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Pisum sativum (snow pea)
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Common Name: | Snow Pea, Mangetout, Chinese Pea Pods, 雪豆, 豌豆 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber |
| Maximum Height | 2 m |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Herbaceous vine up to 2 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Compound leaf is composed of 1-3 pairs of oval to elliptic leaflets. |
| Flowers | Butterfly-shaped flowers occur in the leaf axils in clusters of 2-3 which are known as racemes. Cultivars with purple, lavender, blue, pink or white flowers are available. |
| Fruit | Flat, thin pods are 2.5-7 cm long and contain 5-7, small, flat seeds. The thin, pod walls are edible, lacking tough fibers. |
| Cultivation | This species prefers bright light but cool temperatures and is not likely to grow well outdoors in Singapore. In neighboring countries, peas are grown in highland areas, such as Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. In Singapore, you can easily grow pea shoots indoors which will make a nutritious and tasty addition to your salad. Soak pea seeds overnight and place them on a shallow layer of soil about 2-5 cm thick. Mist the seeds, place a light weight on top to ensure good contact with the soil and keep them in the dark. After the seeds germinate in 3-7 days, place them in bright, filtered light and let them grow for 7-10 days until they are about 10 cm long. When you harvest the shoots, cut the stem above the lower leaves, so the seedling can re-grow and you can obtain 1-2 more harvests in this way. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits, Edible Leaves, Edible Stems, Edible Seeds Food (Fruit or Vegetable): Pods are harvested while unripe and consumed whole. Pods are often steamed, stir-fried or boiled briefly, but they can also be eaten raw. They have double the amount of calcium found in green peas. Stir-fried young shoots is a popular Asian dish. |
Landscaping Features
| Thematic Landscaping | Economic Garden |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
| Seed / Spore Germination Duration | 3 days to 7 days |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Blue, Pink, Purple, White |
|---|---|
| Individual Flower Shape | Papilionaceous / Pea-shaped |
| Flower Colour(s) Remarks | Lavender |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Smooth |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Legume / Pod |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32126 |
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| Species ID | 6532 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
