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V I C I A Cracca.
T u fted Vetch.
J Zo
DIADEL PHI A Decandria.
G e n . C h a r . Stigma tra n fv e rfe ly b e a rd e d o n th e
low e r fid e .
S p e c . C h a r . Stalks many-flowered. Flowers imbricated.
Leaflets lanceolate, downy. Stipulæ
half-arrow-fhaped, moftly entire.
S y n . Vicia Cracca. Linn. Sp. PL 1035. Sm. FI.
Brit. 769. Hud/. 317. With. 636. H ull 161.
Relh. 281. Sibth. 223. Abbot. 157. Curt. Lond.
fa/c. 3. t. 34. Mart. Ruß. t. 117.
Cracca. Rail Syn. 322.
Al x . COMMON, but rather ornamental plant, in hedges and
among bathes, more efpecially in a black boggy foil on a gravelly
bottom, about otier-grounds, where thewhite Convolvulus
grows. In fuch places the denfe long fpikes of purple
Howers, toft up as it were into the air, are more remarkable
than in any other lituation. They are principally obfervable
in July and Auguft. The tall branching flender leafy ftems
are entangled among bufhes and reeds, and ftrongly bound to
them by ong branched curling tendrils. Each leaf, which
the tendrils terminate, confifts of many lanceolate entire leaf-
lets, more or lefs hoary with filky hairs. The ftipulre are
Imall, "alf-arrow-thaped, moll frequently entire, occalionally
oo e . ! lower-ftalks angular and hairy, bearing many imbricated
rather drooping flowers, whofe various tints will re-
pay a careful inveftigation. The pods are pendulous, fmooth,
of a light brown. Seeds globular, black.
Botanical writers have recommended this Vetch as very nutritious
for cattle, but recent agriculturifts have not yet at-
tended to it. Indeed to gather it from its native fixations
would be impraaicable, fo firmly does it cling to its neigh-
bours ; and if cultivated in an open field, it would proba°bly
choke ltfelf for want of fupport. r '