Lathyrus palustris
L.
Slenderstem Peavine, Marsh pea
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Kari Pihlaviita, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Kari Pihlaviita
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) V.S. Volkotrub, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by V.S. Volkotrub
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Jeff Skrentny, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jeff Skrentny
Description
Lathyrus palustris is a PERENNIAL CLIMBER growing to 1.2 m (4ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.
Edible Uses
Seed - cooked. The fully grown seeds are shelled and cooked as a vegetable. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Young leaves and stems - cooked.
Known Hazards
Although no records of toxicity have been found for this plant, the seed of some species in this genus contain a toxic amino acid that can cause a severe disease of the nervous system known as 'lathyrism' if they are eaten in large amounts (although small quantities are said to be nutritious). Great caution is advised.
Distribution
Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to N. Spain, Siberia and Japan. E. N. America
Where It Grows
TEMPERATE ASIA: Turkey (north), Georgia, Russian Federation (Krasnodar), Russian Federation (Buryatia, Gorno-Altay, Hakasija, Respublika, Tyva, Respublika, Yakutia-Sakha, Altay, Krasnoyarsk, Taymyr, Chita, Irkutsk, Kemerovskaja oblast, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Sverdlovsk, Tomsk, Tyumen, Hanty-Mansijskij avtonomnyj okrug), Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russian Federation (Kurile Islands, Habarovskij kraj, Primorye, Amur, Kamcatskij kraj, Koryak, Magadanskaja oblast, Sakhalin), China (Gansu Sheng, Hebei Sheng, Heilongjiang Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng, Jilin Sheng, Liaoning Sheng, Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, Qinghai Sheng, Shanxi Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Yunnan Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng), Korea, Japan (Hokkaidô, Honshu, Kyushu) TROPICAL ASIA: Laos NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Yukon (southwest), Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia), United States (Alaska, Connecticut (south), Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts (east), Michigan, New Hampshire (south), New Jersey, New York, Ohio (north), Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont (north), West Virginia, Illinois (north), Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri (east & north), Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Oregon (west), Washington (west), Kentucky (northwest), Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, California (northwest)) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Russian Federation (Arkhangelsk, Neneckij avtonomnyj okrug, Murmansk, Vologda), Ukraine, Former Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Italy (north), Romania, Spain, France (incl. Corsica), Portugal
Cultivation
A good plant for the bog or marsh garden, succeeding in wet soils. It is easily grown in any moderately good garden soil, preferring a position in full sun. 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 the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in early spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed, then it can also be sown in situ in mid spring. Division in spring. It may not transplant well so care should be taken.
