Herbs perennial, from rhizome, glabrous or pubescent. Stems winged, sprawling or climbing, basally branched 0–3 times, 4–25 dm. Leaves 5–15 cm; tendrils well developed; stipules narrowly lanceolate to linear, 10–25 × 2–6 mm, much smaller than leaflets; leaflets 8–12, scattered, blades lanceolate, 20–60 × 4–20 mm, surfaces glabrous or pubescent. Inflorescences 5–15-flowered, 6–16 cm. Flowers 14–17 mm; calyx lobes unequal, lateral lobes linear-triangular, equal to tube; corolla pale pink to rose-purple, banner erect, blade longer than claw, wings equal to keel; ovary glabrous. Legumes 50–90 × 6–9 mm.

Distribution

California.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus, Lathyrus jepsonii var. jepsonii

Key

1	Herbs glabrous; of marshes and wetlands.	Lathyrus jepsonii var. jepsonii
1	Herbs pubescent; of drier upland sites.	Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus