Chickling vetch, Lesser chick-pea
Lathyrus cicera

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

An annual herb plant. It can grow 1 m tall and is climbing. The stems are winged. The leaves have 1 or sometimes 2 pairs of marrow sword shaped leaflets. The tendrils are branched. The flowers are red. They are 8-16 mm long and occur singly. They are on long stalks. The fruit are brown pods 20-40 mm long. They are hairless and have 2 keels on the upper edge.

There are about 150 Lathyrus species.

Where it is found

It grows in temperate and Mediterranean climates. It grows in grassy and bushy locations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Balkans, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Caucasus, Central Asia, East Africa, Europe, France, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sicily, South Africa, Southern Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, USA

How it is used for food

The young seeds are sometimes eaten raw.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit, pods

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Alcaballares, Asaysa', Colik, Fink bakla, Flat-pod pea-vine, Guijilla, Kali, Marghae khpa, Miudos, Sholak, Vetchling, Wara chilo, Yalanci fasulye

Synonyms

Lathyrus aegaeus Davidoff;