sweet pea

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• sweet pea
• sweet pea
• Guisante de Olor
• sweet-pea

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lathyrus odoratus var. vulgaris
• Pisum odoratum
• Lathyrus odoratus var. ater
• Lathyrus odoratus var. pardalinus
• Lathyrus odoratus var. siculus
• Lathyrus odoratus var. roseoalbus
• Lathyrus odoratus var. carneus
• Lathyrus odoratus var. zeylanicus
• Lathyrus odoratus var. roseovittata
• Lathyrus odoratus-zeylanicus
• Lathyrus odoratus var. albus
• Lathyrus cyprius
• Lathyrus odoratus f. pleniflorus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically classified within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further categorized under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Lathyrus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is well-documented in both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found growing within the borders of Germany. It also inhabits the central territories of Austria. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant extends through the Czechia-Slovakia region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lathyrus odoratus is characterized by a diverse altitudinal distribution and specific environmental preferences. This species can be found across a wide elevational range, extending from sea level at 0 m AMSL up to a maximum elevation of 2620 m AMSL. Its primary habitat is categorized as coastal, indicating an ability to thrive in maritime environments, though its broad vertical range suggests adaptability to various topographical gradients and climatic conditions found from low-lying shorelines to significant highland elevations.

Elevational range max:

2620 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Coastal

Life history

The life history of Lathyrus odoratus is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives the unfavorable periods of its environment by producing seeds that remain dormant until conditions become favorable for the next generation. This strategy allows the species to rapidly exploit seasonal resources, utilizing its herbaceous structure to grow, flower, and set seed before the onset of senescence or environmental stress.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Lathyrus odoratus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. This terrestrial plant exhibits an ascending shoot orientation and functions as an obligatory climber, although it possesses some self-supporting qualities. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 2 m, with a mean plant height of approximately 0.8 m. Its shoots can extend to a maximum length of 100 cm. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

0.8 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Shoot length max:

100 cm

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lathyrus odoratus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic carbon fixation processes. The plant exhibits significant morphological variability in its foliage, with leaf forms being primarily elliptic and displaying a mean leaf size of approximately 24.8075 cm². The dimensions of the leaves range from a minimum length of 1.1 cm to a maximum of 7.5 cm, while the width varies from a minimum of 0.6 cm to a maximum of 2.6 cm. Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 282.35 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and resource acquisition strategy. Notably, Lathyrus odoratus functions as a nitrogen fixer, utilizing symbiotic relationships to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, which supports its nutritional requirements and growth.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

7.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1.1 cm

Leaf size mean:

24.8075 cm²

Leaf width max:

2.6 cm

Leaf width min:

0.6 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

282.35 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lathyrus odoratus is characterized by a flowering period that typically commences in June and extends through September. During this reproductive phase, the plant produces distinctive pink flowers. Following pollination, the development of the fruit occurs, which takes the form of a pod. These pods exhibit specific dimensional variations, with a mean length of 6 cm (ranging from a minimum of 5.5 cm to a maximum of 6.6 cm) and a width that varies between 0.9 cm and 1.4 cm. Within these pods, the seeds are produced with a mean mass of approximately 0.079077 g, though individual seed weights can range from a minimum of 0.0833 g to a maximum of 0.0854 g. The dispersal of the species is classified as anthropochorous, indicating that human activity plays a role in its movement and distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit length max:

6.6 cm

Fruit length mean:

6 cm

Fruit length min:

5.5 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

1.4 cm

Fruit width min:

0.9 cm

Seed mass max:

0.0854 g

Seed mass mean:

0.079077 g

Seed mass min:

0.0833 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lathyrus odoratus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Acta pathologica et microbiologica Scandinavica. Section C, Immunology
2. Biological chemistry Hoppe-Seyler
3. Acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica. Section C, Immunology
4. Poultry science

Chemicals

Lathyrus odoratus has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2-(3-amino-3-carboxypropyl)-isoxazolin-5-one, Anthocyanidins, Lectin.

2-(3-amino-3-carboxypropyl)-isoxazolin-5-one

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Anthocyanidins

1. Izvestiia Akademii nauk. Seriia biologicheskaia

Lectin

1. Acta pathologica et microbiologica Scandinavica. Section C, Immunology

Activities

Lathyrus odoratus has 1 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Neurotoxic.

Neurotoxic

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Conditions

Lathyrus odoratus has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include ataxia, lathyrism, mortality.

Ataxia

1. Poultry science

Lathyrism

1. Poultry science

Mortality

1. Poultry science

Preparations

Lathyrus odoratus has 1 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include seeds.

Seeds

1. Biological chemistry Hoppe-Seyler
2. Acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica. Section C, Immunology