Yellow flowered pea, Yellow vetchling
Lathyrus aphaca
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A clambering annual herb. It grows 1 m tall. It is hairless. The stems are angular in cross section. It has leaf tendrils but no leaflets. The stipules are large and leaf like. They are oval with a heart shaped base. The flowers are yellow. They are 6-18 mm long and occur singly. They have long stalks. The fruit is a pod that is 20-35 mm long and brown and hairless.
There are about 150 Lathyrus species.
Where it is found
It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows on cultivated and fallow ground.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Britain, Central Asia, Europe, France, Greece, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Iraq, Italy, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Middle East, Nepal, North Africa, NW India, Pakistan, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Türkiye
How it is used for food
The young tender seeds are cooked and eaten. CAUTION: The ripe seeds can cause headaches. The pods are fermented. The roots are cooked and eaten.
They are a famine food.
Edible parts
Seeds, leaves, pods, roots
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Bahabulaba, Bankhesari, Csiriborso, Feketeborso, Gangli mattor, Jangli matter, Jangli mattri, Jangli phali, Karkumaney, Kukarmany, Kurkaman, Kurkamanay, Lečasti grahor, Mam choollaka, Marghayo, Nanke civika, Sarı burçak, Sokule cuka