So Beautiful Lathyrus Laevigatus Flower

Lathyrus laevigatus: A Graceful Wildflower of the Pea Family
Lathyrus laevigatus, commonly known as the smooth vetchling or glabrous everlasting pea, is a lesser-known but captivating member of the Fabaceae family. With its elegant compound leaves, charming flowers, and natural preference for woodland and meadow habitats, Lathyrus laevigatus plays a unique role in temperate ecosystems across Europe. Though not as widely cultivated as its garden relatives like sweet peas, it remains a plant of both botanical interest and quiet beauty.
Botanical Classification
Scientific name: Lathyrus laevigatus
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Lathyrus
Common names: Smooth vetchling, Glabrous everlasting pea
Native range: Central and southern Europe, especially found in the mountainous regions like the Alps, Carpathians, and the Balkans.
Description
Growth Habit:Lathyrus laevigatus is a perennial herbaceous plant that typically reaches heights of 30 to 80 centimeters. It grows from a slender rhizome and exhibits a clumping habit, often forming small colonies in open woodland or grassy slopes. As a non-climbing species, unlike some of its vining cousins, it maintains a more upright or sprawling ground-hugging form.
Leaves:The leaves of Lathyrus laevigatus are compound and pinnate, typically with two leaflets per leaf. They are characteristically smooth, with entire margins and a lanceolate shape. One of the distinguishing features is the absence or reduction of tendrils, unlike many other Lathyrus species.
Flowers:The plant blooms from late spring to mid-summer, producing charming, butterfly-shaped flowers typical of the pea family. These flowers are usually pale violet to bluish-purple in color, although variations can occur. The blossoms are borne in loose racemes and are hermaphroditic, meaning each flower contains both male and female reproductive parts. Their form and nectar are attractive to pollinators, especially bees and butterflies.