Beach pea
Lathyrus japonicus

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It can be climbing or trailing. The stems are 50-80 cm long. The leaves are waxy and a non shiny green. They are 5-10 cm long with leaflets along the stalk. There are 2-5 pairs of leaflets with a tendril at the end. The flowers are broad and have a dark purple standard and blue wings. They are in groups of about 12 flowers. The pod are brown and 5 cm long. The seeds are a flattened round shape.

There are about 150 Lathyrus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on mountains. It grows on sand and gravel beaches.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Argentina, Asia, Britain, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Europe, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Korea, North America, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, Sweden, USA

How it is used for food

The young seeds are cooked. They should possibly only be eaten in small amounts. The young leaves in spring are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Circumpolar pea, Sea pea, Sea vetchling

Synonyms

Lathyrus aleuticus (T. G. White) Pobed.; Lathyrus japonicus var. aleuticus (T. G. White) Fernald; Lathyrus japonicus var. maritimus (L.) Kartesz & Gandhi; Lathyrus japonicus Willd. var. pellitus Fernald; Pisum maritinum var. pubescens Hartm.; Pisum pubescens Hartm.;