VICIA sepium,
Bu sh Vetch.
DIADELPHIA Decandria.
G êN. C h a r . Stigma transversely bearded on the
lower side.
S p e c . C h a r . Pods about four on a stalk, upright,
smooth. Leaflets ovate, obtuse; gradually smaller
upwards.
Syn. Vicia sepium. Linn. Sp. PI. 1038. Sm. FI.
Brit. 773. Huds. 320. With. 637. Hull. 161.
Relh. 282. Sibth. 224. Abbot. 158.
V. sepium perennis. Raii Syn. 320.
COMMON among bushes by road sides, and about hedges,
flowering in May and June.
Root perennial, somewhat creeping. Stems about 2 feet
high, weak, but little branched, leafy, furrowed, supporting
themselves on other plants by means of the branched tendrils
which terminate the footstalks of their leaves. Leaflets numerous,
ovate, obtuse, thin, hairy, gradually smaller towards the
end of each stalk. Stipulae more or less lunate and toothed.
Flowers axillary, 3 or 4 on a short stalk, all leaning one way.
Calyx dull purple, hairy. Corolla variegated with blue,
purple, and greenish white. Pods when ripe nearly upright,
brown, dotted, destitute of hairs. Seeds globular, smooth.
We know of no valuable qualities that belong to this Vetch,
nor has it attracted the notice of cultivators. We have never
seen the white variety mentioned in Ray’s Synopsis, p. 478.