Common products:
- Fodder: aerial parts (stems, leaves, buds, seed pods) are cut at early flowering for hay or wilted for silage, providing a high‑protein, highly digestible feed for ruminants. It is used in cut‑and‑carry and rotational grazing, contributing the legume component of mixed swards.
- Seeds: the species is included in commercial wildflower and meadow‑restoration mixtures for horticulturists, conservation agencies, and landscape contractors. Harvested from managed wild stands or specialist growers, it is sold as a component of “native pollinator” or “species‑rich grassland” blends.
- The harvested herbage can also be incorporated as a green manure to improve soil organic matter. The material is also valued for its quick decomposition.

Properties relevant to use:
- Nitrogen fixation: as a legume, it forms nodules with rhizobia, reducing atmospheric N₂ to ammonia and enriching soil nitrogen, decreasing the need for synthetic fertilizer.
- Forage quality: analyses report relatively high crude protein (15–20 % DM) and moderate neutral‑detergent fiber (≈45–55 % DM). These values yield high in‑vitro dry matter digestibility, making it an efficient feed for dairy and beef cattle.
- Palatability: livestock graze it readily; soft stems reduce refusal, and thin seed coats aid rapid germination in reseeding.

Standards and regulation:
- Feed: products must meet EU feed safety legislation, notably Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic feed and Regulation (EU) No 2017/2279 on contaminant limits.
- Seed: commercial seed must comply with Council Directive 2002/57/EC on seed certification; ISTA rules ensure purity and germination.
- UK: Seed Marketing Regulations 2012 and BS 3882:2015 set labeling, testing, and performance criteria for wildflower seed mixtures for landscape restoration.

Sustainability and sourcing:
- Native to Europe and western Asia, it poses no invasive risk and thrives on low‑input soils, reducing reliance on irrigation, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers.
- Nitrogen fixation contributes to soil carbon sequestration and improves fertility of marginal grasslands, supporting sustainable pasture.
- Seed and forage are sourced from certified organic farms, biodiversity‑focused producers, or well‑managed wild meadows; harvesting is timed to avoid seed‑bank depletion and maintain pollinator resources, conserving meadow biodiversity. Its flowers attract a range of pollinators, further supporting ecosystem services.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name	Authority	First published in
Orobus pratensis	(L.) Stokes	Bot. Mat. Med.4: 39 (1812)
Lathyrus pratensis subsp. pratensis	L.
Lathyrus pratensis subsp. hallersteinii	Nyman	Consp. Fl. Eur., Suppl. 2(1): 100 (1889)
Lathyrus lusseri	Heer ex W.D.J.Koch	Syn. Fl. Germ. Helv., ed. 2: 1021 (1845)
Lathyrus sepium	Scop.	Fl. Carniol., ed. 2, 2: 64 (1771)
Pisum pratense	(L.) E.H.L.Krause	J.Sturm, Deutschl. Fl. Abbild., ed. 2, 9: 42 (1901)
Lathyrus velutinus	(DC.) Landolt	Fl. Indicativa: 269 (2010)
Lathyrus pratensis var. velutinus	DC.	J.B.A.M.de Lamarck & A.P.de Candolle, Fl. Franç., éd. 3, 6: 575 (1815)
Lathyrus pratensis subsp. velutinus	(DC.) Soják	Cas. Nár. Mus., Odd. Prír.152: 21 (1983)
Lathyrus pratensis subsp. lusseri	(Heer ex W.D.J.Koch) Soják	Cas. Nár. Mus., Odd. Prír.152: 21 (1983)
Lathyrus pratensis f. pallidiflorus	H.Lindb. ex Hiitonen	Suom. Kasvio: 473 (1933)
Lathyrus pratensis f. sepium	(Scop.) Bolzon	Bull. Soc. Bot. Ital.1911: 58 (1911)
Lathyrus pratensis var. hirsutus	Lej.	Rev. Fl. Spa: 154 (1825)
Lathyrus pratensis var. montanus	Lecoq & Lamotte	Cat. Pl. Plateau Central: 146 (1847)
Lathyrus pratensis var. subalpinus	Rouy	G.Rouy & J.Foucaud, Fl. France5: 265 (1899)
Lathyrus pratensis var. tomentosus	Wahlb.	Fl. Gothob.: 72 (1820)
Lathyrus denudatus	Gilib.	Fl. Lit. Inch. 2: 98 (1782)
Lathyrus cashmericus	Royle ex Baker	Fl. Brit. India 2: 180 (1876)

Common names Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!

