Pea
Pisum sativum

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A short lived herb plant. A creeping plant with white or pink flowers. Plants can be 30 cm to 150 cm tall. It has a well developed tap root and many slender side roots. The stem is weak and round. Leaves are made up of 1-3 pairs of leaflets and a branched tendril at the end. There are large leaf like stipules at the base of the leaf. The lower half of these stipules has teeth. The flowers occur in the axils of leaves and are either on their own or in 2-3 flowered clusters with equal length stalks. The flowers are pink or purple in varieties grown for dry seeds and usually white in kinds grown for fresh pods. The pods are swollen and green and can have up to 10 seeds inside. Seed shape can vary. Large numbers of varieties have been recorded. Now Lathyrus oleraceus

There are 2 Pisum species.

Where it is found

A temperate plant. Plants grow best at altitudes over 1000 m in the tropics. They suit a humid climate. Hot dry weather interferes with seed setting. They are frost tolerant except at flowering. A temperate plant. They need temperatures of 13°C to 18°C. They need a pH of 5.5-6.5 and reasonably good fertility. They cannot tolerate waterlogging or very acid soils. They grow to 4,400 m altitude in the Himalayas. It suits hardiness zones 7-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Britain, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marianas, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Norway, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Serbia, Sicily, Sikkim, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Mostly the young seeds are eaten. They can be eaten raw or cooked. Sometimes the young pods and leaves are eaten. The flowers are eaten in salads. The sprouted seeds are eaten. The young leaves and buds are cooked as a vegetable. The dry seeds are eaten. They are used in soups and stews and ground into flour. Roasted seeds are used as a substitute for coffee.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Gaining importance in some highlands areas in the tropics. About 20 million tons of peas are grown each year worldwide.

Edible parts

Seeds, pods, leaves, vegetable, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed can be collected for re-sowing. A spacing about 5 cm apart in rows 25 cm apart is suitable. Seed can be 3-5 cm deep. If rotting is a problem, plants can be supported off the ground. Plants need inoculation with bacteria for good production. For dried peas plants are cut when mature then dried and threshed.

Its other names

Local names

Alverja, Amu bola kadala, Aveja, Bakile jispa, Batagadle, Batani, Chana, Chicharo, Endou mame, Erbse, Ercis, Ervilha, Gartenerbse, Guisante, He lan dou, Kacang manis, Kachhe, Kalixatuna, Keraun, Keyagu, Matar, Mattar, Mukhudo, Patanlu, Pattani, Pe-leikpya, Pe-sa-u, Pe-si-lon, Pisello, Pisu, Pois, Sadawpe, Sakil, San-too-see, Satila, Sitsaro, Thua lantao, Tian wan dou, To-kam, Tsing tau, Wan dou, Wandu, Wan-du-si, Watani

Synonyms

Pisum hortense Aschers. & Graebn.; Lathyrus oleraceus Lam.; Pisum vulgare Jundz.;