Editing Lathyrus latifolius

{{Short description|Species of plant in the pea family}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Lathyrus latifolius flowers.jpg
| image_caption = 
| genus = Lathyrus
| species = latifolius
| authority = [[L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision_ref = <ref name="POWO">{{cite POWO |id=501802-1 |title=''Lathyrus latifolius'' L. |access-date=3 July 2024}}</ref>
| subdivision = {{Species list
 | Lathyrus latifolius subsp. algericus | (Ginzb.) Dobignard
 | Lathyrus latifolius subsp. latifolius |
}}
| synonyms_ref = <ref name="POWO" />
| synonyms = {{Collapsible list | {{Species list
 | Lathyrus sylvestris var. latifolius | (L.) Fiori (1925)
 | Lathyrus sylvestris subsp. latifolius | (L.) Arcang. (1882)
 | Pisum latifolium | (L.) E.H.L.Krause (1901)
}}
}}
}}

'''''Lathyrus latifolius''''', the '''perennial peavine''', '''perennial pea''', '''broad-leaved everlasting-pea''',<ref name=BSBI07>{{BSBI 2007|accessdate=2014-10-17}}</ref> or just '''everlasting pea''', is a robust, sprawling [[herbaceous]] [[perennial]] [[flowering plant]] in the pea family [[Fabaceae]]. It is native to Europe but is present on other continents, such as North America and Australia,<ref name=APNI>{{cite web |url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?TAXON_NAME=Lathyrus+latifolius |title=''Lathyrus latifolius'' |accessdate=20 March 2012 |work=[[Australian Plant Name Index]] (APNI), IBIS database |publisher=Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703201932/https://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?TAXON_NAME=Lathyrus+latifolius |url-status=dead }}</ref> where it is most often seen along roadsides.<ref name=SNW>Sierra Nevada Wildflowers, Karen Wiese, 2nd ed, 2013, p. 70</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Lathlatifolius.jpg|thumb|220px|L. latifolius growing in Middle Rhine, Germany]] -->

== Morphology ==
''Lathyrus latifolius'' has winged hairless stems, and alternating blue green compound leaves consisting of a single pair of [[leaflet (botany)|leaflets]] and a winged [[Petiole (botany)|petiole]] about {{convert|2|in}} long. The leaflets are narrowly [[Glossary of leaf morphology#ovate|ovate]] or oblong-ovate, smooth along the margins, hairless and up to {{cvt|3|in}} long and {{cvt|1|in}} across. There is a branched tendril between the leaflets.

=== Racemes ===
Short [[racemes]] of 4–11 flowers are produced from the axils of the leaves. The flowers, which are unscented, are about {{cvt|3/4–1|in}} across with a typical structure for ''[[Faboideae]]'', with an upper standard and lower keel, enclosed by lateral [[petals]]. There are 5 petals, which are purplish pink, fading with age. There is a green [[Calyx (botany)|calyx]] with 5 teeth, often unequal. The blooming period lasts about 2 months during the summer and early autumn.<ref name=illwild>[http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/everlasting_pea.htm Weedy Wildflowers of Illinois: Everlasting pea]</ref>

=== Seeds ===
The flowers are followed by hairless flattened seedpods, about {{cvt|2|in}} long and {{cvt|1/2|in}} wide, with several seeds inside. The seedpod, which is initially green, gradually turns brown, splitting open into curled segments, flinging out the [[seeds]]. The seeds are dark and oblong to [[Seed|reniform]] in shape.

== Reproduction ==
''Lathyrus latifolius'' can reproduce [[Vegetative reproduction|vegetatively]] from its taproot and rhizomes, or by reseeding.

== Cultivation and habits ==
''Lathyrus latifolius'' is a [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[herbaceous]] [[vine]] (climber), which can reach 6 feet or more by means of twining [[tendril]]s, but in open areas sprawls. It is frost-hardy, long-lived, and slowly spreading. The foliage becomes rather ragged and yellowish by the end of summer.<ref name=illwild/><ref>C. Brickell, Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, 1996, Royal Horticultural Society, London, {{ISBN|0-7513-0436-0}}.</ref>

It requires partial to full sun, and [[loam]] or clay-loam soil that is moist, [[Mesic habitat|mesic]], or slightly dry. Unlike the related [[Annual plant|annual]] [[sweet pea]], ''Lathyrus odoratus'', with which it may be confused, it has no scent. While grown as a garden plant it may be pervasive and difficult to remove. Because of this, this species is often considered to be a [[weed]] despite its attractive appearance.

Numerous [[cultivars]] have been selected as garden subjects, of which the following have gained the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Award of Garden Merit]]:
{|
|- valign=top
|
*''L. latifolius''<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Lathyrus latifolius''|url=
https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/9853/Lathyrus-latifolius/Details|publisher=Royal Horticultural Society|accessdate=30 September 2020}}</ref> (pink)
*'Albus'<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Lathyrus latifolius'' 'Albus'|url=
https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/71071/Lathyrus-latifolius-Albus/Details|publisher=Royal Horticultural Society|accessdate=30 September 2020}}</ref> (white)
*'Rosa Perle'<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Lathyrus latifolius'' 'Rosa Perle'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/116266/Lathyrus-latifolius-Rosa-Perle/Details|publisher=Royal Horticultural Society|accessdate=30 September 2020}}</ref> (pale pink)
*'White Pearl'<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Lathyrus latifolius'' 'White Pearl' |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/99223/Lathyrus-latifolius-White-Pearl/Details|publisher=Royal Horticultural Society 
| accessdate=30 September 2020}}</ref> (white)
|}

== Relations to insect life ==
[[Bumblebees]] pollinate the flowers. [[Butterflies]] visit the flowers for their [[nectar]], but do not pollinate. ''[[Epicauta fabricii]]'' (Fabricius [[blister beetle]]), the caterpillars of ''[[Apantesis phyllira]]'' (Oithona [[Apantesis|tiger moth]]) and some [[herbivores]] feed on the leaves. However, the seeds are poisonous.<ref name=illwild/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3691,3922,3940 Jepson Manual Treatment]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LALA4 USDA Plants Profile]
* {{GRIN}}
* [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Lathyrus+latifolius Photo gallery]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q158325}}

[[Category:Lathyrus|latifolius]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Flora of Serbia]]
[[Category:Perennial plants]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1753]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]