Filter by language:

Language	Common/alternative name
English	meadow pea
English	meadow vetchling
Arabic	جلبان مرجي
Azerbaijani	Çəmən güllücəsi
Belarusian	гусіны гарох
Belarusian	чына лугавая
Belarusian	люткі
Belarusian	лесавы лядзей
Belarusian	гарошак заяччы
Bulgarian	ливадно секирче
Catalan	guixó de prat
Czech	hrachor luční
Welsh	ytbysen y ddôl
Danish	gul fladbælg
German	wiesen-platterbse
German	wiesenplatterbse
Estonian	aas-seahernes
Persian	خلر زرد
Finnish	niittynätkelmä
French	gesse des pres
French	gesse des prés
Irish	peasairín buí
Upper Sorbian	Łučny hróšik
Hungarian	réti lednek
Armenian	Տափոլոռ մարգագետնային
Igbo	meadow vetchling
Icelandic	fuglaertur
Italian	cicerchia dei prati
Japanese	キバナノレンリソウ
Georgian	მდელოს მატკვარცანა
Lithuanian	pievinis pelėžirnis
Latvian	pļavas dedestiņa
Latvian	virklīte
myv	Лугалангонь идем вика
Norwegian Bokmål	gulflatbelg
Norwegian Bokmål	gulskolm
Dutch	veldlathyrus
Norwegian Nynorsk	gulskolm
os	Хъæдургæрдæг
Polish	groszek łąkowy
Polish	groszek żółty
Romanian	linte
Russian	чина луговая
se	niitosáhpal
Slovak	hrachor lúčny
Slovenian	travniški grahor
Swedish	grävlingshö
Swedish	Ängsvial
Swedish	gulvial
Ukrainian	чина лучна
Chinese	牧地山黧豆
Chinese	牧地香豌豆
Chinese	草原香豌豆

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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No germination or propagation data was added yet.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:

- Doubtful data

- Extinct

- Introduced

- Native

Africa click to expand
- Northeast Tropical Africa
  - Ethiopia
- Northern Africa
  - Morocco

Asia-temperate click to expand
- Arabian Peninsula
  - Yemen
- Caucasus
  - North Caucasus
  - Transcaucasus
- China
  - China North-central
  - China South-central
  - Manchuria
  - Qinghai
  - Xinjiang
- Middle Asia
  - Kazakhstan
  - Kirgizstan
  - Tadzhikistan
  - Uzbekistan
- Mongolia
  - Mongolia
- Russian Far East
  - Khabarovsk
  - Kuril Islands
  - Magadan
  - Primorye
  - Sakhalin
- Siberia
  - Altay
  - Buryatiya
  - Chita
  - Irkutsk
  - Krasnoyarsk
  - Tuva
  - West Siberia
  - Yakutskiya
- Western Asia
  - Afghanistan
  - East Aegean Islands
  - Iran
  - Iraq
  - Lebanon-Syria
  - Turkey

Asia-tropical click to expand
- Indian Subcontinent
  - India
  - Nepal
  - Pakistan
  - West Himalaya

Australasia click to expand
- New Zealand
  - New Zealand North
  - New Zealand South

Europe click to expand
- Eastern Europe
  - Baltic States
  - Belarus
  - Central European Russia
  - East European Russia
  - Krym
  - North European Russia
  - Northwest European Russia
  - South European Russia
  - Ukraine
- Middle Europe
  - Austria
  - Belgium
  - Czechoslovakia
  - Germany
  - Hungary
  - Netherlands
  - Poland
  - Switzerland
- Northern Europe
  - Denmark
  - Finland
  - Føroyar
  - Great Britain
  - Iceland
  - Ireland
  - Norway
  - Sweden
- Southeastern Europe
  - Albania
  - Bulgaria
  - Greece
  - Italy
  - Romania
  - Sicilia
  - Turkey-in-Europe
  - Yugoslavia
- Southwestern Europe
  - Corse
  - France
  - Portugal
  - Sardegna
  - Spain

Northern America click to expand
- Eastern Canada
  - Newfoundland
- North-central U.S.A.
  - Illinois
  - Wisconsin
- Northeastern U.S.A.
  - New York
  - Vermont
- Northwestern U.S.A.
  - Washington

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!

