Fabaceae
Lathyrus

Lathyrus sylvestris L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 733 (1753)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Madeira, Europe to W. Siberia and Caucasus. It is a scrambling perennial and grows primarily in the temperate biome.

Descriptions

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Morphology General Habit
Perennial, Climbing, Herb
Vernacular
China Lesnaya, Chyna Lyasnaya, Flat Pea, Flat Peavine, Gesse Sauvage, Grande Gesse, Meshe Kululche, Narrow-leaved Everlasting Pea, Narrow-leaved Everlasting-pea, Wald-Platterbse, Zhuraouliny Garokh
[ILDIS]

Seed Collecting Guide. RBG Kew (2013-2016)

Morphology General Habit
Scrambling Perrenial herb, 0.6-2 m, stems glabrous, angled, broadly winged scrambling Perrenial herb, 0.6-2 m, stems glabrous, angled, broadly winged
Morphology Leaves
Glabrous, tendril branched in upper lvs, sometimes simple in lower lvs, leaflets in 1 pair, usually lanceolate to linear, rarely narrowly elliptic, narrowly acute to acuminate, 50-130 mm long, veins parallel, stipules lanceolate to linear, with 1 narrow basal lobe, <1/2 as wide as stem (c. 1-3 mm wide), (5)-10-20 mm long. glabrous, tendril branched in upper lvs, sometimes simple in lower lvs, leaflets in 1 pair, usually lanceolate to linear, rarely narrowly elliptic, narrowly acute to acuminate, 50-130 mm long, veins parallel, stipules lanceolate to linear, with 1 narrow basal lobe, <1/2 as wide as stem (c. 1-3 mm wide), (5)-10-20 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla purple-pink, 13-17 mm long corolla purple-pink, 13-17 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pod glabrous, brown, 8-15- seeded, 40-70 mm long pod glabrous, brown, 8-15- seeded, 40-70 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Reticulate-rugose, hilum up to 1/2 of circumference. reticulate-rugose, hilum up to 1/2 of circumference.
Ecology
On waste ground and along roadsides, on woodland edges, in scrub and grassland. Altitude:0 - 1000 m. on waste ground and along roadsides, on woodland edges, in scrub and grassland. altitude 0 - 1000 m.
Distribution
Throughout Europe, the Caucasus and Western Russia, Northern Africa. throughout Europe, the caucasus and Western russia, Northern Africa.
Conservation
Least concerned. least concerned.
Phenology
Flower (April), fruit (April). Flower (april), fruit (april).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
larger than leaves, (2)-5-8-flowered; pedicels 4-10 mm long Larger than leaves, (2)-5-8-flowered; pedicels 4-10 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
calyx glabrous, slightly or not gibbous at base; calyx teeth unequal, narrowly triangular, tube Calyx glabrous, slightly or not gibbous at base; calyx teeth unequal, narrowly triangular, tube
[SCG]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/176568/19405519

Conservation
LC - least concern
[IUCN]

Uses

Use
Domestic, Environmental, Forage, Medicine
[ILDIS]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • International Legume Database and Information Service

    • International Legume Database and Information Service (ILDIS) V10.39 Nov 2011
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images

  • Seed Collection Guides

    • Seed Collection Guides
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0