Delta tule pea facts for kids

Lathyrus jepsonii, also known as the delta tule pea or Jepson's pea, is a type of wild pea plant. This plant is special because it is found only in California. It grows in different places there, like forests and areas where rivers meet the sea, called estuaries.

What is the Jepson's Pea?

The Jepson's pea is a perennial herb. This means it is a plant that lives for more than two years. It has a long stem that can climb. This stem has "wings" on it, which are flat edges.

How Does it Climb?

The plant uses special parts called tendrils to climb. These tendrils are like tiny, coiled arms that can wrap around other plants or objects. This helps the pea plant reach sunlight.

What Do Its Leaves and Flowers Look Like?

The leaves of the Jepson's pea are made of several pairs of small, pointed leaflets. The plant also grows beautiful flowers. These flowers appear in a cluster, called an inflorescence. Each cluster can have up to 15 pink or purplish flowers. Each flower can be up to 2 centimeters wide.

What About Its Fruit?

After the flowers, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a smooth, legume pod. It opens up by itself when it's ripe to release its seeds. This is called being "dehiscent."

Different Kinds of Jepson's Pea

There are two main types, or varieties, of Lathyrus jepsonii:

• Lathyrus jepsonii var. californicus: This variety is usually smaller than the other. Sometimes, it can have tiny hairs on its stem or leaves.
• Lathyrus jepsonii var. jepsonii: This type is quite rare. It can grow very tall, sometimes over two meters (more than 6 feet) high! Unlike the other variety, it is usually smooth and does not have hairs. This rare variety mostly grows in the estuary areas of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. This is why one of its common names is "delta tule pea."