Angular Pea- a weed (*Lathyrus angulatus)

Family: Fabaceae (Pea family).

Native of Europe.

Occurrence: Widespread in degraded bushland, bushland valley floors, grassland and waste areas.

Identification:

• it has small, blue to purple pea-flowers, which become variegated blue and purple with age
• the leaves are divided into two narrow leaflets
• a tendril rises from the join of the leaflets, the tendril divides into three
• the stems are angular.

Angular Pea is a common weed in the Castlemaine district, but is mostly uncommon elsewhere. The often variegated blue to purple pea flowers, the angular stems, and the paired leaflets make this a distinctive plant.

Sweet Pea Lathyrus odoratus is a much larger plant.

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