Lathyrus maritima (Beach Pea, Heath Pea)

Lathyrus maritima (Beach Pea, Heath Pea) is a perennial that grows in zones 5-8 and is a flowering plant belonging to the Fabaceae family that is endemic to temperate coastal regions in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a herbaceous perennial with 50–80 cm long trailing stems that grows on sand and gravel storm beaches. The leaves are waxy glaucous green, long, pinnate, and pinnate with 2-5 pairs of leaflets, with a twining tendril replacing the terminal leaflet. The blooms are wide, with a dark purple standard petal and lighter purple wing and keel petals; racemes of up to twelve flowers are produced. The stem grows limp, lacks wings, and is frequently bald. The leaves are alternating, greyish green, and slightly succulent, with big, broad leaves that are virtually stalkless.