''Lathyrus'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the

legume Legumes are plants in the pea family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seeds of such plants. When used as a dry grain for human consumption, the seeds are also called pulses. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consum ...

family

Fabaceae Fabaceae () or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomen ...

, and contains approximately 160 species. Commonly known as peavines or vetchlings, they are native to

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (approximately 23.5° to 66.5° N/S of the Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ran ...

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 In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

species which may be climbing or bushy. This genus has numerous sections, including ''Orobus'', which was once a separate genus. The genus has numerous synonyms, including ''Pisum'', the ancient

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

name for the pea.Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. (hardback), (paperback). pp 304

Species

181 species are currently accepted.GRIN Species Records of ''Lathyrus''.
Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). *'' Lathyrus acutifolius'' *'' Lathyrus alamutensis'' *'' Lathyrus alpestris'' *'' Lathyrus amphicarpos'' *'' Lathyrus angulatus'' – angled pea *'' Lathyrus anhuiensis'' *'' Lathyrus annuus'' – red fodder pea *'' Lathyrus apenninus'' *'' Lathyrus aphaca'' – yellow pea *'' Lathyrus armenus'' *'' Lathyrus articulatus'' *'' Lathyrus atropatanus'' *'' Lathyrus aureus'' – golden pea *'' Lathyrus basalticus'' *'' Lathyrus bauhini'' *'' Lathyrus belinensis'' *'' Lathyrus berteroanus'' *'' Lathyrus biflorus'' – twoflower pea *'' Lathyrus bijugus'' – drypark pea *'' Lathyrus binatus'' *'' Lathyrus bitlisicus'' *'' Lathyrus blepharicarpos'' – ciliate vetchling *'' Lathyrus boissieri'' *'' Lathyrus brachycalyx'' – Bonneville pea *'' Lathyrus brachyodon'' *'' Lathyrus brachypterus'' *'' Lathyrus brownii'' *'' Lathyrus cabrerianus'' *'' Lathyrus campestris'' *''

Lathyrus cassius ''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 species, native to temperate areas, with a breakdown of 52 species in Eu ...

'' *'' Lathyrus caudatus'' *'' Lathyrus chloranthus'' *'' Lathyrus chrysanthus'' *'' Lathyrus cicera'' – red pea *'' Lathyrus ciliatidentatus'' *'' Lathyrus cilicicus'' *'' Lathyrus ciliolatus'' *'' Lathyrus cirpicii'' *'' Lathyrus cirrhosus'' *'' Lathyrus clymenum'' – Spanish vetchling *'' Lathyrus colchicus'' *'' Lathyrus crassipes'' – ''arvejilla'' *'' Lathyrus cyaneus'' *'' Lathyrus czeczottianus'' *'' Lathyrus davidii'' *'' Lathyrus decaphyllus'' – prairie vetchling *'' Lathyrus delnorticus'' – Del Norte pea *'' Lathyrus dielsianus'' *'' Lathyrus digitatus'' *'' Lathyrus elegans'' *'' Lathyrus elongatus'' *'' Lathyrus emodi'' *'' Lathyrus eucosmus'' – seemly vetchling, bush vetchling *'' Lathyrus filiformis'' *'' Lathyrus fissus'' *'' Lathyrus formosus'' – Vavilovia *'' Lathyrus frolovii'' *'' Lathyrus fulvus'' *'' Lathyrus glandulosus'' *'' Lathyrus gloeosperma'' *'' Lathyrus gmelinii'' *'' Lathyrus golanensis'' *''

