Lathyrus lanszwertii
Nevada pea
(c) Alex Abair, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alex Abair · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Lathyrus lanszwertii (Nevada pea) is a native California vine in the Fabaceae family, recognized by key features: angled stems, 4-10 leaflets.
Nevada pea is a California native perennial found in the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada Mountains in alpine meadows and rocky slopes at elevations of 1,500 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces purple to lavender flowers with delicate petals approximately 7 to 16 millimeters long. Growing with slender, angled stems that are sometimes slightly flanged, it develops climbing or trailing habit up to 50 centimeters tall. Its leaves feature 4 to 10 opposite leaflets measuring 1.5 to 8 centimeters long, with small narrow stipules and a branched tendril that can be coiled or appear as a bristle. The plant produces smooth, glabrous fruit pods characteristic of the pea family.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated but parent taxon; key features: angled stems, 4-10 leaflets
Habitat and range
California counties: Modoc, Trinity, El Dorado, Tuolumne, Siskiyou, Plumas, Sierra, Mariposa
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 lanszwertii native to California?
Yes. Lathyrus lanszwertii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Lathyrus lanszwertii grow?
Lathyrus lanszwertii occurs in Modoc, Trinity, El Dorado, Tuolumne, Siskiyou, Plumas, Sierra, Mariposa.
What plant family does Lathyrus lanszwertii belong to?
Lathyrus lanszwertii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lathyrus.
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.