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Lathyrus (Lathuros was the old Greek)

(Lathuros was the old Greek name for the Pea, used by Theophrastus). Including Platystylis. Orobus, too, is included, by Bentham and Hooker, under Lathyrus; but, as the species are so well known in gardens as Orobus, it is kept distinct in this work. ORD. Leguminosae. A genus comprising, according to some authorities, 170 species (which are, however, reduced to 100 by Bentham and Hooker) of, for the most part, hardy climbing herbs, dispersed over various parts of the globe, chiefly in temperate climates or in mountain ranges within the tropics. Flowers blue, violet, rose, white, or yellow, often showy, on axillary, elongated peduncles, solitary or racemose. Leaves pinnate, with one to three pairs of leaflets. As a rule, the species are exceedingly ornamental and very desirable plants. They are of easy culture, thriving in almost any moderately good garden soil. Propagated by divisions, made early in spring, in the case of perennial species; or by seeds, sown at the same season, in an open border.

L. amphicarpos (double-fruited). Earth Pea. fl. pink, tinged with blue; peduncles one-flowered, longer than the leaves. Summer. l. with one pair of lanceolate leaflets; tendrils simple; stipules semi-sagittate. Stems winged, diffuse. h. 6in. to 12in. Syria, 1680. A very singular hardy annual, having underground stems, which are whitish, and bear flowers and legumes absolutely perfect, and resembling those on the stems above ground, except that the flowers are smaller, and do not expand. (S. B. F. G. 236.) L. Armitageanus (Armitage's). A synonym of L. magellanicus. L. cirrhosus (tendrilled). fl. rosy-pink; peduncles many-flowered, longer than the leaves. Summer. l. with two or three pairs of alternate, elliptic, mucronulate leaflets; stipules semi-sagittate, linear, acute. Stems tetragonal, winged. Pyrenees, &c., 1870. Annual climber. (R. G. 628.) L. cyaneus (blue). fl. blue, pink; peduncles few-flowered, longer than the leaves. May and June. l., leaflets two or three pairs, approximate, linear-lanceolate, acute; stipules equal in length to petiole. h. 1ft. Caucasus, 1823. SYN. Platystilis cyaneus. (S. B. F. G. 239.) L. grandiflorus (large-flowered).* fl. rose-coloured, very large, with an emarginate vexillum; peduncles two or three-flowered, longer than the leaves. June to August. l. with one pair of large, ovate, obtuse, waved leaflets; stipules small, semi-sagittate. Stems tetragonal, winged. South Europe, 1814. Annual climber. (B. M. 1938.) L. heterophyllus (variable-leaved). fl. large, with the standard wings flesh-coloured, and the keel whitish; peduncles six to eight-flowered. July to September. l. with one or two pairs of lanceolate, mucronulate leaflets; petioles winged at the base; tendrils branched. Stem erect, rigid, winged. Europe, 1731. Perennial climber.

L. magellanicus (Magellan).* Lord Anson's Pea. fl. bluish-purple; peduncles long, many-flowered. June to September. l. with one pair of ovate or ovate-oblong leaflets; stipules broad, cordately-sagittate, broader than the leaves; tendrils trifid. Straits of Magellan, 1744. A strong-growing, handsome perennial. SYN. L. Armitageanus. (S. B. F. G. ser. ii. 344.) L. latifolius (broad-leaved). A synonym of L. sylvestris platy phyllus. L. maritimus californicus (sea-loving, Californian). fl. purple, elegantly veined, large; peduncles many-flowered, about equal in length to the leaves. July to September. l. glaucous, with four or five pairs of ovate-oblong, glabrous, mucronulate leaflets; tendrils three-parted; stipules semi-sagittate. Stems tetragonal, glabrous. North California, 1826. Perennial climber. (B. R. 1144, under name of L. californicus.) L. Nissolia (Nissolia). fl. of a beautiful crimson, variegated with purple and white, solitary, on long peduncles; peduncles articulated at the apex, and downy on the upper part, where they bear two little awl-shaped bracts. May and June. l., petioles dilated, foliaceous, grass-like; stipules small, subulate, usually wanting. Stem erect. h. 6in. to 12in. Europe, &c. (Britain). Hardy annual. (Sy. En. B. 398.) L. odoratus (sweet-scented).* Sweet Pea. fl. of various colours, fragrant; peduncles two or three-flowered, much longer than the leaves. Summer. l., leaflets ovate, mucronulate; stipules semi-sagittate, lanceolate. Stems winged. Sicily, &c., 1700. Hardy annual climber. The Sweet Pea is so generally known, and so deservedly popular, that it needs no eulogy here. (B. M. 60.) The varieties are numerous, and include the following: BUTTERFLY; FAIRY QUEEN; SCARLET, BLACK, and STRIPED INVINCIBLE; PAINTED LADY; PRINCESS OF PRUSSIA; and VIOLET QUEEN.

