On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 14:03:14 +0100, Kay
wrote:

The asparagus pea thread has reminded me of the lovely flowers of some
of the pea family

My discovery this season is Lathyrus belinensis, buttery yellow flowers
with upper petals veined in brick red - for pic see

http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seed...s/lathyrus.htm

Last year it was L chloranthus - a slightly acid pale greeny yellow, and
L sativus v azureus - a very steely blue.

None of these has the scent of sweet peas, nor the size of flowers, but
it has been lovely watching them and seeing the range of colours.

Also Hedysarum, with striking two tone flower spikes, red and deep pink.

Last autumn, I 'aquired' a pod from a pink everlasting pea growing in
a hedge near us (probably Lathyrus latifolius). Several peas
germinated and most were given away. I kept two, one of which has
bright pink flowers like its parent, but the other is pure white. I am
delighted and surprised, although I see there is a white version of L.
latifolius listed in the RHS Encyclopaedia. But is it common for them
to throw white sports like this?


--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net