436
edits
Changes
From Gardenology.org - Plant Encyclopedia and Gardening Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to searchno edit summary
{{Inc|
Lathyrus (name used by Theophrastus for some leguminous plant). Leguminosae. Annual and perennial, climbing and upright herbs and shrubby plants with pinnate leaves, half-sagittate stipules and showy papilionaceous flowers.
Stems flat or winged, in some species: leaves. equally pinnate, ending in a tendril or in a point; lfts. 2 or several; stipules leafy, large and prominent, half-sagittate : flowers. solitary or racemose, on long axillary peduncles; calyx oblique-campanulate, 5-parted, the upper teeth often shorter; corolla dark blue, violet, rose, white or yellow, or a union of these, the standard large, broadly obovate or roundish, notched, with a short claw, the wings falcate-obovate or oblong, the keel shorter than the wings, incurved, obtuse; stamens diadelphous (9 and 1) or monadelphous below; ovary 1-celled, the pod several-seeded; style curved, usually twisted, flattened, hairy along the inner side: pod flat or terete, 2-valved, dehiscent.—A genus according to the Index Kewensis, of more than 200 species, occurring in the northern hemisphere, Amer., Eu., Asia, and in Afruits and 8. Amer. Orobus niger and O. vernus are common garden names, but Bentham & Hooker, also Engler & Prantl, make Orobus a subgenus of Lathyrus, characterized in part by the lack of tendrils. See Orobus.
The genus is best known by the sweet pea. Most other forms are perennial, although some of these are cultivated as annuals. All are free-growing plants, so independent in their ways that they require a place to grow by themselves, apart from other plants of like habit or size. Hence they are to be grown alone, on trellises or against walls, in rock-gardens, or allowed to form a wild tangle among strong shrubs. The chief value of the annuals is for cut-flowers, although their part in the garden is not to be ignored. As a temporary screen in summer for shutting out unsightly objects, they are valuable, or for quickly covering trellises or rough places otherwise unsightly.
The genus is best known by the sweet pea. Most other forms are perennial, although some of these are cultivated as annuals. All are free-growing plants, so independent in their ways that they require a place to grow by themselves, apart from other plants of like habit or size. Hence they are to be grown alone, on trellises or against walls, in rock-gardens, or allowed to form a wild tangle among strong shrubs. The chief value of the annuals is for cut-flowers, although their part in the garden is not to be ignored. As a temporary screen in summer for shutting out unsightly objects, they are valuable, or for quickly covering trellises or rough places otherwise unsightly.
The perennials are of comparatively easy cultivation, succeeding in any garden soil. The annuals are more exacting in their requirements, demanding a moderately rich garden soil, abundant moisture, coolness and depth for their roots, and open sunlight. All are grown from seed, sown very early in the open to secure the required coolness for the roots. The perennials are propagated, in addition, by division, special varieties being increased by cuttings in the fall, after the flowering season, or in spring from old plants stored in the greenhouse. The roots of perennials are long and fleshy, and, when once established, usually continue for years without attention.
{{Taxobox
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| color = lightgreen
