Photographs: Greggane Strand, Co. Cork

Sea Pea Lathyrus japonicus Peasairín trá Family: Fabaceae Flowering time: June-August. Perennial. Native. Racemes of 5-15 large purple-pink flowers with paler keels, flowers fading to blue-mauve. The smooth grey-green, slightly fleshy leaves have 2-5 pairs of broad leaflets, usually with tendrils. Prostrate or sprawling growth habit to 100cm with angled stems. Coastal, found on shingle, blown sand and sand-dunes. A protected native species with a very scattered distribution on Irish coasts Similar: Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea, L. latifolius. Garden escape

Sea Pea, Lathyrus japonicus, Peasairín trá