Lathyrus latifolius

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Lathyrus latifolius
Lathyrus latifolius flowers.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Lathyrus
Species:
L. latifolius
Binomial name
Lathyrus latifolius
L.

Lathyrus latifolius, the perennial peavine, perennial pea, broad-leaved everlasting-pea, [1] or just everlasting pea, is a robust, sprawling herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae. It is native to Europe but is present on other continents, such as North America and Australia, [2] where it is most often seen along roadsides. [3]

Contents

Morphology

Lathyrus latifolius has winged hairless stems, and alternating blue green compound leaves consisting of a single pair of leaflets and a winged petiole about 2 inches (51 mm) long. The leaflets are narrowly ovate or oblong-ovate, smooth along the margins, hairless and up to 3 in (76 mm) long and 1 in (25 mm) across. There is a branched tendril between the leaflets.

Racemes

Short racemes of 4–11 flowers are produced from the axils of the leaves. The flowers, which are unscented, are about 34–1 in (19–25 mm) across with a typical structure for Faboideae , with an upper standard and lower keel, enclosed by lateral petals. There are 5 petals, which are purplish pink, fading with age. There is a green calyx with 5 teeth, often unequal. The blooming period lasts about 2 months during the summer and early autumn. [4]

Seeds

The flowers are followed by hairless flattened seedpods, about 2 in (51 mm) long and 12 in (13 mm) wide, with several seeds inside. The seedpod, which is initially green, gradually turns brown, splitting open into curled segments, flinging out the seeds. The seeds are dark and oblong to reniform in shape.

Reproduction

Lathyrus latifolius can reproduce vegetatively from its taproot and rhizomes, or by reseeding.

Cultivation and habits

Lathyrus latifolius is a perennial herbaceous vine (climber), which can reach 6 feet or more by means of twining tendrils, but in open areas sprawls. It is frost-hardy, long-lived, and slowly spreading. The foliage becomes rather ragged and yellowish by the end of summer. [4] [5]

It requires partial to full sun, and loam or clay-loam soil that is moist, mesic, or slightly dry. Unlike the related annual sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus, with which it may be confused, it has no scent. While grown as a garden plant it may be pervasive and difficult to remove. Because of this, this species is often considered to be a weed despite its attractive appearance.

Numerous cultivars have been selected as garden subjects, of which the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

  • L. latifolius [6] (pink)
  • 'Albus' [7] (white)
  • 'Rosa Perle' [8] (pale pink)
  • 'White Pearl' [9] (white)

Relations to insect life

Bumblebees pollinate the flowers. Butterflies visit the flowers for their nectar, but do not pollinate. Epicauta fabricii (Fabricius blister beetle), the caterpillars of Apantesis phyllira (Oithona tiger moth) and some herbivores feed on the leaves. However, the seeds are poisonous. [4]

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<i>Lathyrus sylvestris</i> Species of legume

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<i>Lathyrus vernus</i> Species of legume

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<i>Lathyrus littoralis</i> Species of legume

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<i>Lathyrus hirsutus</i> Species of plant

Lathyrus hirsutus is a species of wild pea known by several common names, including Caley pea, singletary pea, hairy vetchling, and Austrian winter pea. It is native to Europe, North Africa, and much of Asia, and it is known from other continents, including North America, as an introduced species. This is an annual herb producing a winged stem and leaves each made up of two leaflike leaflets with a branching, coiled tendril. The inflorescence holds one or two pink, blue, or bicolored pea flowers each 1 to 1.5 centimeters wide. The fruit is a dehiscent legume pod covered in hairs with each hair growing from a minute bulbous base. The rest of the plant is generally hairless.

<i>Lathyrus palustris</i> Species of legume

Lathyrus palustris is a species of wild pea known by the common name marsh pea. It is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. It is a perennial herb with leaves made up of oval-shaped or oblong leaflets a few centimeters long. It has branched, coiled tendrils. The plant bears an inflorescence of two to eight pinkish purple pea flowers each up to two centimeters wide. The fruit is a dehiscent legume pod.

