Tare

Tare (Ervum), a genus of plants of the natural order Leguminosæ, sub-order Papilionaceæ, distinguished from Vicia (see VETCH), to which it is nearly allied, by a cipitate stigma, downy all over. It contains only a few species of weak climbing plants, natives of the temperate parts of the eastern hemisphere. One of these is the Lentil (q.v.). Two (E. hirsutum and E. tetraspermum), generally known by the name of Tare, are common in cornfields and hedges in Britain. They have very small flowers and pods; the leaves are pinnate, and the leaflets small. They afford nourishing food for cattle. A species of tare (E. sativum), with an upright branching habit, is cultivated in some parts of Europe for its herbage, which is used for feeding cattle. The bulk of herbage is considerable, and its nutritious character is high. The leaves have from 8 to 14 pairs of leaflets. The plant thrives well in poor sandy soils. It is not supposed that the Tare of the New Testament has any affinity to these plants: it is doubtful what it is, but it seems not improbable that it is the Darnel (q.v.).