Most gardeners know them, the flat peas, which like to wind their way up fences and, in not rare cases, can literally grow rampant. The flowers are pleasing to the eye and the pods follow them shortly after they bloom. Are the plant parts edible or do they contain toxins?
Are peas edible or poisonous?
Peas are edible and their plant parts such as the flowers, young shoots, flower buds and legumes are safe to eat. However, you should keep consumption moderate to avoid too high a dose of the alkaloid lathyrin it contains.
This butterwort is edible
The flat pea is one of the butterflies. Around 160 species are known. These are widespread worldwide and especially in the northern hemisphere of the earth. Whether with white, pink or purple flowers – sweet peas are edible.
What do flat peas taste like and which parts of the plant are edible?
The flowers are edible, as are the young shoots, flower buds and legumes. While the flowers taste slightly sweet, the young shoots and flower buds are very juicy. Overall, the taste of the flat peas is vaguely reminiscent of young peas.
The young shoots can be harvested between May and June. The leaves, flower buds and flowers are ready for harvest from June to August. You can pick the pods between July and August. The pods are up to 4 cm long and inside there are 2 to 5 angular seeds.
The well-known seed pea – not just livestock feed
- an old cultivated plant
- still used today as food in Spain, Italy and parts of Africa and Asia
- among other things as flour for bread
- used as livestock feed (rich in protein)
- also as a vegetable and for soups
- both the ripe and immature seeds are needed
Caution: The dose makes the poison
It has been known since the 17th century that the seeds of some types of peas are poisonous in large quantities. Behind this is the alkaloid called lathyrin. Therefore, flat peas should not be on your menu in large quantities every day. A dose that is too high leads, among other things, to:
- Vomiting
- Sweats
- Paralysis
- Shortness of breath
- Vertigo
- Cramps
- Trembling limbs
You can find them there
Peas like to grow in gardens. They love to climb fences. But you can also find them in meadows, pastures, fields and in open forests. Basically they prefer sunny locations. They also do well in partial shade.
Tip
Peas, like peas, are very high in protein. They contain around 25% protein. This makes them a source of protein that should not be underestimated.
