[Peas, Peavines and Vetchlings: The Genus Lathyrus West of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Everlasting Pea, Everlasting-pea, Perennial Pea, Perennial Peavine

Lathyrus latifolius

Synonym: Lathyrus latifolius var. splendens

A close-up image of the inflorescence of everlasting peavine as photographed in Glenwood, WA at the southeastern corner of Mt. Adams.........July 28, 2006.

Characteristics:

Everlasting Pea is a viny, climbing perennial that is a very weedy species in the Columbia River Gorge. Its stems are broadly winged or ridged. The stipules at the leaf axils are large, lanceolate to ovate, and they are also entire (not toothed). The leaves are compound, with two broad, elliptical leaflets (up to 14 cm long and 5 cm wide). The tip of the leaf ends in several tendrils which wrap around objects to help support the climbing ability of the plant.

The flowers are large (15-20 mm long) and pinkish-red in color. 5-15 flowers may be clustered together in the raceme. The pods tend to be 6-10 cm long and 7-10 mm wide and are 10-25 seeded.

Habitat:

Everlasting Pea is found in disturbed areas, especially along railroads and highways.

Range:

Native to Europe, and established over much of the United States.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 100'-2000' from near the Sandy River in the west and eastward to Bingen, WA.

The photo at right shows a close-up of the winged stem, two broadly elliptical leaves with a prehensile tendril at its tip. The leaves can also be ovate to broadly lanceolate in shape. Photographed in Glenwood, WA at the southeastern corner of Mt. Adams.........July 28, 2006.

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Additional close-ups of the flowers and winged stem and large stipules of everlasting pea as seen along the paved nature trails at Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge..........June 26, 2010.

Paul Slichter