Herbs perennial, from rhizome, glabrous. Stems angled, erect, sprawling, or climbing, basally branched 0–2 times, 4–8 dm. Leaves 11–16 cm; tendrils well developed; stipules ovate to lanceolate, 20–30 × 10–30 mm, nearly equal to distal leaflets; leaflets 10–16, scattered, blades ovate to lanceolate, 30–50 × 10–30 mm, surfaces gla­brous. Inflorescences 8–12-flowered, 9–14 cm. Flowers 15–18 mm; calyx lobes unequal, lateral lobes linear-triangular, equal to or longer than tube; corolla blue-purple, banner erect, blade longer than claw, wings equal to keel; ovary glabrous. Legumes 40–70 × 4–9 mm. 2n = 14.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jul.
Habitat: Openings in coniferous forests.
Elevation: 0–1800 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif., Oreg., Wash.

Discussion

Lathyrus polyphyllus is known from in and west of the Cascade Range. Lathyrus ecirrhosus A. Heller (1904), not Philippi (1892), is an illegitimate name that pertains here.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.