Lathyrus


Lathyrus is a genus in the legume family Fabaceae and contains approximately 160 species. 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.

Uses

Many species are cultivated as garden plants. The genus includes the garden sweet pea and the perennial everlasting pea. Flowers 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 infections including downy and powdery mildew.
Other species are grown for food, including the Indian pea and the red pea, and less commonly cyprus-vetch and Spanish vetchling. The tuberous pea is grown as a root vegetable for its starchy edible tuber. The seeds of some Lathyrus species contain the toxic amino acid oxalyldiaminopropionic acid and if eaten in large quantities can cause lathyrism, a serious disease.

Diversity

Species include:
Lathyrus can be mixed with bitter peas without violating the Jewish law of Kilayim.

Ecology

Lathyrus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the grey chi and the latticed heath, both recorded on meadow vetchling, and Chionodes braunella.