Tangier Pea
Lathyrus tingitanus
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A straggling annual climbing plant. The stems have wings and are 1.5 m long. It has 2 leaflets which are narrow and long. They are 2-8 cm long by 0.4-1.8 cm wide. The leafy shoots (stipules) at the base of the leaf are 1.2-2.5 cm long. The flowers are 1-3 on long stalks which are 10-18 cm long. They are purple with a pale tip. The fruit is a pod up to 10 cm long and 8 mm wide with 6-8 seeds.
There are about 150 Lathyrus species. It can be invasive.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows from 2070 m to 2580 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. Tasmania Herbarium.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Algeria, Australia, Azores, Europe, India, Mediterranean (country/location of origin), Morocco, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Sardinia, Spain, Tasmania, USA
How it is used for food
It is reported that the pods are eaten. CAUTION: The seeds are poisonous.
It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Pods
How it is grown
It is cultivated and grows wild from seeds.