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Photographer: Kenneth J. Sytsma
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Family Fabaceae
Lathyrus japonicus Willd.
beach pea
Lathyrus: from the Greek lathyros, an old name for "pea"
japonicus: of Japan
Hazardous 
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | creeping, perennial, up to 40" long, stout forb; from rhizomes |
| Flower: | purple and white, 5-parted, 1/2"-1" long; inflorescence a stalked cluster (raceme) of 5-10 stalked flowers; blooms June-Aug. |
| Fruit: | flat, long pod |
| Leaf: | pinnately-divided into 3-6 pairs of slightly fleshy leaflets with symmetrical, leaf-like appendages at the base |
| Habitat: | Great Lake shores; in sandy soil |
| (Glossary) |
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