<i>Lathyrus sphaericus</i> Species of legume

Lathyrus sphaericus is a species of wild pea known by the common names grass pea and round-seeded vetchling. It is native to Eurasia and much of Africa, and it is known on other continents as an introduced species. It can grow in many types of habitat, including disturbed areas. This is an annual herb producing a slender stem and bearing leaves each made up of two long, narrow, grasslike leaflets up to 6 centimeters long and a coiling, climbing tendril. The inflorescence is made up of one pea flower on a stalk one or two centimeters long ending a in a bristle. The flower is roughly a centimeter long and deep orange-red or dull red in color. The fruit is a hairless legume pod marked with longitudinal stripes.

<i>Paeonia cambessedesii</i> Species of flowering plant

Paeonia cambessedesii is a perennial herbaceous species of peony about 45 cm high. It has pink flowers. The stems, major veins and undersides of the leaves remain purple red, while the upper surface of the leaves turns into a metallic bluish green when fully grown and its lower leaves consist of no more than nine leaflets or segments. This endemic of the Balearic Islands is now limited to parts of northeastern and northwestern Majorca. In English it is sometimes called Balearic peony or Majorcan peony.

<i>Centrosema virginianum</i> Species of legume

Centrosema virginianum is known by the common names of spurred butterfly pea, wild blue vine, blue bell, and wild pea. C. virginianum is a member of the family Fabaceae, it is identified by its trailing and twining vine and showy flowers. C. virginianum habitats are in sunny areas within pine lands, and coastal uplands.

<i>Lophospermum erubescens</i> Species of flowering plant

Lophospermum erubescens, known as Mexican twist or creeping gloxinia, is a climbing or sprawling herbaceous perennial plant, native to the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains of Mexico, where it is found along forest margins or canyon walls. It climbs by means of twining leaf stalks. Wild plants have pink and white tubular flowers, although other colours are found in cultivation. It has been cultivated as an ornamental plant since at least 1830. Although not frost-hardy, it will survive if its base and roots are protected from freezing in the winter. It has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in tropical and subtropical areas of the world.

<i>Lathyrus grandiflorus</i> Species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae

Lathyrus grandiflorus, two-flowered everlasting pea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to southern Europe. Growing to 2 m (6.6 ft) tall, it is a twining herbaceous perennial with grey-green leaves and, in late summer, bright magenta-pink flowers, the central keel a darker red. Unlike its cousin, the annual sweet pea, it is unscented. Once established it is a robust plant with the ability to scramble into other shrubs and trees. It is very hardy, down to −20 °C (−4 °F), so is capable of surviving conditions in most temperate regions of the world.

<i>Lathyrus rotundifolius</i> Species of flowering plant

Lathyrus rotundifolius, the Persian everlasting pea, is a species of flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae, native to Turkey. Growing to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) tall, this herbaceous perennial climber has twining, clinging tendrils and brick red flowers in summer. Unlike its relative, the sweet pea, the flowers are unscented. It is hardy to −20 °C (−4 °F), but requires a position in full sun.

References

  1. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  2. "Lathyrus latifolius". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  3. Sierra Nevada Wildflowers, Karen Wiese, 2nd ed, 2013, p. 70
  4. 1 2 3 Weedy Wildflowers of Illinois: Everlasting pea
  5. C. Brickell, Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, 1996, Royal Horticultural Society, London, ISBN   0-7513-0436-0.
  6. "RHS Plant Selector - Lathyrus latifolius". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  7. "RHS Plant Selector - Lathyrus latifolius 'Albus'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  8. "RHS Plant Selector - Lathyrus latifolius 'Rosa Perle'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  9. "RHS Plant Selector - Lathyrus latifolius 'White Pearl'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 September 2020.