Lathyrus sylvestris

Narrow-leaved everlasting-pea

Habitus (CC BY-SA 3.0) Kristian Peters

Short Description

The narrow-leaved everlasting-pea can grow up to two metres long.

A leaf consists of two partial leaves and ends in a branched tendril. The individual leaflets are narrowly elongated and pointed.

The stem grows branched and lying down or climbing. It is square and winged.

The flowers are in a cluster and consist of five pink to greenish petals. The large, upper petal protrudes upwards. The two lower petals are fused together and form a hollow boat that surrounds the anthers and pistil.

The fruit is a leathery brown, elongated and compressed pod.

Features

Narrow-leaved everlasting-pea

Lathyrus sylvestris
  • leaves with tendril

  • winged stem

Blütenstand (CC BY-SA 3.0) Antti Bilund

In the city

In the city, it can be found on sunny hedges, forest edges, clearings and embankments. It also occasionally grows on riverbanks and rubble. It prefers base-rich soils.

Fun Facts

  • In warm weather, the pods burst open and the seeds they contain are ejected.

  • The flowering period is from July to August.

  • It lives for several years and generally flowers and fruits annually (perennial plant).

  • Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
  • It is mostly widespread and common in Central Europe. It is native to Germany.

  • Occasionally it is grown as a source of food.

Früchte (CC BY-SA 3.0) Anneli Salo

Sources

Habitus, Kristian Peters, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lathyrus_sylvestris_habitus.jpeg

Blütenstand, Antti Bilund, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lathyrus_sylvestris_flowers_close_up_2_AB.jpg

Früchte, Anneli Salo, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lathyrus_sylvestris_Mets%C3%A4n%C3%A4tkelm%C3%A4n_palkoja_HP7868_C.jpg

Kammer, P. M. (2016) Pflanzen einfach bestimmen. Schritt für Schritt einheimische Arten kennenlernen, Bern: Haupt Verlag.

Spohn, M., Golte-Bechtle, M. & Spohn, R. (2015) Was blüht denn da? Stuttgart: Franckh Kosmos Verlag.

Page „Wilde Platterbse“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 29.10.2017, 14:56 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wilde_Platterbse&oldid=170447075 (Accessed: 08.08.2018).