Lathyrus gorgoni ''Lathyrus gorgoni'' is a species of annual herb in the family Fabaceae Fabaceae () or Leguminosae,Lathyrus graminifolius'' – grassleaf pea *'' Lathyrus grandiflorus'' – twoflower everlasting pea *'' Lathyrus grimesii'' – Grimes' pea *'' Lathyrus hallersteinii'' *'' Lathyrus hasslerianus'' *'' Lathyrus heterophyllus'' – Norfolk everlasting pea *'' Lathyrus hierosolymitanus'' *'' Lathyrus hirsutus'' – hairy vetchling *'' Lathyrus hirticarpus'' *'' Lathyrus hitchcockianus'' – Bullfrog Mountain pea *'' Lathyrus holochlorus'' – thinleaf pea *'' Lathyrus hookeri'' *'' Lathyrus humilis'' *'' Lathyrus hygrophilus'' *'' Lathyrus inconspicuus'' *'' Lathyrus incurvus'' *'' Lathyrus japonicus'' – sea pea, beach pea *'' Lathyrus jepsonii'' – delta tule pea *'' Lathyrus karsianus'' *'' Lathyrus ketzkhovelii'' *'' Lathyrus komarovii'' *'' Lathyrus krylovii'' *'' Lathyrus laetivirens'' – aspen pea *'' Lathyrus laevigatus'' *'' Lathyrus lanszwertii'' – Nevada pea ** ''Lathyrus lanszwertii'' var. ''aridus'' ** ''Lathyrus lanszwertii'' var. ''arizonicus'' ** ''Lathyrus lanszwertii'' var. ''bijugatus'' – drypark pea ** ''Lathyrus lanszwertii'' var. ''lanszwertii'' ** ''Lathyrus lanszwertii'' var. ''pallescens'' *'' Lathyrus latifolius'' – everlasting pea, perennial pea *'' Lathyrus laxiflorus'' *'' Lathyrus lentiformis'' *'' Lathyrus leptophyllus'' *'' Lathyrus libani'' – Lebanon vetchling *'' Lathyrus linearifolius'' *'' Lathyrus linifolius'' – bitter vetch, heath pea *'' Lathyrus littoralis'' – silky beach pea *'' Lathyrus lomanus'' *'' Lathyrus lycicus'' *'' Lathyrus macropus'' *'' Lathyrus macrostachys'' *'' Lathyrus magellanicus'' *'' Lathyrus marmoratus'' *'' Lathyrus meridensis'' *'' Lathyrus miniatus'' *'' Lathyrus mulkak'' *'' Lathyrus multiceps'' *'' Lathyrus multijugus'' *'' Lathyrus nervosus'' – Lord Anson's blue pea *'' Lathyrus neurolobus'' *'' Lathyrus nevadensis'' – Sierra pea *'' Lathyrus niger'' – black pea *'' Lathyrus nigrivalvis'' *''

Lathyrus nissolia ''Lathyrus nissolia'', the grass vetchling, is a species of flowering plant in the pea and bean family Fabaceae.Streeter D, Hart-Davies C, Hardcastle A, Cole F, Harper L. 2009. ''Collins Flower Guide''. Harper Collins Its common name refers to t ...

'' – grass vetchling *'' Lathyrus nitens'' *'' Lathyrus nivalis'' *'' Lathyrus numidicus'' *'' Lathyrus ochroleucus'' – cream pea *'' Lathyrus ochrus'' – Cyprus-vetch *'' Lathyrus odoratus'' – sweet pea *'' Lathyrus oleraceus'' – pea *'' Lathyrus pallescens'' *'' Lathyrus palustris'' – marsh pea *'' Lathyrus pancicii'' *'' Lathyrus pannonicus'' *'' Lathyrus paraguariensis'' *'' Lathyrus paranensis'' *'' Lathyrus parodii'' *'' Lathyrus pauciflorus'' – fewflower pea *'' Lathyrus pisiformis'' *'' Lathyrus polyphyllus'' – leafy pea *'' Lathyrus pratensis'' – meadow vetchling *'' Lathyrus pseudocicera'' *'' Lathyrus pubescens'' *'' Lathyrus pusillus'' – tiny pea, singletary vetchling *'' Lathyrus pygmaeus'' *'' Lathyrus quinquenervius'' *'' Lathyrus rigidus'' – stiff pea *'' Lathyrus roseus'' *'' Lathyrus rotundifolius'' *'' Lathyrus satdaghensis'' *'' Lathyrus sativus'' – Indian pea, white pea, chickling vetch *'' Lathyrus saxatilis'' *'' Lathyrus sericeus'' *'' Lathyrus setifolius'' *'' Lathyrus spathulatus'' *'' Lathyrus speciosus'' *'' Lathyrus sphaericus'' – grass pea *'' Lathyrus splendens'' – pride of California *'' Lathyrus stenolobus'' *'' Lathyrus stenophyllus'' *'' Lathyrus subandinus'' *'' Lathyrus subulatus'' *'' Lathyrus sulphureus'' – snub pea *'' Lathyrus sylvestris'' – flat pea *'' Lathyrus tauricola'' *'' Lathyrus tefennicus'' *'' Lathyrus tingitanus'' – Tangier pea *'' Lathyrus torreyi'' – Torrey's peavine *'' Lathyrus × tournefortii'' *'' Lathyrus trachycarpus'' *'' Lathyrus tracyi'' *'' Lathyrus transsylvanicus'' *'' Lathyrus tremolsianus'' *'' Lathyrus tropicalandinus'' *'' Lathyrus tuberosus'' – tuberous pea *'' Lathyrus tukhtensis'' *'' Lathyrus undulatus'' – wavy pea *'' Lathyrus vaniotii'' – Korean mountain vetchling *'' Lathyrus venetus'' *'' Lathyrus venosus'' – veiny pea, bushy vetchling *'' Lathyrus vernus'' – spring pea *'' Lathyrus vestitus'' – Pacific pea *'' Lathyrus vinealis'' *'' Lathyrus vivantii'' *'' Lathyrus whitei'' *'' Lathyrus woronowii'' *'' Lathyrus zalaghensis''

