Lathyrus sylvestris
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Lathyrus grandiflorus
- Phonetic Spelling
- LATH-ih-rus sil-VESS-tris
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The Flat Pea is a long-lived, herbaceous perennial, flowering vine in the bean family with a scrambling habit. The plant is native to Great Britain and Europe west to Siberia and has been introduced into Canada and the northern United States, although it can be found as far south as Georgia. The plant has a winged stem, narrow green leaves, purple pea-like flowers in elongated clusters that bloom in early summer, and a flattened pod. It will climb to a height of 7 feet if supported or grow to height of 30 inches without support. Once established, he plants will often form a mat as they spread by rhizomes, and it can become weedy or invasive and prevent the establishment of other plants if not properly managed.
The Flat Pea does best in well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. The Flat Pea tolerates most soil types, even severely disturbed, acidic, soil and is drought tolerant. Once established, the plant requires little in the way of maintenance. It is edible in small quantities; however, when eaten in large quantities, it can cause a serious disease of the nervous system known as 'lathyrism'. It also contains an acid that can be toxic to livestock not acclimated to it. Flat Pea requires the incorporation of the seed into the soil for propagation; broadcasting the seed will not succeed unless the seed is subsequently covered with soil. It is also best to plant Flat Pea with a grass, such as tall fescue, to provide cover over the 2 to 3 years needed to establish itself.
As a vine, the Flat Pea can spread up to 79 inches and will cling to any supporting structure with tendrils. Like most pea plants, the Flat Pea will fix nitrogen in the soil. The Flat Pea is found on embankments and waste ground where it uses its tendrils to scramble over plants, shrubs and the lower branches of trees. This trait, plus its tolerance of poor and acidic soil, makes it useful in erosion control and efforts to improve marginal soil.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests. The plant can spread easily and can become weedy.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Lathco'
Available in the seed trade; typically planted in Western US.
- 'Lathco'
- 'Lathco'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Lathco'
Available in the seed trade; typically planted in Western US.
- 'Lathco'
- 'Lathco'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lathyrus
- Species:
- sylvestris
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Flat Peas is an effective erosion control plant.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Western Siberia and Caucasus
- Distribution:
- Introduced to Eastern Canada the northern United States.
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds feed on the seeds.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought, acidic soil.
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Twining
- Edibility:
- Moderately toxic if consumed in large quantities.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Creeping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Flattened two inch pod containing 5 to 15 seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- A long stem supports three to ten pinkish-red flowers. The flowers have five sepals and five petals and are irregular. There are ten stamens and a single carpel.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The narrow green leaves are alternate, pinnately divided, and each leaf has 2 or more leaflets and a terminal tendril.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Floppy and flat with wide wings of leaf-like appendages.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- Toxic to humans if eaten in large quantities. Toxic to livestock not acclimated to diaminobutyric acid. Symptoms can include paralysis, slow and weak pulse, shallow breathing, and convulsions.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- diaminobutyric acid (DABA)
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Seeds
