Lathyrus latifolius
This is a beautiful and vibrant pea which grows along the clifftops of Bournemouth. It is a straggly plant which attaches itself to other plants to climb up and over them. It has reddish-pinkish peaflowers which adorn the vigorous twisting stems. It can grow up to 2m (6ft 6in) tall.
It flowers June to August, and is found as an escape on roadside verges, railway embankments, waste ground and sea cliffs. Naturalised, common and widespread in England, scarce elsewhere.
Photographs taken July and August 2016, Bournemouth, Dorset. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Nikon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens.
Nature Journeys 