Stiff Pea

Lathyrus rigidus is a species of wild pea known by the common name stiff pea. It is native to the Modoc Plateau and surrounding areas in the western United States from northeastern California to Idaho. It is a plant of the sagebrush scrub and other habitat in the region. This is a perennial herb forming a clump of short, erect stems. The leaves are made up of several pairs of leaflets 1 to 3 centimeters (0.4 to 1.2 in) long each. The inflorescence is a dense raceme of two to five white or pink pea flowers, each roughly 2 cm (0.8 in) long. The fruit is a hairless legume pod.