Plant Details

Lathyrus sylvestris

Flat pea, Wood pea

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Common names

33 names · 26 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Flat pea
  • Narrow Leaved Everlasting Pea[1]
  • Narrow-leaved Everlasting-pea[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Wood pea
Other languages (25)
Dutch
  • Boslathyrus[1]
French
  • Gesse des bois[1]
  • Gesse sauvage[1]
Armenian
  • Տափոլոռ անտառային[1]
Belarusian
  • Чына лясная[1]
Catalan
  • Guixa de bosc[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 林地香豌豆[1]
  • 林生山黧豆[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 林地香豌豆[1]
  • 林生山黧豆[1]
Czech
  • hrachor lesní[1]
Danish
  • Skov-fladbælg[1]
Estonian
  • mets-seahernes[1]
Finnish
  • metsänätkelmä[1]
German
  • Wald-Platterbse[1]
Hungarian
  • erdei lednek[1]
Italian
  • Cicerchia silvestre[1]
  • Cicerchione[1]
Japanese
  • ヤナギバレンリソウ[1]
Latvian
  • Meža dedestiņa[1]
Lithuanian
  • Miškinis pelėžirnis[1]
Norwegian
  • skogflatbelg[1]
Polish
  • Groszek leśny[1]
Russian
  • Чина лесная[1]
Slovak
  • hrachor lesný[1]
Slovenian
  • gozdni grahor[1]
Swedish
Ukrainian
  • Чина лісова[1]
Welsh
  • Ytbysen fythol gulddail[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 sylvestris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Narrow-leaved Everlasting-pea — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Narrow Leaved Everlasting Pea — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Cicerchione — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Cicerchia silvestre — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Wald-Platterbse — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Gesse des bois — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Gesse sauvage — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Boslathyrus — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • hrachor lesní — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Skov-fladbælg — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • mets-seahernes — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Чина лесная — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • skogflatbelg — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • backvial — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • metsänätkelmä — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Miškinis pelėžirnis — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • ヤナギバレンリソウ — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • hrachor lesný — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • 林生山黧豆 — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • 林生山黧豆 — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • 林地香豌豆 — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • 林地香豌豆 — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Տափոլոռ անտառային — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Groszek leśny — results[1].names[25]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Чына лясная — results[1].names[26]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Чина лісова — results[1].names[27]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Meža dedestiņa — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • gozdni grahor — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Guixa de bosc — results[1].names[30]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • erdei lednek — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.
  • Ytbysen fythol gulddail — results[1].names[32]; taxon id 82740; Lathyrus sylvestris.

General information

Scientific name: Lathyrus sylvestris
Accepted name (Kew): Lathyrus sylvestris L. 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: Flat pea, Wood pea
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Climber
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.50 m
Spread: 0.20 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Growth habit: Climbing, Creeping, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
-
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer

Description

Agroforestry Uses: The plant is used as a green manure and ground cover to prevent erosion and rehabilitate degraded land. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens, with some named varieties. Nitrogen fixer.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
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 62930; name ID 2351122; Lathyrus sylvestris L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

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

    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 2274433, ID 6P346: Lathyrus sylvestris L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Lathyrus sylvestris — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Growth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .