Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus
California tule pea
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus (California tule pea) is a native California vine in the Fabaceae family.
California tule pea is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, Central Western California, and southern Coast Ranges in forest and open areas at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces small flowers with colors not specified in the source data. Growing with slender stems less than 2.5 meters tall that are generally puberulent and occasionally glabrous, it has a delicate, climbing habit characteristic of pea species. Its leaves are compound with multiple leaflets, typical of the Lathyrus genus, supporting the plant's climbing growth pattern. As a member of the pea family, it likely produces small legume-type seed pods, though specific fruit details were not provided in the source description.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Forest, open areas
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: San Benito, Trinity, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Tuolumne, Sacramento, El Dorado, Merced, Tehama, Lake, Yolo, Butte, San Mateo, Sutter, Colusa, Glenn, Nevada, Solano, Mendocino, San Joaquin, Fresno, Monterey, Plumas, Placer, Tulare, Del Norte, Madera, Humboldt, San Luis Obispo, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Alameda, Amador, Stanislaus, Napa
Bloom period
Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus blooms Apr-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 jepsonii var. californicus native to California?
Yes. Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus bloom?
Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus grow?
Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus occurs in San Benito, Trinity, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Tuolumne, Sacramento, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus belong to?
Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lathyrus.
What habitat does Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus grow in?
Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus grows in Forest, open 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.