Sweet pea
|
|
| Sweet pea | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||||
| Lathyrus odoratus |
Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is a flowering plant of the genus Lathyrus in the family Fabaceae (the legumes). Unlike most peas, the seeds of the sweet pea are not edible. They are often grown by gardeners for their bright colours and the sweet fragrance that gives them their name. The species is annual and so lasts for only one season.
Sweet peas have been cultivated since the 17th century and a vast number of varieties are commercially available.