Are flat peas edible?

This petiolar is edible

The flat pea belongs to the butterfly family. Around 160 species of it are known. These are widespread worldwide and especially in the northern hemisphere. Whether with white, pink or purple flowers - flat peas are edible.

How do flat peas taste and which parts of the plant are edible?

The flowers are just as edible as the young shoots, the flower buds and the legumes. While the flowers taste slightly sweet, the young shoots and flower buds are very juicy. Overall, the taste of the flat pea is vaguely reminiscent of young peas.

The young shoots can be harvested between May and June. The leaves, flower buds and flowers are ready for harvest from June to August. You can pick the pods between July and August. The pods are up to 4 cm long and have 2 to 5 angular seeds inside.

The well-known flat pea - not just cattle feed

• an old cultivated plant
• Still used today as a food in Spain, Italy and parts of Africa and Asia
• among other things as flour for bread
• used as fodder (high in protein)
• also as a vegetable and for soups
• both the ripe and the immature seeds are needed

Caution: the dose makes the poison!

Since the 17th In the 19th century it was known that the seeds of some common pea species are poisonous in large quantities. Behind this is the alkaloid called lathyrin. Therefore, flat peas should not be on your diet in large quantities every day. Too high a dose leads to, among other things:

• Vomit
• Sweats
• Paralysis
• Shortness of breath
• dizziness
• cramps
• Limbs trembling

You can find them there!

Flat peas like to grow in gardens. They love to wind their way up fences. But you can also find them on meadows, pastures, fields and in sparse forests. Basically they prefer sunny locations. Also in Penumbra get on well.