Lathyrus palustris

Marsh pea

Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

Marsh pea is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges in moist or wet coastal areas at elevations generally below 100 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces pink-purple or purple flowers (occasionally white) 15 to 20 millimeters long with a banner petal bent nearly 90 degrees. Growing with angled or winged stems that are generally glabrous or slightly hairy, it extends 2.5 to 5.5 centimeters tall with a distinctive branched, coiled tendril. Its compound leaves feature 4 to 8 opposite leaflets that are elliptic to lance-oblong, with conspicuous lanceolate stipules. The plant produces glabrous or initially glandular fruit pods that complete its distinctive coastal habitat profile.

Habitat: Moist or wet coastal areas

Bloom period: May-Aug

Elevation: generally < 100 m

Bioregions: n NCo

California counties: Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Sonoma, Kern, Mendocino, Siskiyou

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.