Lathyrus nissolia

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Lathyrus nissolia
Grass Vetchling (Lathyrus nissolia) (3552393290).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. nissolia
Binomial name
Lathyrus nissolia
L.

Lathyrus nissolia, the grass vetchling or grass pea, [1] is a species of flowering plant in the pea and bean family Fabaceae. It is native to most of Europe, Maghreb, Levant and the Caucasus. Despite its common names, it is not a grass, but belongs to the legume family Fabaceae.

Contents

Description

Grass vetchling is an annual plant, with an erect stem branching from the base, and growing to a height of about 2 feet (0.7 m). It is entirely without true leaves, leaflets or tendrils. The leaf stalk, however, is flattened out until it closely resembles a blade of grass ending in a fine point, and the stipules at its base greatly help the deception. [1]

The crimson flowers come out in June and July, and are rather small, solitary and borne on a very long footstalk. They have the ability to self-pollinate. [1]

The flowers are succeeded by long, slender, straight pods, which are at first very flat, but become cylindrical when the contained peas are fully developed. [1]

Habitat

Grassland, banks and field margins on neutral to acid soil. [2]

Distribution

The species is rare in Scotland and very localised in England and Wales, though there are signs that it is currently spreading in the United Kingdom. [2] Not recorded from Ireland. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Lathyrus</i> Plant genus in the pea family Fabaceae

Lathyrus is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family Fabaceae, and contains approximately 160 species. Commonly known as peavines or vetchlings, they are native to temperate areas, with a breakdown of 52 species in Europe, 30 species in North America, 78 in Asia, 24 in tropical East Africa, and 24 in temperate South America. There are annual and perennial species which may be climbing or bushy. This genus has numerous sections, including Orobus, which was once a separate genus.

<i>Lathyrus latifolius</i> Species of flowering plant in the pea and bean family Fabaceae

Lathyrus latifolius, the perennial peavine, perennial pea, broad-leaved everlasting-pea, 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, where it is most often seen along roadsides.

<i>Vicia cracca</i> Species of legume

Vicia cracca, is a species of flowering plant in the pea and bean family Fabaceae. It is native to Europe and Asia. It occurs on other continents as an introduced species, including North America, where it is a common weed. It often occurs in disturbed habitats, including old fields and roadside ditches.

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

Lathyrus pratensis or meadow vetchling, yellow pea, meadow pea and meadow pea-vine, is a perennial legume that grows to 1.2 m in height.

Grass pea is a common name for several plants, and may refer to:

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

Lathyrus japonicus, the sea pea, beach pea, circumpolar pea or sea vetchling, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae, native to temperate coastal areas of the Northern Hemisphere, and Argentina.

Beach pea is a common name for several plants and may refer to:

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

Lathyrus tuberosus is a small, climbing perennial plant, native in moist temperate parts of Europe and Western Asia. The plant is a trailer or weak climber, supported by tendrils, growing to 1.2 m tall. The leaves are pinnate, with two leaflets and a branched twining tendril at the apex of the petiole. Its flowers are hermaphroditic, pollinated by bees. The plants can also spread vegetatively from the root system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet pea</span> Species of flowering plant in the pea and bean family Fabaceae

The sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus, is a flowering plant in the genus Lathyrus in the family Fabaceae (legumes), native to Sicily, southern Italy and the Aegean Islands.

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

Lathyrus aphaca, known as the yellow pea or yellow vetchling, is an annual species in the family Fabaceae with yellow flowers and solitary, pea-like fruits. It originated in the Middle East and has spread throughout Europe and beyond as a weed of cultivated fields and roadsides. The fruits are eaten as a supplement to diets in some parts of South Asia but are narcotic and potentially toxic in large quantities.

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

Lathyrus sylvestris, the flat pea or narrow-leaved everlasting-pea, is a species of flowering plant in the pea and bean family Fabaceae. It is native to parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia.

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

Lathyrus vernus, the spring vetchling, spring pea, or spring vetch, is a species of flowering herbaceous perennial plant in the genus Lathyrus, native to forests of Europe and Siberia. It forms a dense clump of pointed leaves with purple flowers in spring, shading to a greenish-blue with age.

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

Lathyrus cicera is a species of wild pea known by the common names red pea, red vetchling and flatpod peavine. It is native to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and it is known from other places as an introduced species. This is a hairless annual herb producing a slightly winged stem. The leaves are each made up of two leaflike linear leaflets 3 to 6 centimeters long. They also bear branched, curling tendrils. The inflorescence holds a single pea flower 1 to 1.5 centimeters wide which is a varying shade of red. The fruit is a hairless dehiscent legume pod.

<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 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>Lathyrus clymenum</i> Species of legume

Lathyrus clymenum, also called Spanish vetchling, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to the Mediterranean. The seeds are used to prepare a Greek dish called fava santorinis. The plant is cultivated on the island of Santorini in Greece and was recently added to the European Union's products with a Protected Designation of Origin.

Lathyrus libani, the Lebanonvetchling is a species of wild peas in the in legume family, Fabaceae. It grows in mountainous regions of the Eastern Mediterranean at elevations between 750 metres (2,460 ft) to 1,650 metres (5,410 ft).

<i>Lathyrus undulatus</i> Species of plant in the family Fabaceae

Lathyrus undulatus, also known as wavy pea, is a flowering plant in the genus Lathyrus, which is in the family Fabaceae. It is native to Turkey, specifically the northwest slopes of Trabzon, Rize, Bolu, Bursa, Sakarya; as well as Crimea, specifically the southern slopes of Nikita Yayla. Its Turkish name is Istanbul Nazendesi.

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

Lathyrus annuus, the annual vetchling, is a species of annual herb in the family Fabaceae. They are climbers and are associated with freshwater habitat. They have broad leaves. Individuals can grow to 37 cm tall.

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

Lathyrus setifolius, the brown vetchling, is a species of annual herb in the family Fabaceae. They have a self-supporting growth form and compound, broad leaves. Individuals can grow to 31 cm.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Stokoe, W.J. The Observer's Book of Wild Flowers (1965 ed.). Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd. p. 88.
  2. 1 2 Nature Spot - Grass Vetchling
  3. Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012 Webb's An Irish Flora Cork University Press ISBN   978-185918-4783