Lathyrus

Read about Lathyrus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Lathyrus (name used by Theophrastus for some leguminous plant). Leguminosae. Annual and perennial, climbing and upright herbs and shrubby plants with pinnate leaves, half-sagittate stipules and showy papilionaceous flowers. Stems flat or winged, in some species: leaves. equally pinnate, ending in a tendril or in a point; lfts. 2 or several; stipules leafy, large and prominent, half-sagittate : flowers. solitary or racemose, on long axillary peduncles; calyx oblique-campanulate, 5-parted, the upper teeth often shorter; corolla dark blue, violet, rose, white or yellow, or a union of these, the standard large, broadly obovate or roundish, notched, with a short claw, the wings falcate-obovate or oblong, the keel shorter than the wings, incurved, obtuse; stamens diadelphous (9 and 1) or monadelphous below; ovary 1-celled, the pod several-seeded; style curved, usually twisted, flattened, hairy along the inner side: pod flat or terete, 2-valved, dehiscent.—A genus according to the Index Kewensis, of more than 200 species, occurring in the northern hemisphere, Amer., Eu., Asia, and in Afruits and 8. Amer. Orobus niger and O. vernus are common garden names, but Bentham & Hooker, also Engler & Prantl, make Orobus a subgenus of Lathyrus, characterized in part by the lack of tendrils. See Orobus. The genus is best known by the sweet pea. Most other forms are perennial, although some of these are cultivated as annuals. All are free-growing plants, so independent in their ways that they require a place to grow by themselves, apart from other plants of like habit or size. Hence they are to be grown alone, on trellises or against walls, in rock-gardens, or allowed to form a wild tangle among strong shrubs. The chief value of the annuals is for cut-flowers, although their part in the garden is not to be ignored. As a temporary screen in summer for shutting out unsightly objects, they are valuable, or for quickly covering trellises or rough places otherwise unsightly. The genus is best known by the sweet pea. Most other forms are perennial, although some of these are cultivated as annuals. All are free-growing plants, so independent in their ways that they require a place to grow by themselves, apart from other plants of like habit or size. Hence they are to be grown alone, on trellises or against walls, in rock-gardens, or allowed to form a wild tangle among strong shrubs. The chief value of the annuals is for cut-flowers, although their part in the garden is not to be ignored. As a temporary screen in summer for shutting out unsightly objects, they are valuable, or for quickly covering trellises or rough places otherwise unsightly. The perennials are of comparatively easy cultivation, succeeding in any garden soil. The annuals are more exacting in their requirements, demanding a moderately rich garden soil, abundant moisture, coolness and depth for their roots, and open sunlight. All are grown from seed, sown very early in the open to secure the required coolness for the roots. The perennials are propagated, in addition, by division, special varieties being increased by cuttings in the fall, after the flowering season, or in spring from old plants stored in the greenhouse. The roots of perennials are long and fleshy, and, when once established, usually continue for years without attention. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

? Sweet peas
Grass Vetchling, Lathyrus nissolia
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Faboideae Tribe: Vicieae Genus: Lathyrus
Species
See text.

The genus Lathyrus consists of the sweet peas and vetchlings, flowering plants in the legume family Fabaceae. There are approximately 160 species of Lathyrus; 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.

The genus includes the garden sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) and the perennial everlasting pea (Lathyrus latifolius). Flowers on these cultivated species may be rose, red, maroon, pink, white, yellow, purple or blue and some are bicolored; they are also fragrant, which makes them a very popular garden plant. Cultivated species are susceptible to fungal infections including downy and powdery mildew. Lathyrus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Grey Chi, Latticed Heath (both recorded on Meadow Vetchling) and Chionodes braunella.

Other species are grown for food, including L. sativus and L. cicera, and less commonly L. ochrus and L. clymenum. L. tuberosus is grown as a root vegetable for its starchy edible tuber.

The seeds of some Lathyrus species contain a toxic amino acid and if eaten in large quantities can cause lathyrism, a serious disease.

Species

• Lathyrus aureus (Golden Pea)
• Lathyrus annuus (Red Fodder Pea)
• Lathyrus chloranthus
• Lathyrus japonicus (Sea Pea)
• Lathyrus lanszwertii (Nevada Pea)
• Lathyrus latifolius (Everlasting Pea)
• Lathyrus linifolius (Bitter Vetch)
• Lathyrus nervosus (Lord Anson's Blue Pea)
• Lathyrus nissolia (Grass Vetchling)
• Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Pea)
• Lathyrus pratensis (Meadow Vetchling)
• Lathyrus sativus (Indian Pea)
• Lathyrus sphaericus, Spring vetchling
• Lathyrus sylvestris (Flat Pea-vine)
• Lathyrus tingitanus (Tangier Pea)
• Lathyrus tuberosus (Tuberous Pea)

Notes

Golden Pea (Lathyrus aureus)

Lathyrus vernus