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Lathyrus palustris  L.
Marsh pea
© 2021 Kipp Pow
© 2022 Dana York
© 2021 Kipp Pow
© 2024 Alison Gardner
© 2024 Alison Gardner
© 2022 Dana York
© 2015 Aaron Arthur
© 2008 Jennifer L. Kalt
Lathyrus palustris is a perennial herb that is native to California, and also found elsewhere in North America and beyond.
California Rare Plant Rank: 2B.2 (rare, threatened, or endangered in CA; common elsewhere).
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
Observation Search
~29 records in California
yellowone or more occurrences
within a 7.5-minute quadrangle
DJJJASONAFMM

Bloom Period
Genus: Lathyrus
Family: Fabaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Dicot
Jepson eFlora section: eudicot

Toxicity: Do not eat any part of this plant.

Wetlands: Occurs in wetlands

Habitat: freshwater-marsh, bogs/fens

Communities: Freshwater Wetlands, Northern Coastal Scrub, North Coastal Coniferous Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Coastal Prairie, wetland-riparian

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + CNPS + PLANTS

Alternate Names:
PLANTSLathyrus myrtifolius
PLANTSLathyrus palustris ssp. pilosus
PLANTSLathyrus palustris var. linearifolius
PLANTSLathyrus palustris var. macranthus
PLANTSLathyrus palustris var. meridionalis
More …
Information about  Lathyrus palustris from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
Commercial availability unknown.
Jepson eFlora

USDA PLANTS Profile (LAPA4)

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

ID Tips on PlantID.net

[Wikipedia] Native Range: It is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2025. The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 03/29/2025).