Ecology

''Lathyrus'' species are used as food plants by the

larva A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...

e of some

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) or lepidopterans is an order (biology), order of winged insects which includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 10% of the total described species of living organ ...

species, including the grey chi (''Antitype chi'') and the latticed heath (''Chiasmia clathrata''), both recorded on meadow vetchling (''Lathyrus pratensis''), and '' Chionodes braunella''. ''Lathyrus'' growth abundance and size both decrease in response to increased temperatures in montane meadows.

Uses

Several species are grown for food, including the pea (''Lathyrus oleraceus''), Indian pea (''L. sativus''), and the red pea (''L. cicera''), and less commonly cyprus-vetch (''L. ochrus'') and Spanish vetchling (''L. clymenum''). The tuberous pea (''L. tuberosus'') is grown as a root vegetable for its starchy edible

tuber Tubers are a type of enlarged structure that plants use as storage organs for nutrients, derived from stems or roots. Tubers help plants perennate (survive winter or dry months), provide energy and nutrients, and are a means of asexual reproduc ...

. The

seed In botany, a seed is a plant structure containing an embryo and stored nutrients in a protective coat called a ''testa''. More generally, the term "seed" means anything that can be Sowing, sown, which may include seed and husk or tuber. Seeds ...

s of some ''Lathyrus'' species contain the toxic

amino acid Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. Although over 500 amino acids exist in nature, by far the most important are the 22 α-amino acids incorporated into proteins. Only these 22 a ...

oxalyldiaminopropionic acid and if eaten in large quantities can cause

lathyrism Lathyrism is a condition caused by eating certain legumes of the genus ''Lathyrus''. There are three types of lathyrism: ''neurolathyrism'', ''osteolathyrism'', and ''angiolathyrism'', all of which are incurable, differing in their symptoms and ...

, a serious disease. Many species are cultivated as garden plants. The genus includes the garden

sweet pea 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. It is an annual climbing plant, growing to a height of , where ...

(''Lathyrus odoratus'') and the

everlasting pea (''Lathyrus latifolius'').

Flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

s on these cultivated species may be rose, red, maroon, pink, white, yellow, purple or blue, and some are bicolored. They are also grown for their fragrance. Cultivated species are susceptible to

fungal A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one of the tradit ...

infections including downy and

powdery mildew Powdery mildew is a fungus, fungal disease that affects a wide range of plants. Powdery mildew diseases are caused by many different species of Ascomycota, ascomycete fungi in the order Erysiphales. Powdery mildew is one of the easier plant disea ...

Notes

External links

*
Calflora Database: ''Lathyrus'' species index

Jepson Flora Project: Key to ''Lathyrus''
{{Authority control Fabaceae genera Garden plants Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus