LATH'YRUS (Neo-Lat., from Gk. AdOepos, sort of pulse). A genus of plants of the natural order Iegmninosie. The leaves of many species are furnished With tendrils, and are pinnate, but often with only one pair of leaflets. The species are numerous, annual and perennial herbs, na tives of temperate countries in the Northern Hemisphere and the mountains of tropical Africa and South America. Few are American; some are natives of Great Britain: some have very beautiful flowers of considerable size. on account of which they find a place in flower-gardens. as Lath urns latifolius and Lathyrus sy/rest•is, the latter a native of England and the former of the south of Europe, both perennials. and known by the name of everlasting pea. The sweet pea ( Lath yrus odoratus), a native of the East. one of the best known ornaments of our flower-gardens, is a hardy annual, esteemed not only on account of the beauty of its flowers. but of their delight ful fragrance. The most 'omit Itritish species is the meadow vetehling (Lath/wits pratensis), with bright yellow flowers. Lathurus satin's, the chiekling vetch or lentil of Spain, a native of the south of Europe. flowers generally of a bright blue color and winged pods, is culti vated in India. and in Germany. France. and other countries for its seeds, the flour of which, however, is mixed With otIi r flour rather than used alone, on account of narcotic qualities which it possesses. and which caused its cultivation for
food to he interdicted in Wfirttembe•g in 1671. An incurable paralysis of the limbs has some times been produced by it, both in human beings and lower animals. The seeds of Lathyrus Cie, ea. although sometimes used by the country people of France. are even more dangerous. Those of Lathyrus .1phrtea, a specie. sometimes found on gravelly soils in England. possess simi lar qualities when ripe. but in an unripe stale are wholesome. They are eaten with the pods which contain them. Lathyrus tuberosus, a native of Germany and other parts of Europe. but not of Great Britain, is cultivated on the Continent for its starchy tubers, which are sometimes called Dutch mice: in Germany they are known as earthnuts. The herbage of the plant is relished by cattle. In Alaska. and elsewhere the unripe seeds of the beach-pea (Lathyrus maritimus) are eaten as a vegetable. Lathyrus sylrestris Wag neri has been extensively exploited as a fodder plant in Germany. France, and the United Stales. It is very resistant to drought when once estab lished, and yields abundant been forage of a nutritious character.