Beach Pea (Lathyrus japonicus) Gardening
Beach Pea (Lathyrus japonicus) is a legume bearing perennial plant in the family Fabaceae, native to temperate coastal areas of North and South America, Europe, and Asia. It is also known as Sea peavine, Wild pea, Sea pea, Circumpolar pea, and Sea Vetchling.
Beach pea is a herbaceous climbing plant, 30-60 cm tall, with trailing stem, 50-80 cm long, and tough roots. The plant typically grown on sand and gravel storm beaches. The leaves, 5-10 cm long, are glaucous green, waxy, pinnate with 2-5 pairs of leaflets, and the terminal leaflet is usually replaced by a twining tendrill. It bears clusters of 2-7 pink to purple flowers, 1.4-2.2 cm wide, and bloom from May to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both the male and female parts) and are pollinated by bees. The seeds ripen from August to October.
Beach pea pods resemble those of garden pea, but they are not edible. Eating the legumes can cause a neurological disease called Lathyrism.
Flowers and seedpods of Beach Pea
Author: Magnus Manske (public domain)
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