Lathyrus sativus

Lathyrus sativus L. (Medit.) – A rare and much decreasing, ephemeral alien. Perhaps first seen as a weed of arable land in Malmedy in 1859 and in Fraipont in 1878. Recorded as a wool alien in the valley of river Vesdre between 1887 and 1906. Repeatedly seen in several, very widely scattered locations between 1945 and 1960 (Deurne, Douvrain, Jamioulx, La Louvière, Rixensart, Zelzate), mostly as a weed of arable land (especially under Vicia sativa). Some records were obviously associated with birdseed waste. There seem to be no confirmed records posterior to 1960.

Selected literature:

Croft A.M., Pang E.C.K. & Taylor P.W.J. (1999) Molecular analysis of  Lathyrus sativus  L. (grasspea) and related Lathyrus species. Euphytica 107: 167-176.

Lawalrée A (1963) Papilionaceae. In: Robyns W. (ed.), Flore Générale de Belgique, vol. 4, fasc. 2. Jardin Botanique de l’Etat, Bruxelles: 135-228.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith