Drypark pea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Drypark pea |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | |
| Genus: |
Lathyrus
|
| Species: |
L. bijugatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lathyrus bijugatus T.G.White
|
|
The Drypark Pea, also known as the Pinewoods Sweetpea, is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the legume family, just like peas and beans you might eat! This plant is found in the western parts of North America. You can spot it growing from British Columbia in Canada, down through Oregon in the United States, and over to Montana. It might even grow as far south as California.
Discovering the Drypark Pea
What the Drypark Pea Looks Like
The Drypark Pea is a plant that comes back year after year. It grows from a special underground stem called a rhizome. This plant can stand up straight, reaching about 30 centimeters tall. Each leaf on the plant has two to four smaller parts called leaflets. These leaflets can be up to 15 centimeters long. Instead of curly tendrils that help some plants climb, the Drypark Pea has small, stiff bristles at the tips of its leaves.
The flowers of this plant are very pretty. They can be pink or a light blue color. Each flower is about one centimeter long. After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a flat pod. This pod is a type of legume, similar to a pea pod. It can grow up to 4 centimeters long and holds up to 12 seeds inside.
How the Drypark Pea Grows and Reproduces
The Drypark Pea can make new plants in two ways. It can reproduce sexually by making seeds. These seeds can then grow into new plants. It also reproduces vegetatively. This means new plants can grow from parts of the original plant, like its underground rhizome.
This plant likes to grow in forests. You can often find it among the trees in its native areas. It is important to know that this plant is poisonous. You should never eat any part of the Drypark Pea. It is best to just enjoy its beauty from a distance!
