Herbs annual, glabrous, except legumes. Stems winged, sprawl­ing, basally branched 0–several times, 2–10 dm. Leaves 0.8–3 cm, rachises narrowly winged; tendrils well developed; stipules linear, 5–10 × 1–3 mm, much smaller than leaflets; leaflets 2, blades lanceolate to linear, 25–75 × 5–12 mm, surfaces glabrous. Inflorescences 1- or 2-flowered, 4–15 cm. Flowers 8–10 mm; calyx lobes subequal, lateral lobes linear-triangular, longer than tube; corolla blue to red, banner erect, blade 2 times as long as claw, wings equal to keel; ovary densely pustulose-based pubescent, style rotated 90° from ovary axis. Legumes 25–40 × 5–10 mm. 2n = 14.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jul.
Habitat: Roadsides, pastures, railroad rights-of-way, disturbed areas.
Elevation: 0–1500 m.

Distribution

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Introduced; Ala., Ark., Calif., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., La., Md., Mich., Miss., Mo., N.Mex., N.C., Okla., Oreg., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., Europe, introduced also in South America (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay), n, e Africa.

Discussion

Lathyrus hirsutus is cultivated as a forage crop.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.