Distribution: Occurring in the coastal counties in Washington; British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Sand dunes and sandy beaches.
Flowers: May-July
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, butterflies
Herbaceous, grey-villous perennial from strong rhizomes, the stems 1-6 dm. long, prostrate to erect, not climbing.
Leaves pinnate, leaflets 4-8, oblong-oblanceolate, 1-2 cm. long, the rachis only 1.5-3 cm. long, flattened and prolonged as a straight bristle; stipules ovate-hastate to lanceolate, equaling the leaflets in length.
Inflorescence of racemes on long peduncles arising from the leaf axils; flowers 2-6, 12-18 mm. long; calyx 8-11 mm. long, the 5 lanceolate teeth as long as the tube; corolla pea-like, the banner 14-18 mm. long, pink to red or purple, the claw 2/3 as long as the blade; wings and keel usually white, clawed, the keel tip slightly recurved.
Pod about 3 cm. long and 1 cm. broad, 1- to 5-seeded, hairy.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Lathyrus littoralis in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Lathyrus littoralis checklist entry
OregonFlora: Lathyrus littoralis information
E-Flora BC: Lathyrus littoralis atlas page
CalPhotos: Lathyrus littoralis photos