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| Lathyrus latifolius | |||
| Family: Fabaceae (Pea) | |||
| Flowers — color: magenta, size: 1", type: pea, banner & keel |
We see here the classic pea-shaped flower — banner, wings, and keel. Two petals overlap and rise skyward, forming the banner. Three petals overlap and project horizontally, forming the keel, a boat hull. These work to control pollinaters [see Pacific pea].
The blooms appear in showy clusters of 8–10 flowers at the end of each stem. Petals in this collection are magenta or white. Long narrow peapods hold the seeds and are visible in a photo.
Habit:
Everlasting Pea is a perennial herbaceous vine. It uses tendrils to attach to neighboring plants, where it can grow 6' tall. Otherwise it sprawls along the ground. This fleshy vine will wither and reform in the next rainy season.
The main leaves are long and lance-shaped. Multiple veins run lengthwise and distinguish this vine from similar peas. They attach oppositely to a winged [flattened ridges] petiole, the leaf stem. A third specialized leaf grows at this junction: the three-pronged tendril.
Non-native, exported from Europe for gardens, sunny. The Reserve also holds a native Pacific pea.
Observations:
Along old oil company driveway. These plants were once common during Lompoc's heyday as "Flower Capitol of the World".