six times that of either of these Vetches ; it is likewise superior in 
quantity of nutritive matter. Horses, cows, and sheep ate this Vetch with more eagerness 
than they did the other Vetches or grasses that were on several trials offered to them. 
Hort. Gram. Apion Viciw is plentifully found upon it. Scott beautifully describes this 
elegant climber, which both for foliage, flowers, and general habit, is not exceeded by any 
in this island. 
“And where profuse the JFood Vetch clings 
Round ash and elm in verdant rings. 
Its pale and azure-pencilled flower 
Should canopy Titania’s bower.” 
The pious and philosophic Paley, in his evidence of a designed and studied mechanism in 
the productions of nature, adverting to the general structure of climbing plants, of which 
the present species affords an excellent illustration, states—“ In these plants, from each 
joint or axilla, issue, close to each other, two shoots ; one bearing the flower and fruit, 
the other, drawn out into a wire, a long, tapering, spiral tendril, that twists itself round 
any thing which lies within its reach. Considering, that two purposes are here to be 
provided for, (and together), fructification and support, the fruitage of the plant, and the 
sustentation of the stalk, what means could be used more effectual, or more mechanical, 
than what this structure presents to our eyes ? Why, or how, without a view to this 
double purpose, do two shoots, of such different and appropriate forms, spring from the 
same joint, from contiguous points of the same stalk ? It never happens thus in robust 
plants, or in trees.” “ We see not (says Ray) so much as one tree, or shrub, or herb, that 
hath a firm and strong stem, and that is able to mount up and stand alone without 
assistance, furnished with these tendrils .”—“ Make only so simple a comparison as that 
between a pea and a bean. Why does the pea put forth tendrils, the bean not; but 
because the stalk of the pea cannot support itself, the stalk of the bean can ?—We may add 
also, as a circumstance not to be overlooked, that in the pea tribe these clasps do not make 
their appearance till they are wanted ; till the plant has grown to a height to stand in 
need of support.” Nat. Theol. How instructive are these rational deductions. If one 
train of thinking be more desirable than another, it is that which regards the phenomena 
of nature with a constant reference to a supreme intelligent Author:—for 
“There’s nothing bright above, below, 
From flowers that bloom, to stars that glow, 
But in its light the soul may see 
Some feature of the Deity.” E.) 
