Lathyrus

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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Sweet peas | image = Grass vetchling close 800.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = Grass Vetchling, Lathyrus nissolia | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Magnoliopsida | ordo = Fabales | familia = Fabaceae | subfamilia = Faboideae | tribus = Vicieae | genus = Lathyrus | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. }}

The genus Lathyrus are the sweet peas and vetchlings, flowering plants in the legume family Fabaceae. There are approximately 160 species of Lathyrus; they are native to temperate areas in both hemispheres and their range extends into mountainous parts of Africa. There are annual and perennial species which may be climbing or bushy.

The genus includes the garden sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) and the perennial everlasting pea (Lathyrus latifolius). Flowers on these cultivated species may be rose, red, maroon, pink, white, yellow, purple or blue and some are bicolored; they are also fragrant, which makes them a very popular garden plant. Cultivated species are susceptible to fungal infections including downy and powdery mildew. Lathyrus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Grey Chi and Latticed Heath (both recorded on Meadow Vetchling).

Other species are grown for food, including L. sativus and L. cicera, and less commonly L. ochrus and L. clymenum. L. tuberosus is grown as a root vegetable for its starchy edible tuber.

The seeds of some Lathyrus species contain a toxic amino acid and if eaten in large quantities can cause lathyrism, a serious disease.

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