Plant Details

Lathyrus linifolius

Bitter Vetch

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Lathyrus linifolius.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

24 names · 19 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Bitter Vetch[1]
  • Bitter-vetch[1]
  • Heath Pea[1]
Other languages (18)
Dutch
  • Knollathyrus[1]
French
  • Gesse aux tiges renflées[1]
  • Gesse des montagnes[1]
  • Gesse à feuilles de Lin[1]
Catalan
  • Guixó de muntanya[1]
Czech
  • hrachor horský[1]
Danish
  • Krat-fladbælg[1]
Estonian
  • mägi-seahernes[1]
Finnish
  • soikkosyylälinnunherne[1]
  • Syylälinnunherne[1]
German
  • Berg-Platterbse[1]
Hungarian
  • hegyi lednek[1]
Italian
  • Cicerchia montana[1]
Lithuanian
  • Kalninis pelėžirnis[1]
Norwegian
  • knollerteknapp[1]
Polish
  • Groszek skrzydlasty[1]
Russian
  • Чина льнолистная[1]
Slovak
  • hrachor ľanolistý[1]
Slovenian
  • gorski grahor[1]
Swedish
Welsh
  • Ytbysen y coed[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Lathyrus linifolius — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Bitter Vetch — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Berg-Platterbse — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Heath Pea — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • hrachor horský — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Gesse à feuilles de lin — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Krat-fladbælg — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • mägi-seahernes — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Gökärt — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • knollerteknapp — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Syylälinnunherne — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Knollathyrus — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Чина льнолистная — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Groszek skrzydlasty — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • gorski grahor — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • hegyi lednek — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Cicerchia montana — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Guixó de muntanya — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Ytbysen y coed — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Kalninis pelėžirnis — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Bitter-vetch — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • soikkosyylälinnunherne — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Gesse des montagnes — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • Gesse aux tiges renflées — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.
  • hrachor ľanolistý — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 85072; Lathyrus linifolius.

General information

Scientific name: Lathyrus linifolius
Accepted name (Kew): Lathyrus linifolius (Reichard) Bässler View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Lathyrus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Bitter Vetch
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.60 m
Spread: - m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-9
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Seed, Root
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer

Description

Boiled seed: This seed can be prepared and eaten as a vegetable, similar to sweet chestnuts. However, it is important to be cautious due to the previously mentioned toxicity. Boiled root: Cook the root and enjoy the sweet taste and nutritious properties, both boiled and roasted.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 66935; name ID 2352057; Lathyrus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 63329; name ID 2351366; Lathyrus linifolius (Reichard) Bässler.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Lathyrus linifolius

    Taxonomic data from WCVP-Fabaceae, version 2026, v.7, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 500328, ID 3SKWT: Lathyrus linifolius (Reichard) Bässler (accepted).

    Source checked on .