L. palustris (marsh). fl. variegated with blue and purple; peduncles three to five-flowered, hardly longer than the leaves. Summer. l. with two or three pairs of oblong, mucronulate leaflets; petioles subulate; tendrils bifid or trifid; stipules semi-sagittate, small. Stems winged, rather erect. Northern hemisphere (Britain). Perennial climber. A distinct and pretty bog plant. (Sy. En. B. 404.) L. pratensis (meadow). fl. yellow; peduncles many-flowered, twice the length of the leaves. Summer. l. with one pair of oblong-linear or lanceolate leaflets; tendrils usually simple; stipules sagittate-ovate. Europe (Britain). Hardy perennial climber. (Sy. En. B. 400.) L. roseus (rose-coloured).* fl. beautiful rose-coloured; peduncles filiform, longer than the leaves. Summer. l. with one pair of ovate-roundish leaflets; tendrils very short; stipules small, subulate. Stem slender, not winged. Iberia, 1822. Hardy herbaceous climber.

L. rotundifolius (round-leaved).* fl. rose-coloured; peduncles many-flowered, longer than the leaves. May to July. l. with one pair of ovate-roundish leaflets; stipules semi-sagittate, or little toothed. Stems winged, branched. Tauria, 1822. Hardy perennial climber. (B. M. 6522.) L. sativus (cultivated). Chickling Vetch. fl. white; peduncles one-flowered, longer than the petioles, bracteolate and articulated at the apex. June and July. l., leaflets linear-oblong; tendrils trifid; stipules semi-sagittate, ovate, ciliated. Stems winged. South Europe, 1640. Hardy climbing annual. (B. M. 115.) L. sylvestris (wood). fl. red, variegated with pale crimson violet, and tints of green; wings violet; peduncles three to eight-flowered, length of leaves. July to September. l. with one pair of lanceolate, attenuated, coriaceous leaflets; stipules very narrow. Stems winged. Europe, &c. (Britain). Perennial climber. (Sy. En. B. 402.) L. s. platyphyllus (broad-leaved).* Everlasting Pea. fl. rose-coloured, large; peduncles many-flowered, longer than the leaves. August. l. with one pair of elliptic, mucronate leaflets; stipules broad, ovate. Stems winged. Europe, &c. A well-known and very desirable hardy climbing perennial. SYN. L. latifolius. (Sy. En. B. 403.) There is a very good white-flowered form of this plant. Both the type and the white variety can be grown with good effect amongst other climbers, over trellises, and in such-like places.

L. tingitanus (Tangiers). fl. with a large purple vexillum, and with the wings and keel bright red; peduncles two-flowered, longer than the leaves. June and July. l., leaflets ovate, obtuse, mucronulate; stipules ovate, semi-sagittate. Stem winged. Africa (Tangiers), 1680. Hardy annual. (B. M. 100.) L. tuberosus (tuberous). fl. rose-coloured, large; peduncles three to six-flowered, two or three times the length of the leaves. June and July. l. with one pair of oblong-elliptic, rather mucronulate leaflets; stipules semi-sagittate, narrow, acute. Stems tetragonal. Europe, West Asia, North Africa, 1596 (naturalised in Essex). Perennial climber. (B. M. 111; Sy. En. B. 401.)