Lathyrus/ˈlæθɪrəs/[3] is a
genus of
flowering plants
in the
legume family
Fabaceae, and contains approximately 160 species. Commonly known as peavines or vetchlings,[1] they are
native to
temperate areas, with a breakdown of 52 species in Europe, 30 species in North America, 78 in Asia, 24 in tropical East Africa, and 24 in temperate South America.[4] There are
annual and
perennial species which may be climbing or bushy. This genus has numerous sections, including Orobus, which was once a separate genus.[5] The genus has numerous synonyms, including Pisum, the ancient
Latin name for the pea.[6]
Many species are cultivated as garden plants. The genus includes the garden
sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) and the
perennialeverlasting pea (Lathyrus latifolius).
Flowers on these cultivated species may be rose, red, maroon, pink, white, yellow, purple or blue, and some are bicolored. They are also grown for their fragrance. Cultivated species are susceptible to
fungal infections including
downy and
powdery mildew.
Lathyrus species are used as food plants by the
larvae of some
Lepidoptera species, including the
grey chi (Antitype chi) and the
latticed heath (Chiasmia clathrata), both recorded on
meadow vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis), and Chionodes braunella. Lathyrus growth abundance and size both decrease in response to increased temperatures in montane meadows.[10]