LATHYRUS SATIVUS

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Cicercula sativa, Lathyrus cicera subsp. sativus,

Pisum lathyrus.

Meaning:- Lathyrus (Gr) The ancient name for chickling pea.

Sativus (L) Planted, cultivated, not wild, sown.

General description:- Short to tall hairless climbing, annual.

Stem:-

1) 20-100 cm, narrowly winged.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate, leaflets 1(-2) pairs, 25-150 x 3-7(-9) mm, linear to lanceolate.

2) Stipules, 10-20 x 2-5 mm, lanceolate, semi-sagittate.

Flowers:-

1) Solitary, peduncles, 30-60 mm, articulated near the middle or apex.

2) Calyx-teeth, equal, 2-3 times as long as the tube.

3) Corolla, 12-24 mm, white, pink or blue.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, 20-40 x 10-18 mm, brown, glabrous, with 2 wings on the dorsal suture.

2) Seeds, 2-6, smooth; hilum 1/16-1/15 of the circumference of seed.

Key features:-

1) Corolla, 20 mm or more, variously coloured, but never yellow.

2) Peduncles, 30-60 mm.

3) Legume, with 2 wings on the dorsal suture.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Cultivated for fodder and naturalised in field margins, roadsides and

ruderal habitats. 0-500(-1200) m.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout Greece. - Mediterranean region and SW Asia.

Rare on Crete currently known from only three locations..

Flowering time:- Apr-May

Photos by:- Steve Lenton