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Volume IV (1988) - Flora of New Zealand Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons
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Lathyrus L.

LATHYRUS L.

Herbs, usually scandent; stems angled or winged. Lvs pinnate, tendrilous, mucronate or reduced to a phyllode or tendril; leaflets usually distinctly parallel-veined, in 2 or few pairs; stipules simple or toothed. Infl. axillary, racemose, 1-many-flowered. Calyx teeth 5, subequal or upper shorter, usually < 2× as long as tube. Staminal tube subequal at apex; stamens diadelphous. Style inflexed, bearded lengthwise on inside, otherwise glabrous; ovules numerous or rarely few. Pod compressed, 2-valved; seeds subglobose, rough or smooth, with long or short hilum.

Key

1
Stem winged at least in the upper part
2
Stem sometimes angled but not winged
5
2
Infl. (2)-5-14-flowered; hilum ?-1/2 of seed circumference
3
Infl. 1-3-flowered; hilum ⅙-⅕ of seed circumference
4
3
Leaflets narrowly to broadly elliptic; stipules mostly (3)-5-15 mm wide; corolla (15)-20-30 mm long; lower calyx teeth = or > tube
2. *latifolius
Leaflets usually lanceolate to linear, rarely narrowly elliptic; stipules 1-3 mm wide; corolla 13-17 mm long; lower calyx teeth < tube
6. *sylvestris
4
Plant hairy at least on stem, calyx and pod; infl. much > lvs
4. *odoratus
Plant glabrous; infl. >, = or only slightly < lvs
7. *tingitanus
5
Lf reduced to a grass-like phyllode without leaflets or tendril, or to a pair of large stipules and a tendril
6
Lf of 1-(3) pairs of leaflets and a tendril
7
6
Lf a grass-like phyllode without leaflets or tendril; corolla crimson
3. *nissolia
Lf reduced to a pair of large stipules and a tendril; corolla yellow
*aphaca ζ
7
Corolla yellow, 10-15 mm long; leaflets lanceolate to narrowly elliptic; veins parallel; infl. 2-10-flowered
5. *pratensis
Corolla violet, purple to crimson and pink, 25-35 mm long; leaflets elliptic to obovate; veins only feebly parallel; infl. 1-4-flowered
1. *grandiflorus

c. 150 spp., mainly in Europe, Asia, N. America, extending to E. Africa and S. America. Naturalised spp. 8.

Lathyrus and Vicia are very closely related. Most Lathyrus spp. can be distinguished from Vicia by winged stems, parallel-veined lvs, fewer leaflets per lf, or style pubescence.

Fig. 61. Stipules of Lathyrus. A L. grandiflorus, with lvs; B L. latifolius; C L. sylvestris. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X5M]
Fig. 61. Stipules of Lathyrus. A L. grandiflorus, with lvs; B L. latifolius; C L. sylvestris. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X5M]
Fig. 62. Seeds of Lathyrus. A L. latifolius; B L. tingitanus. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X5N]
Fig. 62. Seeds of Lathyrus. A L. latifolius; B L. tingitanus. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X5N]
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