Lathyrus japonicus Willd.
Beach pea, sea pea, circumpolar pea, sea vetchling
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Rosidae Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order Fabales Legumes (pea and bean families)
Family Fabaceae Legume family (peas and beans)
Genus Lathyrus From Greek lathyros, an old name for “pea”
Species japonicus “Japanese”
About plant names...
Beach pea inhabits coastal areas in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. It is also found through much
of interior Canada and the northern United States.
Identification: Plants are 1-2′ (30-60 cm) tall. Flowers are ¾″ (1.9 cm)
in size, in clusters of 6 to 10. Leaves are in opposite pairs, oval in shape, with a tendril at the tip of each
branch. They are an attractive mix of dark and light pink in color, and appear from June to
August. Fruits look identical to those of garden sweet peas, in clusters of six to ten pods, each 1½-3½″ (3.8-8.9 cm) long
and ½″ (1.3 cm) around.
Edibility: Young plants are edible and nutritious, either raw
or cooked. However, the peas, which look tempting because they closely resemble garden peas, are
not edible.
Online References:
The University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium
Minnesota Wildflowers
CalPhotos
Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants
Ontario Wildflowers
The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
EFloras
9/21/2021 · Pott’s Point Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
7/15/2012 · Fort Point State Park, Stockton Springs, Maine · ≈ 17 × 12″ (44 × 29 cm)
6/10/2016 · Lobster Cove Trail, Monhegan Island, Maine
10/4/2008 · Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island, Massachusetts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (46 × 30 cm) ID is uncertain
9/21/2021 · Pott’s Point Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
6/10/2016 · Lobster Cove Trail, Monhegan Island, Maine
6/10/2016 · Lobster Cove Trail, Monhegan Island, Maine
Lathyrus japonicus description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 5 Oct 2021.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
8/26/2007 · Fogarty Creek, Lincoln City, Oregon ID is uncertain
9/20/2009 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)
6/10/2016 · Lobster Cove Trail, Monhegan Island, Maine
6/10/2016 · Lobster Cove Trail, Monhegan Island, Maine
9/21/2021 · Pott’s Point Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
6/10/2016 · Lobster Cove Trail, Monhegan Island, Maine
10/18/2023 · Chebeague Island, Maine · By Constance B. Kent ID is uncertain
7/15/2012 · Fort Point State Park, Stockton Springs, Maine · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm)
9/21/2021 · Pott’s Point Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
Range:
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