Database	ID/link to page
World Flora Online	wfo-0000212701
Canadensys	5755
USDA Plants	LAPR
Tropicos	13021685
INPN	105247
Flora of Italy	2484
KEW	urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:501954-1
The Plant List	ild-7773
Open Tree Of Life	1018594
Observations.org	6956
NCBI Taxonomy	254779
NBN Atlas	NBNSYS0000003301
Nature Serve	2.145985
IUCN Red List	120075014
IPNI	501954-1
iNaturalist	125787
GBIF	5356701
Freebase	/m/04c862
WisFlora	4021
EPPO	LTHPR
EOL	703180
Elurikkus	5405
USDA GRIN	21607
Wikipedia	Lathyrus_pratensis
Plantarium	22198

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.

Title

Authors

Publication

Released

IDs

Analysis of Free Amino Acid Composition and Honey Plant Species in Seven Honey Species in China

Yang J, Liu Y, Cui Z, Wang T, Liu T, Liu G

Foods

29-Mar-2024

PMCID:	PMC11011401
doi:	10.3390/foods13071065
PMID:	38611369

Water table depth and plant species determine the direction and magnitude of methane fluxes in floodplain meadow soils

Peacock M, Lawson C, Gowing D, Gauci V

Ecol Evol

10-Mar-2024

PMCID:	PMC10925825
doi:	10.1002/ece3.11147
PMID:	38469053

Extreme environments simplify reassembly of communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Šibanc N, Clark DR, Helgason T, Dumbrell AJ, Maček I

mSystems

20-Feb-2024

PMCID:	PMC10949450
doi:	10.1128/msystems.01331-23
PMID:	38376262

The Orophilous Shrubby Vegetation of the Juniperetalia hemisphaericae Order in Sicily: A Refuge Habitat for Many Endemic Vascular Species

Sciandrello S, Giusso del Galdo G

Plants (Basel)

31-Jan-2024

PMCID:	PMC10857485
doi:	10.3390/plants13030423
PMID:	38337957

Nutrient addition alters plant community productivity but not the species diversity of a mountain meadow in Tajikistan

Mekhrovar O, Li YM, Abdullo M, Sino Y, Fan L

Front Plant Sci

15-Jan-2024

PMCID:	PMC10822985
doi:	10.3389/fpls.2023.1235388
PMID:	38288411

Continent‐wide parallel urban evolution of increased heat tolerance in a common moth

Merckx T, Nielsen ME, Kankaanpää T, Kadlec T, Yazdanian M, Kivelä SM

Evol Appl

26-Dec-2023

PMCID:	PMC10810253
doi:	10.1111/eva.13636
PMID:	38283598

Phylogenetic, population structure, and population demographic analyses reveal that Vicia sepium in Japan is native and not introduced

Tamaki I, Mizuno M, Ohtsuki T, Shutoh K, Tabata R, Tsunamoto Y, Suyama Y, Nakajima Y, Kubo N, Ito T, Noma N, Harada E

Sci Rep

25-Nov-2023

PMCID:	PMC10676423
doi:	10.1038/s41598-023-48079-4
PMID:	38007576

The most polyphagous insect herbivore? Host plant associations of the Meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (L.)

Thompson V, Harkin C, Stewart AJ

PLoS One

04-Oct-2023

PMCID:	PMC10602594
doi:	10.1371/journal.pone.0291734
PMID:	37792900

COVID-19 crisis interlinkage with past pandemics and their effects on food security

Roubík H, Lošťák M, Ketuama CT, Soukupová J, Procházka P, Hruška A, Hakl J, Pacek L, Karlík P, Menšíková LK, Jurasová V, Ogbu CA, Hejcman M

Global Health

31-Jul-2023

PMCID:	PMC10391809
doi:	10.1186/s12992-023-00952-7
PMID:	37525178

Examination of the Effects of Domestic Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Grazing on Wetland and Dry Grassland Habitats

Fűrész A, Penksza K, Sipos L, Turcsányi-Járdi I, Szentes S, Fintha G, Penksza P, Viszló L, Szalai F, Wagenhoffer Z

Plants (Basel)

31-May-2023

PMCID:	PMC10255522
doi:	10.3390/plants12112184
PMID:	37299162

Edge Effects in the Distribution of Coleoptera in the Forests of the Center of the European Part of Russia

