PISUM MARITIMUM. SEA SIDE PEA.
PISUM maritimum ; petiolis supra planiusculis, caule angulato, stipulis sagittatis; pedunculis multifloris.
Linn. Sp. PI. p. 1027. Syst. N at. p. 485. W i l l i a m Sp. PI. m l. 3. 1071. Alton
Hort. Keffl. cd. 2. vol. 4. p. 302. FI. B r it. ml. 2. p. 760. Hud s.An g l.p . 318. With.
Bot. cd. 5. rn l.S .p . 774. Hull B rit. FI. p. 160, Smith Spicil. p. S. t. 9. FI. D a n .t. 338.
LimC. FI. Sure. p. 250. i. FI. Lapp. n. 272. Mill. Diet. ml. 4. Roth Germ. ml. 2.
p. 173. Engl. B o t. 1 .1046. Lam. Fl. Fr. cd. 2. vol. 4. p. 585. Lam. FI. Gall. p. 358.
Deslougcli. FI. Gull.p. 453'. Pers.Syn.vpl. 2. p. 30S. Hort. K m . a t 1. eo t 3. f . 36.
M a rtyn Mill. Diet.
PISUM mavinum. R aiiS yn .p . 319. -------Hist. 894. FI. Lapp. ed.Sm. p. 228. Ger.em. 1250.
PISUM spontaneum perenne repens humile. . Moris, sect. 2. p- 47. if. 1. ĥ 5.
PISUM stipulis integerrimis. ASwf Cliff, t. 368.
PISUM spontaneum, maritimum, anglicum. Park. Theatr. 1060. Toum. Inst. 395.
PISA sponte nascentia. Caii Opusc. lib. 2. 29- 2.
Dut. Strandenot. Zeerwt. Fr. Pois a bouquet.: Germ. Die Stranderbse. Englische See-Erbse.
Japan. Deebi. Deubo. Jendo. Swed. Stranddrter. Hafdrier.
Class a n d Order. D IA D E L PH IA DECANDRIA.
[NATURAL Order. LEGUMINOSiE, Juts. Dec. PAPIL IONACE JE et LOMENTACEiE, Linn.]
Gen . Char. Stylus triangulus, supra carinatus, pubescens. Calycis lacinite superiores dute'breviores:
Radix perennis, repens, sublignosa, longe descendens, |
hie illic fibras ramosas emittens.
Caules simplices, pedales, prostrati, adseendentes, an-
gùlosi, flexuosi, parum hirsuti, obscure purpurei.
Folia alterna, abrupte pinnata, foliola plerumque oc-
tona, elliptico-ovata, alterna, rarius opposita,
glauca, reticulato-venosa, sub lente villosa, inte-
gerrima, apice nunc ininutissime apiculata, nunc
leniter emarginata ; petioli supra planiusculi,
cirrho bi.-seu trifido terminati.
STIPULÆ magnæ, folioruin fere magnitudine, sagittate,
integerrimæ, vel basin versus sæpissime dentate.
PedüNCULI axillares, solitarii, foliorum longitudiné,
recurvi, angulosi, glabri, multiflori.
Flores in racenjo dispositi, secundi, speciosi, nutan-
tes ; pedicelli breves, subpubescentes, bractea
ininuta anguste ovata ad basin muniti.
Calyx glaber, viridis, basi purpureus.
Coroll® vexillum purpureum, reticulato-venosum ;
alæ carinaque pallide purpureo-cæruleæ.
Legumen compressum, glabrum, polyspermum.
Root perennial, creeping, somewhat woody, descending
deep into the earth, and here and there producing
branched fibres.
Stems undivided, a foot long, prostrate, ascendent, angular,
flexuose, a little hairy, of a dirty purple'
• 'colour.
Leaves alternate, abruptly pinnate, the leaflets generally
in eight, elliptico-ovate, alternate, rarely
opposite, glaucous, reticulate with veins, under
. a microscope hairy, entire, at the apex sometimes
with a small apiculus, sometimes slightly
emarginate; the petioles are above flattish, terminated
with a bi- or trifid tendril.
Stipules large, almost the size of the leaves, sagittate,
entire, or at the base often toothed.
Peduncles axillary, solitary, the length of the leaves,
recurved, angular, smooth, many-flowered.
Flowers disposed in a raceme, secund, large and handsome,
nodding; pedicels short, somewhat hairy,
furnished at the base with a minute narrow-ovate
bractea.
