Lathyrus odoratus

Sweet pea

Fabaceae Edible: Seeds Potential hazards — see below 2,105 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Annual climbing vine reaching 2 m tall with fast growth. Flowers from July to September, seeds ripen August to October. Hermaphroditic flowers pollinated by insects. Grows in light, medium, or heavy soils with good drainage, tolerating mildly acidic to alkaline pH. Prefers moist soil and can grow in semi-shade or full sun. Fixes atmospheric nitrogen.

Description

An annual herb. The stem is hairy and winged. The leaves are compound with two leaflets. These are 2-6 cm long by 7-30 mm wide. There are 1-3 flowers in a group. They can be white, pink, purple or blue.

Edible Uses

The seeds are rich in vitamin A, though it is not reported that the seeds are edible.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are eaten boiled and seasoned with oil and salt and pepper. They are used in omelettes and stews.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

Unlike the edible pea, there is evidence that seeds of members of the genus Lathyrus are toxic if ingested in quantity. A related species, Lathyrus sativus, is grown for human consumption but when it forms a major part of the diet it causes symptoms of toxicity called lathyrism. In studies of rats, animals fed a diet of 50% sweet pea seeds developed enlarged adrenals relative to control animals fed on edible peas. The main effect is thought to be on the formation of collagen. Symptoms are similar to those of scurvy and copper deficiency, which share the common feature of inhibiting proper formation of collagen fibrils. Seeds of the sweet pea contain beta-aminopropionitrile that prevents the cross-linking of collagen by inhibiting lysyl oxidase and thus the formation of allysine, leading to loose skin. Recent experiments have attempted to develop this chemical as a treatment to avoid disfiguring skin contractions after skin grafting.

Distribution

It is a temperate climate plant.

Where It Grows

Algeria, Asia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Canary Is., Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Easter Island, Ecuador, El Salvador, Europe, France, Guatemala, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy*, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Mediterranean, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Rwanda, SE Asia, Sicily, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Indies,

Cultivation

An easily grown plant, succeeding in any moderately good well-drained garden soil, whether acid or alkaline. Prefers a position in full sun but it also does well in partial shade. A very ornamental plant, the sweet pea is often cultivated for its sweet smelling flowers, there are many named varieties. Plants climb by means of tendrils. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby.

Propagation

Pre-soak seed for 24 hours in warm water, then sow in early spring in a cold frame. Prick seedlings out into individual pots once large enough to handle and plant out in summer. With sufficient seed, sow in situ in mid spring. Seed can also be sown in situ in autumn.

Other Uses

An essential oil obtained from the flowers is used in perfumery. The plant is also a nitrogen fixer.

Other Information

It is cultivated.

Synonyms

Pisum odoratum (L.) E. H. L. Krause

Also Known As

Chureca, Clarin, Chicaro, Huongdau, Pe-pan

References (10)

Flora of Pakistan. www.eFloras.org
INFOODSUpdatedFGU-list.xls
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 472
Kew Plants of the World Online
Lentini, F. and Venza, F., 2007, Wild food plants of popular use in Sicily. J Ethnobiol Ethnomedicine. 3: 15

Show all 10 references

Pasta, S., et al, 2020, An Updated Checklist of the Sicilian Native Edible Plants: Preserving the Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Century-Old Agro-Pastoral Landscapes. Frontiers in Plant Science. Volume 11|Article 388
Plants of Haiti Smithsonian Institute http://botany.si.edu/antilles/West Indies
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Zeven, A. C. & de West, J. M. J., 1982, Dictionary of cultivated plants and their regions of diversity. Wageningen. p 114
Zizka, G., 1991, Flowering Plants of Easter Island. Palmarum Hortus Francofurtensis