C 30 ]
V I C I A lathyroides.
Spring Vetch.
D I A D E L P H 1A 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 . Pods feffile, folitary, eredt, fmooth.
Leaflets fix, the lowermoft inverfely heart-lhaped.
Seeds cubic, warty.
S y n . Y ic ia la th y ro id e s : Linn. Sp. Pi. 1037. JaC(l ‘
Mifc. Aujir. v. 2. 299. /, 18. e x c e lle n t. V a r. y.
Hudf. FI. An. 319.
Vicia minima prsecox Parifienfium. Raii Syn. 321.
Tcurnef. Inji. 397.
Ervum fo lo n ien fe . Linn. Sp. PI. 10 4 0 . Hudf. FI.
An. ed. x. 279.
No Britifh plant has been lefs underftood than this Vicia,
infomuch that we dare not quote any authors except the above,
it being altogether doubtful what others intend by their Vicia
lathyroides; and molt Englilh botanifts, even Mr. Hudfon
himfelf,- having confounded it with fmall varieties of Vicia
fativa.
Our plant is found on dry grafly banks, and in fallow fields
on a gravelly foil, flowering early in May. The Items are
numerous, generally proftrate. The ftipulse rarely, if ever,
fpotted. The feeds cubic, and rough with minute tubercles.
The pods are fmooth; leaves, items, and ftipulse flightly hairy.
There is no doubt of its being a molt diftinCt fpecies, fuffi-
ciently diftinguilhable by its feeds.
That this is the plant of Tournefort, and confequently
Ervum folonienfe of Linnseus, which he took up from that author
without having it in his own collection, appears from
Tournefort’s Herbarium at Paris. That it is. the true Vicia
lathyroides, is certain from the Linnsean Herbarium. Dr. Smith.
Our fpecimens were fent from Norwich by Mr. Pitchford,
one of the firft Englilh botanifts who well diftinguilhed this
plant. Mr. Dickfon has found it in the dry parts of Hyde
Park. It is annual, and fcarcely to be met with after the month
of June. There is a variety with white flowers.