Lathyrus sp.
Wild pea, Wild Pea
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Perennial · Variable; species dependent
Lathyrus sp. (Wild pea) is a non-native California perennial in the Fabaceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
No. Lathyrus sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Lathyrus sp. belong to?
Lathyrus sp. is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lathyrus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.