Lathyrus hirsutus
Caley pea
(c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Vine · Not Native
Lathyrus hirsutus (Caley pea) is a non-native California vine in the Fabaceae family, recognized by fruit hairs with bulbous bases.
Caley pea is a naturalized annual found sporadically in California's Central Valley and Foothills in disturbed places, wet meadows, and creekbeds at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces striking two-toned pink to blue-purple flowers 9 to 14 millimeters long with a unique color gradient. Growing with distinctively winged stems and delicate tendrils, it reaches a moderate height with slender, branched climbing habit. Its leaves feature two narrow leaflets, each 3 to 6 centimeters long, ranging from narrowly elliptic to lance-oblong in shape. The plant's fruit is characterized by distinctive hairs with bulbous bases, adding textural interest to its slender structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 30 sympatric species; diagnostic fruit hairs with bulbous bases
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed places, wet meadows, creekbeds
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: Mendocino, El Dorado, Sonoma, Napa, Yuba, Butte, San Diego, Plumas, Lake, Santa Cruz, Orange
Outside California: to southeastern United States, native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Lathyrus hirsutus blooms May-Aug.
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 hirsutus native to California?
No. Lathyrus hirsutus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Lathyrus hirsutus bloom?
Lathyrus hirsutus blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Lathyrus hirsutus grow?
Lathyrus hirsutus occurs in Mendocino, El Dorado, Sonoma, Napa, Yuba, Butte, San Diego, Plumas and other counties, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Lathyrus hirsutus belong to?
Lathyrus hirsutus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lathyrus.
What habitat does Lathyrus hirsutus grow in?
Lathyrus hirsutus grows in Uncommon. Disturbed places, wet meadows, creekbeds.
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.