Lotus tetragonolobus
Asparagus Pea
an annual member of the Lotus genus in the family Leguminosae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Leguminosae
- Genus
- Lotus
- Life cycle
- annual
- Height
- 0.3 m
- Spread
- 0.25 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Young seedpods - raw or cooked[3][7][8]. Added to salads, cooked as a vegetable or added to soups, stews etc[5]. The taste is said to resemble asparagus[5]. Only the very young pods, when less than 25mm long, should be used, since the older pods quickly turn fibrous[5]. Considered by many to be a gourmet food, though it is not a very high yielding crop[K]. Seed - cooked. Used like peas[2][4][5]. The roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute[7][5].
- Product or use
- Coffee
- Plant part
- Seed
- Plant part
- Seedpod
Ecology and functions
Environment
- Range
- Europe - Mediterranean.
- Habitat
- Cultivated ground and vineyards.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in situ in the spring[8]. 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[8].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil[1], preferring a rich light well-drained soil in a sunny position[8]. Occasionally cultivated for its edible young seedpods and also as an ornamental plant[3][8]. 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[6]. 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.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-050-0
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8
Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber 1960-00-00