Calyx smooth, green, purple at the base.
j The standard of the Corolla purple, reticulato-ve-
nose; the wings and keel pale-blueisti purple.
i Legume compressed, smooth, many-seeded.
Fig. 1. Calyx. Fig. 2. Flowers. Fig. 3. Stamens. Fig. 4. The Stigma.
In Lapland, Linnteus observes, “ Licet planta htec dicatur maritima, vidi tamen eandem in siccissima arena per
aliquod spatium a mari remotam, ubi ne minima humiditas a mari adfluere poterat.” Y et with us I believe the
Pisum maritimum is entirely confined to the sea-shores; not indeed to any particular parts of the coast, being
abundant in Sussex, Kent, Lincolnshire, Dorsetshire and Suffolk. In the latter county, upon a long peninsula of
sand and pebbles between Aldborough and Orford, the plant covers many acres of ground; and there is scarcely an
inhabitant of those two places who is not well acquainted with the Sea-pea, and with the following particulars relating
to it. Mr. Curtis in a MS. says, I find mention in Stowes Chronicle, Anno 1555, “ of a certaine Pulse or
Pease, as they term it, wherewith the poore people at that time, there being a great dearth, were miraculously
helped he thus mentions it: “ In the moneth of August (saith he) in Suffolke, a t a place by the sea-side all
of hard stone and pibble, called in those parts a shelfe; lying between the townes of Orford and Aldborough, where
neither grew grasse,.nor any earth was ever seen; it chanced in this barren place suddenly to spring up without any
tillage or sowing great aboundance of Peason, whereof the poore gathered (as men judged) above an hundred quarters,
yet remained some ripe and some blossoming, as many as ever there were before, to the which place rode the
Bishop of Norwich and the Lord Willoughby, with others in great number, who found nothing but hard rockie
stone the space of three yards under the roots of these Peason : which roots were great and long and very sweet”
“ Gesner also, (de Aquatilibus, lib. 4. ». 256.) making mention out of Dr. Cajus his Letters, of the spotted English
Whale, taken about that time at Lin in Norfolke, also thus mentions those pease ; ‘Pisa (saith he) in littore
nostro Britannico quod Orientm spectat, certo quodarn in loco Suffolciee, inter Alburnum et Ortfordium oppida,
saxis inside»tin (nnrabile dictii) nulla terra gircumfusa, autumnal/ tempore A m o 1555 sponte nata sunt, adeo
ma<rna copia u t sufficerent vclmillibus homutum* These Pease, which by their great encrease did such good to the
poore that yeare, without doubt grew there for many yeares before, but were not observed till (Magister artis,
ingenlque largitor Venter)—hunger made them take notice of them and quickend their invention, which commonly,
in our people is very dull, especially in finding out food of this nature.
“ My worshipfull friend Dr. Argent hath told me, that many yeares ago he was in this place, and caused his
man to pull away the beach with his hands and follow the roots so long, untill hee got some equall in length unto
his height, yet could come to no ends of them. Hee brought these up with him to London, and gave them to
Dr. Lobel who was then living, and lie caused them to be drawne, purposing to set them forth in that Worke
which he intended to have published; if God had spared him.longer life. Now whether these Pease be truly
so called, and be the same with the Pisum sylvestre perenne or different; or whether they be rather of the stocke
of the Lathyrus major, or of some other pulse here formerly described, I can affirm nothing of certaintie, because
I have seen no part of them, nor could gather by any that had any certaintie of their shape or figure: yet would
I not passe, them over in silence, for that I hope this may come to be read by some who live thereabout, that may
by sending me the things themselves, giveone certaine knowledge of them, so that I may be made able as I am
always willing to impart it to others.” .
To these anecdotes we have little to add, except that man. has resigned the produce of this plant at Orford to
the sheep, which are annually driven there in the spring to feed upon it, sq that it is scarcely possible in the flowering
season to procure a single specimen in blossom. .
I t is a perennial and herbaceous plant, in gardens delighting in a sandy loam; but it should be introduced with
caution, as it is.disposed to encroach upon its neighbours. We have in Britain no other species of the Genus.
From its great increase and profusion of foliage, it seems a plant highly deserving the attention of the Agriculturist,
as it grows most readily even in pure sand almost within the influx of the s e a ; and as sheep are fond of it, its introduction
on the extensive sands on many parts of the English coast may be attended with considerable advantage.