Lathyrus latifolius, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 141

33. L. latifolius L. , Sp. Pl. 733 (1753)

( L. megalanthus Steudel ; inch L. membranaceus C. Presi ).

Glabrous or pubescent perennial; stem 60-300 cm, winged. Leaflets 1 pair, (30-)40-150 x 3-50 mm, linear to ovate- or elliptic-orbicular; stipules (20-)30-60 x 2-11 mm, lanceolate to ovate, semi-hastate, more than £ as wide as stem. Racemes 5- to 15-flowered. Calyx-teeth unequal; corolla (15-)2O-3Omm, purple-pink. Legume 50-110 x 6-10 mm, brown, glabrous. Seeds 10-15, reticulate-rugose; hilum £-£ of the cir­ cumference. 2/2 = 14. C. & S. Europe, extending to N. France; cultivated for ornament and sometimes naturalized. Al Au BI Bu Co Cz Ga Gr He Hs Hu It Ju Lu Po Rm Rs (W, K) Sa Sì [Be Br Ge].

Very variable in leaflet-shape, andsometimes divided, on this basis, into two species or subspecies, but there is little correlation between leaflet-shape and other characters.