Lathyrus ochrus aka Cyprus Vetch

Lathyrus ochrus, or Cyprus vetch, is in the pea family, Fabaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region. Its range covers parts of southern Europe and North Africa. It also grows wild in parts of western Asia. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. It grows in temperate climates, in grain fields and dry sites. This annual scrambles and reaches about 2 feet [0.6 metres]. It grows and sets seed within one season.

Flowers appear from March to June. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the flowers. Seeds ripen from August to September, after the flowers bloom. The supplied sources give no leaf shape or flower colour for this species. They do not describe its stems or seed pods either. Traits given for the genus cannot tell us these details for this species.

Cyprus vetch is easy to grow in fairly good garden soil. Give it full sun, as it cannot grow in shade. It grows in sand, loam, and clay that drain well. The soil can be slightly acid, neutral, or slightly alkaline. It can be dry or moist. Garden beds suit this plant. The evidence gives no hardiness zone or frost limit. It names no specific pests or diseases.

To grow new plants, soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours. Sow them in a cold frame in early spring. When seedlings are large enough to handle, give each its own pot. Plant them outdoors in summer. If you have enough seed, you can sow straight outdoors in mid-spring. Bacteria in root nodules help it take nitrogen from the air. These nodules are small growths on the roots. The plant uses some of this nitrogen. Plants nearby may gain from it too. Leave roots in the soil when you clear dead top growth. As roots rot, they return nitrogen to the ground.

Records note cooked seeds as food, but care is still needed. PFAF gives this plant a low edible rating. It lists cooked roots as food too. Yet it questions that report, since this plant is an annual. PFAF found no records of toxic effects for this species. Its warning concerns harmful compounds in seeds of some related species. This does not show that Cyprus vetch is toxic. No records note its use as medicine. PFAF does not flag it as a possible weed.