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Upcoming Events | Meet the Instructors | Plant Archive | Mushroom Archive
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Beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) is a native perennial with edible pods that are similar to cultivated peas.
Beach pea can be found along beaches in New England.
The beach pea can be identified by its compound leaves and purple flowers that become pods in late summer. Pods are purplish at first, ripening to green.
Shoots and flowers are edible raw or cooked.
Peas are edible in smaller quantities but contain a toxic amino acid that could harm the nervous system in large quantities. It is thought to be safe if consumption is less than 30% of your diet.
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Written by Amy Demers, founder of the Connecticut Foraging Club. To learn more about foraging in Connecticut, check out our upcoming classes.
