Lathyrus cicera
Red peavine
(c) Andreas Taeger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Vine · Not Native
Lathyrus cicera (Red peavine) is a non-native California vine in the Fabaceae family, recognized by furrowed pod suture and winged stem.
Red peavine is a naturalized annual found in the California Floristic Province, primarily in disturbed areas at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces red-purple flowers approximately 10 to 15 millimeters long with distinctive lanceolate stipules. Growing with narrowly winged stems and a branched, coiled tendril, it has a delicate climbing habit. Its leaves feature two linear to lance-linear leaflets 3 to 6 centimeters long, which support the plant's slender growth pattern. The fruit is characterized by a furrowed upper suture, adding to its distinctive botanical features.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 30 sympatric species; diagnostic furrowed pod suture and winged stem
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed areas
Elevation: especially < 500 m
California counties: Amador, Sonoma, Sacramento, Butte, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Napa, Mendocino, Humboldt
Outside California: native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Lathyrus cicera blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Vicia: Lathyrus style is flattened with hairs on top only; Vicia style is round and hairy all around.; vs Pickeringia: Lathyrus has tendrils and compound leaves; Pickeringia is a spiny shrub with simple leaves.; vs Pisum: Lathyrus has small normal stipules; Pisum has giant leafy stipules larger than leaflets.; vs Lupinus: Lathyrus has two leaflets and tendrils; Lupinus has palmate leaves with no tendrils.; vs Hosackia: Lathyrus has exactly two leaflets and tendrils; Hosackia has 3-9 leaflets with no tendrils.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lathyrus cicera native to California?
No. Lathyrus cicera is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Lathyrus cicera bloom?
Lathyrus cicera blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Lathyrus cicera grow?
Lathyrus cicera occurs in Amador, Sonoma, Sacramento, Butte, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Napa, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of especially < 500 m.
What plant family does Lathyrus cicera belong to?
Lathyrus cicera is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lathyrus.
What habitat does Lathyrus cicera grow in?
Lathyrus cicera grows in Uncommon. Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.