Herbs annual, glabrous. Stems winged, sprawling or climbing, basally branched 0–3 times, 2–10 dm. Leaves 0.5–2 cm, rachises winged as the stem; tendrils well developed; stipules lanceolate, 10–20 × 2–6 mm, sometimes as wide as leaflets; leaflets 2, blades linear, 20–50 × 1–6 mm, surfaces glabrous. Inflorescences usually 1-flowered, 1–4 cm. Flowers 10–12 mm; calyx lobes equal, lateral lobes linear-triangular, 2–3 times longer than tube; corolla reddish purple, banner erect, blade equal to claw, wings equal to keel; ovary glabrous, style rotated 90° from ovary axis. Legumes 20–40 × 5–10 mm, broadly winged on abaxial suture. 2n = 14.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–May.
Habitat: Disturbed areas.
Elevation: 50–600 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Introduced; Calif., Europe, introduced also in South America (Argentina, Uruguay).

Discussion

Lathyrus cicera is cultivated as an ornamental and occasionally escapes.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.