grass pea

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• chicling-vetch
• grass-pea
• chicken vetch
• chickling pea
• chickling vetch
• cultivated vetchling
• white pea
• white vetchling
• Indian Pea
• Indian-pea
• Riga-pea
• chickling-pea
• chickling-vetch
• dogtooth-pea
• grass peavine
• khesari
• wedge peavine
• Ethiopian lentil
• grasspea

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lathyrus asiaticus
• Lathyrus sativus var. pulchrus
• Lathyrus sativus f. azureus
• Cicercula sativa var. blepharocarpa
• Orobus bimarginatus
• Cicercula sativa var. angustata
• Lathyrus sativus var. angustatus
• Pisum lathyrus
• Lathyrus sativus var. coloratus
• Lathyrus sativus subsp. albus
• Cicercula sativa var. colorata
• Cicercula caerulea
• Cicercula sativa var. obtusata
• Lathyrus sativus f. albus
• Cicercula sativa var. coerulea
• Cicercula sativa
• Cicercula sativa var. alba
• Lathyrus sativus var. variegatus
• Cicercula alata
• Lathyrus sativus f. biflorus
• Cicercula alba
• Lathyrus sativus subsp. asiaticus
• Lathyrus sativus var. comitans
• Lathyrus sativus var. depressus
• Lathyrus sativus var. orbiculatus
• Lathyrus sativus var. parviflorus
• Lathyrus sativus var. pisiformis
• Lathyrus sativus f. chlorospermus
• Lathyrus sativus var. platyspermus
• Lathyrus sativus var. violascens
• Lathyrus azureus
• Lathyrus sativus var. stenophyllus
• Lathyrus cicera subsp. sativus
• Lathyrus abyssinicus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Lathyrus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, it can be specifically located within Great Britain. Its presence extends significantly into Middle Europe, where it is found in Austria and Belgium. Furthermore, the species is documented within the borders of Germany. Finally, its geographical range includes the territories of Czechia and Slovakia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lathyrus sativus is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse landscapes and varying altitudes. It thrives across a broad elevational range, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to heights of 3000 m AMSL. In terms of preferred environments, the species is commonly found inhabiting anthropogenically influenced areas, specifically colonizing crop fields and old fields. This ability to persist in disturbed agricultural and fallow lands suggests a resilient ecological nature suited to open, sunlit habitats.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, old fields

Life history

The life history of Lathyrus sativus is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle—from germination to seed production and death—within a single growing season. In terms of its ecological strategy and structural habit, it is categorized as a therophyte, a life form that survives unfavorable environmental conditions primarily through resistant seeds that remain dormant until the onset of favorable conditions. This life form allows the species to exploit seasonal resources effectively before returning to a seed stage to await the next cycle.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Lathyrus sativus is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, specifically classified as a forb. This terrestrial plant exhibits a prostrate shoot orientation and functions as a self-supporting climber rather than an obligatory vine or liana. In terms of stature, the plant typically maintains a height ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1 m, with a mean height of approximately 0.625 m. Its development is non-parasitic, operating as an independent organism, and it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, remaining strictly terrestrial. The shoots of the plant can reach a maximum length of 70 cm, contributing to its overall structural habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.625 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Shoot length max:

70 cm

Shoot orientation :

prostrate

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lathyrus sativus is characterized by a highly efficient metabolic profile, most notably its ability to function as a nitrogen fixer, which allows the plant to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms through symbiotic relationships. Its carbon assimilation follows the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a standard metabolic process for this species. The vegetative architecture is defined by its foliage, which features elliptic-shaped leaves that exhibit significant dimensional variability. These leaves typically range in length from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, while their width varies between a narrow 0.2 cm and a broader 0.7 cm.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

0.7 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lathyrus sativus is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects, which facilitates the fertilization process. The plant features blue flowers that serve as the reproductive structures, and it is capable of self-fertilization. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in July. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry fruit in the form of a pod. These pods vary in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 2.3 cm to a maximum of 4.7 cm, and widths spanning from 1 cm to 2 cm. The resulting seeds exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.215588889 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.0538 g to a maximum of 0.1279 g. Furthermore, the seed volume is consistent at a mean and recorded range of 86 mm³.

Flower colour :

blue

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

4.7 cm

Fruit length min:

2.3 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

2 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.1279 g

Seed mass mean:

0.215588889 g

Seed mass min:

0.0538 g

Seed volume max:

86 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lathyrus sativus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
2. Natural toxins
3. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM
4. Analytical biochemistry
5. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Chemicals

Lathyrus sativus has 29 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include beta-N-Oxalyl-L-alpha,beta-diaminopropionic acid, ODAP, beta-ODAP, Dencichine, methionine.

beta-N-Oxalyl-L-alpha,beta-diaminopropionic acid

1. Journal of neurochemistry
2. Journal of chromatography. A
3. Environmental research
4. Natural toxins
5. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

ODAP

1. Natural toxins
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Neurochemical research

beta-ODAP

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology
3. Analytical biochemistry

Dencichine

1. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

methionine

1. Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology
2. Planta

proline

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
2. Indian journal of biochemistry & biophysics

2,3-diaminopropionic acid

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

3-N-Oxalyl-L-2,3-diaminopropionic acid

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

3-amino-propanal

1. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

ABA

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Activities

Lathyrus sativus has 2 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Neurotoxic, Neurotoxin.

Neurotoxic

1. Analytical biochemistry
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Environmental research

Neurotoxin

1. Journal of neurochemistry
2. Natural toxins
3. Neurochemical research

Conditions

Lathyrus sativus has 12 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include lathyrism, neurolathyrism, spastic paraparesis, Neurolathyrism, Water stress.

Lathyrism

1. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
2. Neurology
3. Archivos latinoamericanos de nutricion
4. Environmental research

Neurolathyrism

1. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
2. Revista de neurologia
3. Environmental research
4. Planta

Spastic paraparesis

1. Schweizer Archiv fur Neurologie, Neurochirurgie und Psychiatrie = Archives suisses de neurologie, neurochirurgie et de psychiatrie
2. Neurology

Neurolathyrism

1. Environmental research

Water stress

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

1. Schweizer Archiv fur Neurologie, Neurochirurgie und Psychiatrie = Archives suisses de neurologie, neurochirurgie et de psychiatrie

Muscular atrophies

1. Schweizer Archiv fur Neurologie, Neurochirurgie und Psychiatrie = Archives suisses de neurologie, neurochirurgie et de psychiatrie

Neurogenic bladder

1. Schweizer Archiv fur Neurologie, Neurochirurgie und Psychiatrie = Archives suisses de neurologie, neurochirurgie et de psychiatrie

Oxidative stress

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Salinity stress

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Preparations

Lathyrus sativus has 8 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include seeds, a diet, alcoholic extract, crude extracts of LS plant material, flour.

Seeds

1. Analytical biochemistry
2. Environmental research

A diet

1. Neurology

Alcoholic extract

1. Neurology

Crude extracts of ls plant material

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Flour

1. Allergy

Ripe seeds

1. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology

Seed extracts

1. Analytical biochemistry

Seedlings

1. Analytical biochemistry