Lathyrus vestitus is a species of wild pea known by the common name Pacific pea. It is native to western North America, where it is mostly found in the forests, woodlands, and chaparral of California. The ranges of some subspecies extend into Oregon and Baja California. This is a perennial pea vine which varies in appearance across subspecies. Leaves are made up of several leaflets of various shapes up to 4 or 5 centimeters long. The leaves usually bear coiling tendrils and the stipules may be large or small. The inflorescence is a showy array of up to 15 pea flowers, sometimes densely packed together, and usually some shade of bright violet, light to medium purple, or white.
Taxonomy Lathyrus vestitus was scientifically described and named in 1838 by Thomas Nuttall. In 1861 Friedrich Alefeld proposed moving it to Orobus, but this genus is not accepted. The species continues to be classified in Lathyrus as part of the Fabaceae family. It has three accepted varieties according to Plants of the World Online.
Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii Lathyrus vestitus var. ochropetalus Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus
Lathyrus vestitus has 36 synonyms of the species or one of its three varieties including species names.
Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Synonym of: Notes Lathyrus alefeldii 1894 species var. alefeldii ≡ hom. Lathyrus bolanderi 1885 species var. vestitus = het. Lathyrus laetiflorus 1893 species var. vestitus = het. Lathyrus maritimus 1859 species var. vestitus = het., nom. illeg. homonym. post. Lathyrus ochropetalus 1918 species var. ochropetalus ≡ hom. Lathyrus peckii 1918 species var. ochropetalus = het. Lathyrus puberulus 1894 species var. vestitus = het. Lathyrus quercetorum 1907 species var. vestitus = het. Lathyrus strictus 1838 species var. alefeldii = het., nom. illeg. homonym. post. Lathyrus violaceus 1893 species var. vestitus = het. Orobus californicus 1861 species var. alefeldii ≡ hom. Orobus vestitus 1861 species L. vestitus ≡ hom. Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym ; = heterotypic synonym
Range The Pacific pea is native to Oregon and California in the United States and to Baja California in the far northwest of Mexico. They are also part of the native flora of the Channel Islands.
References Citations
Sources Web sources
External links
Calflora Database: Lathyrus vestitus (Bolander's pea, Canyon Sweet Pea, Common pacific pea, Pacific peavine) Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Lathyrus vestitus USDA Plants Profile
UC CalPhotos gallery: Lathyrus vestitus