Fabaceae / Papilionaceae

152
Fabaceae / Papilionaceae
Lathyrus sativus L.
English name:
Local name: Jhang Matar, Kisari.
Description:
A glabrous to sub-glabrous, smooth, much branched trailing annual herb; Stem
winged. Leaves compound, leaflets narrow, linear. Flowers solitary, axillary,
reddish-purple, blue or white.
Flowering Period:
March toAugust.
Habitat:
Found near cultivation, the plant also cultivated as a fodder
plant.
Uses:
People in scarcity areas consuming it as the principle article
of diet for months, are known to be affected by a paralytic
disease, known as Lathyrism. Cooked leaves are used
as a vegetable medicine, to cure eye diseases. Fresh
leaf juice is also put in sore eyes, blepharitis and
also cultivated as fodder crop, fruits are edible.
Distribution:
Pakistan, Kashmir, India, Europe, Northern Africa,
South-west Asia and Russia.