Lathyrus pratensis L.

Scrambling perennial; stems sparsely to moderately hairy, sharply angled, not winged. Lvs ± glabrous to moderately hairy; tendrils usually branched in upper lvs, but often reduced (sometimes to a mucro) and simple in lower lvs; leaflets in 1 pair, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, acute, (10)–20–30–(45) mm long; veins parallel; stipules lanceolate, usually sagittate, sometimes with only 1 basal lobe, wider than stem, (5)–10–15–(20) mm long. Infl. much > lvs, 2–10-flowered; pedicels 2–4 mm long. Calyx hairy, gibbous at base; calyx teeth somewhat unequal, triangular-subulate; lower teeth usually > or = tube; upper teeth shorter. Corolla yellow, 10–15 mm long. Pod ± glabrous or hairy, dark brownish black, (2)–5–12-seeded, 25–35 mm long; seeds reddish brown, smooth; hilum 1/7-⅕ of circumference.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Nov.–Mar.