Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea
On waste ground near the sea,
West Bay, Dorset
Spray of flowers
Single flower
Pods
Leaves, tendrils
Flattened, winged stems
Nodules on the roots containing nitrogen-
fixing bacteria
Lathyrus latifolius
Fabaceae
June to August
It is found mainly in the South, is patchy in the midlands
and the Southwest and is thinly scattered in the North.
See the BSBI distribution map for Broad-leaved
It is a neophyte. which was introduced in the 15th century
and recorded in the wild by the 17th centuary.
It is a garden escape which is naturalised in churchyards,
on waste ground and sea-cliffs, and by railways.
It may be increasing.
Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea is a striking, attractive,
scrambling, nitrogen-fixing, perennial herb, growing
up to 3m.
Flowers are up to 3cm, magenta-pink and in sprays
of up to 12 flowers on a short spike.
Leaves have 2 broadly elliptical leaflets and the tendrils
are branched.
Stems are flat and winged.
The pods are long, up to 10cm, turning from green to
brown.
Once it has become established, it can be very
persistent.
To compare it with the native, Narrow-Leaved
Everlasting-Pea, click on this link.
Previous page: Bristly Oxtongue
Next page: Broad-leaved Willowherb
On waste ground near the sea,
West Bay, Dorset
Spray of flowers
Single flower
Pods
Leaves, tendrils
Flattened, winged stems
Nodules on the roots containing nitrogen-
fixing bacteria
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