Aspen peavine is a delicate, trailing, or climbing perennial herb with the 

 graceful, pealike, rather sweet-smelling blossoms so characteristic of many 

 members of the pea family (Leguniinosae, or Fabaceae). This species is con- 

 fined to the Rocky Mountains, ranging from southern Idaho to Wyoming, New 

 Mexico, and Arizona. It is a plant of the higher elevations and occurs in 

 greatest abundance in the upper aspen and spruce belts. Its preferred habitat 

 is the rich, moist soils of aspen groves where it often makes up a large part 

 of the undergrowth. This herb seldom grows in stands dense enough to 

 exclude other species and is commonly associated with American vetch (Vioia 

 americana), asters (Aster spp.), blue wild-rye (Elymus glaucus), cinquefoils 

 (Potentilla spp.), wild-daisies (Erigeron spp.), and yarrows (Acliillea, spp.). 

 The specific name, leucanthus, is a Greek word meaning white-flowered. 



Opinions differ as to the palatability of aspen peavine. Some observers 

 state that it is nearly if not quite as palatable as American vetch, which is 

 one of the best range weeds ; others maintain that it is almost worthless 

 as a forage plant. Probably its true value lies somewhere between these 

 extremes. Ordinarily, sheep and cattle as well as goats graze aspen peavine 

 readily, although in Utah and southern Idaho sheep usually do not graze 

 it much until after the first frost. Horses graze it in the fall after the pods 

 are mature and quickly put on good, hard fat when a plentiful supply of this 

 plant is available. Deer and elk also forage aspen peavine. 



PEAVINES (La'thyrus spp.) 



The peavines constitute a genus comprising mostly smooth, weak-stemmed, 

 trailing, or climbing plants with divided (even-pinnately compound) leaves. All 

 the native western species are perennials. The best known member of the 

 genus is undoubtedly the cultivated sweetpea (L. odoratus). This annual, 

 originally a native of Sicily, is widely cultivated for its delicately odorous, 

 variegated blossoms. At present at least 65 named and well-recognized varie- 

 ties have been developed through intensive cultivation and selection. 



The genus is well represented in the West and, although no one species 

 ranges over the entire region, several species occur in each State California, 

 Oregon, and Washington having the largest number. Peavines occur from 

 near sea level on the Pacific coast to above timber line in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, but are most abundant at medium elevations. They are found in moist, 

 rich soils and on dry scablands, in open exposures in grass and weed types, 

 among shrubs, and in the shade of coniferous and broadleaf timber, being most 

 typical of open aspen areas. 



Peavines vary considerably in palatability. Generally the trailing or climbing 

 species with tendrils on the leaves are more palatable than the erect-stemmed 

 species and are usually at least fair to good forage for cattle, sheep, and goats. 

 The erect-stemmed species probably are not better than poor to fair forage and 

 in Utah, southern Idaho, and the Southwest the palatability of most species of 

 Lathyrus appears to be low. Horses ordinarily graze peavines only in the 

 fall after the pods are well matured. Among the more palatable species are 

 cream peavine (L. ochroleucus) , marsh peavine (L. palustris), sulphur pea- 

 vine (L. sulphureus), and bush peavine (L. eucosmus] ; some of medium pal- 

 atablity are Nuttall peavine (L. nuttallti), fewflower peavine (L. pauci- 

 florus), Arizona peavine (L. arizonicus), and aspen peavine (L. leucanthus); 

 and some of less than average palatability are Sandberg peavine (L. bijuffatus 

 sandberffii, syn. L. sandbergii) and thickleaf peavine (L. coriaceus). All species 

 of peavine are of value for forage chiefly during the summer and fall, as they 

 do not cure well but dry up and largely disappear after the first heavy frosts. 

 Some species have extensive root systems with horizontal rootstocks and are 

 able to withstand considerable heavy grazing. 



The pealike blossoms, divided (even-pinnately compound) leaves usually 

 terminated by a tendril or this reduced to a tip or small appendage, and the 

 frequently four-sided, weak stems will serve to distinguish the peavines from 

 most other range plants except the very similar vetches (Vicia spp.). 



