Lathyrus sativus
L. Chickling VetchSlender annual herb; stems 8–100 cm long, glabrous, narrowly winged. Leaflets linear, lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, mostly 2.5–7 cm long, 2–10 mm wide, subglabrous or sparsely hairy, apices acuminate; tendrils 1 or 2; petiole 4–20 mm long, winged; stipules lanceolate, semi-hastate, 1–3 cm long. Flowers solitary, axillary; pedicle 5–8 mm long; peduncle 3–6 cm long; bract narrow-triangular, c. 0.5 mm long, caducous; calyx 8–10 mm long, 5-veined, glabrous, teeth subequal, longer than tube; corolla 1.2–2.4 cm long, white, blue or purplish; standard orbicular or broadly obovate; wings with a short claw, auricle distinct; keel deltoid; style twisted. Pod oblong, 2–5 cm long, 15–20 mm wide, flattened, with 2 wings on upper stuture; seeds 3–5, 5–8 mm long, smooth, creamy-brown.
Probably native to southern Europe, but widely cultivated in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Recorded once in Victoria near Ararat in 1964. There have been no subsequent records at this location and it is doubtful whether it has persisted.
Seed of this species is edible but may be toxic if large quantities are consumed over a long period.