Lotus tetragonolobus
Tetragonolobus edulis Link.
Tetragonolobus purpureus Moench
Common Name: Asparagus Pea
Lotus tetragonolobus is an annual plant with a fleshy stem that can be prostrate, ascending or erect; it can grow 15 - 40cm tall[
The plant is harvested from the wild for loca use as a food. It is sometimes cultivated as a food crop[
], and is also grown as an ornamental[16,33] .
This species is not considered to be specifically threatened or in decline at present. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
Flora Europaea
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
Mediterranean - Portugal to Italy, Greece, Turkey, southern Caucasus and the Levant; Morocco to Egypt.
Pastures, hills and wooded areas[
]. Cultivated ground and vineyards.
Conservation Status Least Concern
Habit Annual
Cultivation Status Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild
Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil[
], preferring a rich light well-drained soil in a sunny position[
Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table.
Organ. J.
Unusual vegetables that can be grown outdoors in Britain. A good guide.
Occasionally cultivated for its edible young seedpods and also as an ornamental plant[
New Vegetable Growers Handbook.
Simons.
0-14-046-050-0
A good guide to growing vegetables in temperate areas, not entirely organic.
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.
Young seedpods - raw or cooked[
The Vegetable Garden.
Vilmorin. A.
Ten Speed Press
A reprint of a nineteenth century classic, giving details of vegetable varieties. Not really that informative though.
]. Added to salads, cooked as a vegetable or added to soups, stews etc[
]. The taste is said to resemble asparagus[
]. Only the very young pods, when less than 25mm long, should be used, since the older pods quickly turn fibrous[
]. Considered by many to be a gourmet food, though it is not a very high yielding crop[
]. Legume cylindric, (20–)30– 60(–70) × 5–8 mm, tapering at both ends, margins thickened,
with 4 wings by sides of both sutures[
Seed - cooked. Used like peas[
Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
Plants for Human Consumption.
Kunkel. G.
Koeltz Scientific Books
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. The brown, subglobose seeds are around 4mm in diameter[
The roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute[
Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in situ in the spring[
]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 15°c.
If seed is in short supply, it can be sown in pots in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring or early summer[
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2023-01-28. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Lotus+tetragonolobus>