DIADELPHIA. DECANDRIA. Vicia. 
843 
E.) Hedges, shady places, meadows, fields, and willow-beds, and 
thickets. P. July—Aug.* 
| (2) Flowers two or more together , nearly sessile. 
V. sati'va. Legumens mostly in pairs, upright: leafits inversely spear- 
shaped, blunt, notched : stipulse toothed, impressed with a dark 
spot: seeds compressed, (very smooth. 
E, Bot. 334. E.)— Kniph. 1—Walc. — Riv. Tetr. 55, Vicia — FI. Dan. 522— 
Clus. ii. 235. 1— Dod. 531. 1— Lob. Obs. 522. 3, and Ic. ii. 75. 1— Ger. 
Em. 1227. 1 —Park. 1072. 1— H. Ox. ii. 4. 12— J. B. ii. 310. 2. 
( Lower-leaves bent back. Stems of various size, climbing or prostrate. 
Plant more or less hairy. FI. Brit. E.) Leaves winged; leafits about 
six pair, opposite, elliptical, blunt, the mid-rib lengthened into a pro¬ 
jecting point. Tendril terminating the leaf-stalk, branched. Stipules in 
pairs, spear-shaped, toothed, marked with a black shining root. Flowers 
mostly two together. Blossom reddish purple. Woodw. Calyx teeth 
nearly equal. Seeds black, said to be occasionally found white. 
Common Vetch or Tare. (Irish: Pes capul. Welsh: Ffugbysen maeL 
hawl. E.) Dry meadows, pastures, and corn-fields. A. April—June.t 
Var. 2. Leaves narrower, somewhat strap-shaped. Linn. 
Riv. Tetr. 54. V. angustif. — Dod. 542. 2— Lob. Obs. 522. 3, and Ic. ii. 75. 2— 
Ger. Em. 1227. 4 —Park. 1071. 1— H. Ox. ii. 4. 11— J. B. 312. 
* Dr. Plot, in his Nat. Hist. Staffordshire, p. 204, says, that this and the preceding 
species advance starven or weak cattle more than any other provender. (It is hardy, 
durable, nutritious, and productive, but the seeds do not readily vegetate. It should, 
therefore, be cultivated by planting out the roots, which are abundant, and easily sepa¬ 
rated : Salisbury. Mr. Sinclair observes that its strong creeping root must exclude it from 
arable lands. It might be cultivated in the manner of lucern, than which, though greatly 
deficient in weight of crop, it is, nevertheless, more nutritive. Though not quite so 
showy as the preceding species, we cannot but welcome with pleasure this gay enlivener of 
the lonesome lane, where 
-“ Purple tassels of the tangling Vetch 
Hang elegant.” 
Indeed it is worthy of introduction nearer home in the wilderness or hedges. E.) 
(The Common Vetch, (Vicia sativa ), has been cultivated as fodder for cattle from 
time immemorial. Ray informs us, that in 1686, it was sown almost all over Europe, and 
was chiefly used in England, mixed with pease and oats, to feed horses ; but it was 
sometimes sown separately for soiling cattle, and was reputed to cause milch cows to yield 
much milk. It is of a hardy growth, and when sown upon rich land, will return a large 
supply of green fodder for the consumption of horses, or for fattening cattle. Encyc. 
Agric. E.) In Gloucestershire and Worcestershire it is sown as pasturage for horses, and 
eaten off early enough to allow of turnips being sown the same year. The seeds are excel¬ 
lent food for pigeons. (Dr. Bevan observes that not only the flowers, but the young spotted 
leaves of Vetches are peculiarly attractive to bees ; (and so likewise those of the bean); a 
predilection in these natural chemists conjectured to arise from the injured or diseased 
parts exuding a honied secretion. E.) Horses, cows, shetp, and goats eat it. (Spring 
Tares, as sown in March or April, are more upright and tender, but afford fine summer 
fodder. Though the seeds are alike in appearance, it is necessary to discriminate the kinds, 
or the crop may fail altogether. Samples grown in a hot house, or frame, will quickly 
determine the sorts. Winter Tares, sown at wheat seed-time, remaining all winter, are 
cut. six weeks earlier in the spring. They trail on the ground. Salisbury.—Winter Tares 
afford most nutritive matter, and are generally preferred. Sinclair .—Livia CraectB 
frequents this species. E.) 
