Lathyrus japonicus
Common name
beach pea
Family
Fabaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Lianes & Related Trailing Plants - Dicotyledons
Conservation status
Not applicable
Distribution
Exotic. New Zealand, South Island, Catlins (Lathyrus Bay)
Habitat
Coastal sand dunes
Detailed description
Lianoid, long-creeping, rhizomatous, glabrescent (sometimes sparingly puberulent at leaf bases, stem axils and on pods), glaucescent, perennial, herb. Stems 0.2–0.6(–0.8) m long, angular, decumbent to ascending arising from long-creeping, slender rhizomes. Leaves shortly petiolate; stipulate, stipules ovate to semi-saggittate, 15–25 mm long, acute; leaflets 8–12, ovate, oblong to elliptic, 15–45(-50) × 10–30 mm, acute to obtuse, ± penninerved, tendrils simple, 2– or 3–branched. Inflorescences racemose, borne on 40–60 mm long peduncules; flowers 25–30 mm long, dark purple with darker lines on standard; calyx-teeth lanceolate, the lower as long as or greater than tube length. Fruiting pods 300–400(–500) × 10 mm, glabrous, 1–3(–6)-seeded.
Etymology
japonicus: From Japan
Attribution
Description by Peter J. de Lange (13 June 2016)
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Lathyrus japonicus Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/lathyrus-japonicus/ (Date website was queried)