Lathyrus latifolius L.
Perennial Pea

Scientific Description

Twining or climbing plants. Stems flattened, not spiny, glabrous; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, compound, alternate, not continuous with stem, 40-90 mm long, glabrous, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent, leaflets 2; pustules or glands absent. Stipules present and persistent to older leaves. Pedicel present, 5-11 mm long, glabrous. Bracteoles absent. Calyx 10-11 mm long, not accrescent, glabrous, ribbed; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 16-25 mm long, multicoloured, mostly pink, purple or white, with some pink, purple or white spots, streaks or blotches; claws present; standard 16-21 mm long, glabrous, not auriculate, wings 16-20 mm long, not auriculate, keel 14-20 mm long, not beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments united in an open sheath with one free stamen, 15-17 mm long. Ovary sessile or subsessile, glabrous; style 18-20 mm long, glabrous, not bearded, terete. Fruit sessile or subsessile, not constricted between the seeds, flat or compressed, not beaked. Flowers in January, November and December. Occurs in the South-West Botanical Province, in the Jarrah Forest, Warren, Esperance and Swan Coastal Plain IBRA regions.