Ruchin AB, Egorov LV, Khapugin AA

Insects

10-Apr-2023

PMCID:	PMC10144564
doi:	10.3390/insects14040371
PMID:	37103186

Spatial heterogeneity ensures long-term stability in vegetation and Fritillaria meleagris flowering in Uppsala Kungsäng, a semi-natural meadow

Hytteborn H, Carlsson BÅ, Svensson BM, Zhang L, Rydin H

PLoS One

08-Mar-2023

PMCID:	PMC10045606
doi:	10.1371/journal.pone.0282116
PMID:	36888605

Features of Natural Succession of Ex-Arable Forest Steppe Grassland (from Western Romania) under the Influence of Climate

Sărățeanu V, Cotuna O, Paraschivu M, Cojocariu LL, Horablaga NM, Rechițean D, Mircov VD, Sălceanu C, Urlică AA, Copăcean L

Plants (Basel)

07-Mar-2023

PMCID:	PMC10059065
doi:	10.3390/plants12061204
PMID:	36986892

Comparison of Lipid Properties and Cadmium and Lead Content in Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Meat from Three Feeding Grounds

Kasprzyk A, Kilar J, Walenia A, Kusz B

Animals (Basel)

20-Oct-2022

PMCID:	PMC9597817
doi:	10.3390/ani12202859
PMID:	36290244

Nonunique UPGMA clusterings of microsatellite markers

Segura-Alabart N, Serratosa F, Gómez S, Fernández A

Brief Bioinform

01-Aug-2022

PMCID:	PMC9487649
doi:	10.1093/bib/bbac312
PMID:	35915053

Phytochemical Profile Top

Add a new one!

Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.

Name	PubChem ID	Canonical SMILES	MW	Found in	Proof
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins
Procyanidin	107876	Click to see C1C(C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C21)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)OC4(C(C(C5=C(C=C(C=C5O4)O)O)O)O)C6=CC(=C(C=C6)O)O	594.50	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(93)90077-5
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Epigallocatechins
Prodelphiniline	285704	Click to see	610.50	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(93)90077-5
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones
Luteolin	5280445	Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O	286.24	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(93)90077-5 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00607555
Tricetin	5281701	Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O	302.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(93)90077-5
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
3,4',7-Trihydroxyflavone	5281611	Click to see	270.24	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)84073-3
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glucuronides / Flavonoid-7-O-glucuronides
(2S,3S,4S,5R)-6-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-4-oxochromen-7-yl]oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid	5488307	Click to see	462.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(93)90077-5
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides
2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-7-hydroxy-5-[(2S,4S,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one	44258061	Click to see	448.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(93)90077-5
Luteolin 3'-glucoside	12309350	Click to see	448.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)84073-3
Luteolin-4'-glucoside	12304738	Click to see	448.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)84073-3
Luteolin-4'-o-glucoside	12304737	Click to see	448.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00607555
Luteolin-4'-o-glucoside	5319116	Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O	448.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00607555
Tricetin 3'-glucoside	44258248	Click to see	464.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)84073-3
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-((2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl)oxychromen-4-one	51402807	Click to see	464.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)84073-3
2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-Dihydroxy-3-(3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-(Hydroxymethyl)Oxan-2-Yl)Oxychromen-4-One	5378597	Click to see	464.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00607555
2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one	5317364	Click to see	436.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)84073-3
3-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxychromen-4-one	10211337	Click to see	626.50	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)84073-3
Astragalin	5282102	Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O	448.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)84073-3
Isoquercetin	5280804	Click to see	464.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00607555
Myricetin 3-arabinoside	21672568	Click to see C1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=C(OC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O)O)O)O	450.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)84073-3
Quercetin 3-O-gentiobioside	5320834	Click to see	626.50	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)84073-3
Quercitrin	5280459	Click to see	448.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00607555
Rutin	5280805	Click to see	610.50	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00607555
Vitamin P	5293655	Click to see	610.50	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00607555
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides
CID 44258246	44258246	Click to see	464.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(93)90077-5

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Lathyrus pratensis

Table of Contents

Details Top

Ethnobotanical Use Top

General Uses Top

Synonyms Top

Common names Top

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Germination/Propagation Top

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Links to other databases Top

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Scientific Literature Top

Phytochemical Profile Top

Gallery Top

Contributors Top

Collections Top