Lathyrus sulphureus var. argillaceus
dubious pea
Photo: parent species Lathyrus sulphureus · (c) Stevie Steele, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae
Conservation status: CNPS 3
Lathyrus sulphureus var. argillaceus (dubious pea) is a California plant in the Fabaceae family.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Differentiators are not available at this time.
Bloom period
Lathyrus sulphureus var. argillaceus blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 3
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
When does Lathyrus sulphureus var. argillaceus bloom?
Lathyrus sulphureus var. argillaceus blooms Apr-May.
What plant family does Lathyrus sulphureus var. argillaceus belong to?
Lathyrus sulphureus var. argillaceus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lathyrus.
Is Lathyrus sulphureus var. argillaceus rare or endangered?
Lathyrus sulphureus var. argillaceus carries California Rare Plant Rank 3, state rank S1S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.