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Linnaeus named the Lathyrus genus in 1753. "Lathyrus" is, according to William Weber, Greek for "very passionate" and refers to the ancient belief in the plant’s supposed aphrodisiacal powers. |
Lathyrus pauciflorus and Amelanchier utahensis intertwine at Mesa Verde National Park. |
Lathyrus pauciflorus (Utah Sweetpea) Fabaceae (Pea Family) Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands, openings. Spring, summer. Lathyrus pauciflorus flowers are a soft pink, fading (as shown in the third photograph) to inky blues. The plant, typical of members of its genus, often grows in extensive patches, commonly around and under Oaks and Ponderosas. Tendrils at the leaf tips are tenacious. Individual leaves are longer than broad, pointed, and widely spaced. This is a very handsome plant that grabs your attention when it is in flower. "Pauciflorus" is Latin for "few flowers". The plant was first collected by Thomas Howell in 1887 in Washington and is found in a band from Washington and Oregon through southern Idaho to Utah and southwest Colorado. (See the map below.) |
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Lathyrus
pauciflorus (Utah Sweetpea) Fabaceae (Pea Family) Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands, openings. Spring, summer. |
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Lathyrus
pauciflorus (Utah Sweetpea) Fabaceae (Pea Family) Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands, openings. Spring, summer. In the lower left and right corners of the photograph, under the large upright pink banners you can see the light-colored tip of the flower keel tucked into the much longer pink/white wings of the flower. The short keel is one of the diagnostic characteristics for this species. In the upper right corner you can see the deeply cut calyx. |
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Lathyrus
pauciflorus (Utah Sweetpea) Fabaceae (Pea Family) Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands, openings. Spring, summer. Stems are often slightly winged, stipules (folded, leaf-like appendages at the center of the photograph) are noticeable, and leaves vary from about twice as long as wide (as shown at left) to about four times as long as wide (as shown in the fourth photograph on this page). |
Lathyrus
pauciflorus (Utah Sweetpea) Fabaceae (Pea Family) Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands, openings. Spring, summer. |
Range map © John Kartesz,
County Color Key
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Range map for Lathyrus pauciflorus |