Relatives

Lathyrus latifolius L. - Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea.

Taxonomic position.

Family Fabaceae Lindl. genus Lathyrus L.

Main synonyms:

L. megalanthus Steud., L. sylvestris L. subsp. latifolius (L.) Ponert

Morphology and biology.

Perennial plant 1-2 m tall with prostrate or climbing stem, clutching by means of leaf tendrils. Stem biangular, with two broad wings. Stipules broadly lanceolate, semisagittate, 2-4 cm long, about 1 cm wide, with well distinct longitudinal veins. Petioles broadly winged. Leaf rachis ends in a branched tendril. Leaves consist of 1 pair of oblong-oval leaflets 5.5-9 cm long, 1-3(5) cm wide, with 3-5 very distinct veins. Leaf blade ends in a cusp. Peduncles thick, angular, longer than leaves. Inflorescence rather a lax raceme of 3-10 flowers. Pedicel as long as calyx. Flowers large, 2-2.5 cm long, bright red. Calyx broadly campanulate, its upper teeth triangular-lanceolate, as long as tube, lower tooth lanceolate-subulate, longer than tube and the other calyx teeth. Standard gradually narrowed toward its base into short unguis, wings distinctly shorter than standard, on narrow short unguis, keel half-round, on short unguis. Pods oblong-linear, horizontally patent, narrower toward base, 5-6 cm long, about 1 cm wide, compressed, with acuminate end, with 3 longitudinal scabrous ribs at upper suture. Pod valves with longitudinal-reticular venation. Seeds globose or oblong, weakly tuberculate. 2n=14. Flowers in May - June, fruits in July.

Distribution.

General distribution: Central and Atlantic Europe, Mediterranean. Former USSR: European part - Carpathians, Moldova, Dnieper area, Crimea.

Ecology.

Deciduous forests, forest glades and fringes, shrubberies.

Use and economic value.

High-protein forage, ornamental.

References:

Mayevsky PF. 2006. Flora of the middle zone of European part of Russia. 10th ed. Moscow. P.336-338. (In Russian).
Fedorov AA., Tzvelev NN., eds. 1987. Flora of the European part of the USSR. V.6. Leningrad: Nauka. P.151-153. (In Russian).
Shishkin BK., Bobrov EG., ed. 1948. Flora URSS. V.13. P.491-492. (In Russian).
Cherepanov SK. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and adjacent states (the former USSR). St.Petersburg. 990 p. (In Russian).

© T.N.Smekalova