Last week Mark Goff, an alert reader with a deep knowledge of botany and herblore, informed me of a mistake in my column concerning the bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia). Apparently a second plant goes by this common name and I accidentally reported on it as though it was Vicia ervilia. This second bitter vetch is Lathyrus linifolius, aka the “heath pea” (which is the name I’m going to use for it here on out). I have edited my earlier article and purged it of information and photos of the heath pea. Suffice to say, Vicia ervilia is indeed the Neolithic founder crop known for its bitterness. Please note that the seeds of Vicia ervilia are edible only if prepared properly (not that I imagine anyone running out to feast on the ancient legume). Vicia ervilia must be blanched and the water must be then be dumped out over and over again and again to ensure that the final dish is not toxic.
The heath pea (Lathyrus linifolius) is a fascinating plant in its own right. Native to the Highlands of Scotland it is a delicate fern-like plant with purple flowers. I had used photos of its lovely flowers in the Vicia ervilia article. I have replaced those images–and now I get to show the pretty heath pea once again (properly labeled this time). The heath pea produces a bitter tuber in its roots which was apparently consumed by higlanders in times of scarcity and famine to suppress hunger. Charles II is said to have given it to his mistress Nell Gwyn to help her lose weight (although I make it a practice not to believe everything I read about the restoration court). Mark Goff, who is brave as well as learned, reports that he has been eating the tubers and has noticed no side effects other than weight loss. Since obesity and weight-related health problems are becoming more pervasive in today’s world, contemporary scientists are studying the plant and analytically assessing the claims about it. Contemporary business people are close behind, trying to determine if they can make a fortune from Scottish weight-loss tubers.
Whatever the end results of theses studies and hopes, I wish to apologize for conflating the two plants and offer my thanks to Mr. Goff. All of this is a massive vindication for Linnaeus who established binomial nomenclature to avoid precisely this sort of misunderstanding. To wrap up this article, here is a statue of the great taxonomist which was given to my alma mater by the king of Sweden!
16 comments
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February 28, 2011 at 6:02 PM
Diet - Weight Loss Guru
i like this post
March 1, 2011 at 9:30 AM
jenny
Once in a while, I confuse one bitter kvetch with another.
March 1, 2011 at 10:04 AM
jenny
Oops. Just realized that my comment might sound like a bit of snark directed at the correction of your post. It’s not.
Just laughing at my own botanical ignorance (and a few grouchy people around me).
I recognize the statue! 🙂
March 1, 2011 at 5:39 PM
Hieronymo
No, no! I got the joke and enjoyed it. I have my own troubles with botanical ignorance and, as a resident of New York City, I never lack for grouchy people around me (nor for love of Yiddish phrases).
March 9, 2011 at 12:59 AM
Mark Goff
Thanks – keep up the good work. Goffy
March 17, 2011 at 1:28 AM
Hieronymo
It’s good to have folks out there keeping you honest. How do these things taste? I could stand to trim down myself….
June 21, 2012 at 3:57 PM
Elizabeth Eberly
I would really like to get ahold of some of the seeds (?) or tubers for this plant, for two reasons. First; I must admit that I would love to use the plant myself, and see how well it actually blocks hunger pangs, adds energy, etc.. Secondly, my mother actually maintains what she calls her “Medieval Monks’ Herb Garden,” and I do not believe that she has this plant growing there. She is an avid horticulturist, with a very strong interest in ancient medicinal herbs, and has taken great pains to re-create a medicinal garden. So…I must ask; might I be able to purchase a few plants from you? I would most definitely be willing to pay you for your time- -and for any shipping/handling costs that you would incur- -in advance. So that you can feel safe that I would not mishandle this plant, I will provide you with my work email address (I work at one of the world’s largest research hospitals) and the promise (documented and signed, if you wish) that since I work in healthcare, I am well aware of the dangers/issues involved.
Please feel free to contact me. My email address is my name, first and last name, connected with a hyphen, and no spaces in between, followed by the “at” sign and the words “uiowa.edu”. I would be most happy to hear from you.
February 18, 2013 at 2:56 AM
Rhizowen
Heath pea aka caremyle, isn’t just native to Scotland. It grows in suitable habitats throughout Britain. I’m growing plants here in Cornwall. I posted about this and a closely related species on my blog a while back.
February 18, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Wayne
Thanks for the information. Cornwall sounds beautiful and I am envious that you have a garden there.
October 1, 2013 at 6:41 AM
Cam
great site, I am actually super interested in this plant due to my financial status. I live paycheque to paycheque and am able to only spend $20 every 2-4 weeks for food here in Canada. So in that case, there is no other way to get rid of my hunger, until I came across this plant on youtube “Terry Jones, Medieval Lives: The Philosopher”. I would love it if you could tell me where I might be able to get my hands on this special little plant?
March 5, 2014 at 9:02 PM
DivaHH
I too saw it mentioned on “Terry Jones, Medieval Lives: The Philosopher”. This and “http://www.luontoportti.com/suomi/en/kukkakasvit/bitter-vetch” are the only sites I could find. I emailed the other site asking if they know where the seeds or tubers could be obtained. I’ll post if they respond. Thanks for a great article.
March 6, 2014 at 6:24 PM
DivaHH
UPDATE: Got a response back. They don’t know where to buy the plant or seeds.
March 6, 2014 at 6:30 PM
Wayne
I’m sorry I don’t know how to get a hold of this plant…assuming the dang thing actually exists in cultivation.
March 29, 2014 at 5:29 AM
Pete
This nursery has heath pea.
http://www.poyntzfieldherbs.co.uk
June 26, 2014 at 9:31 AM
ArtisanTheory
Does anyone know what has happened to Mark Goff? I purchased some of these seeds off of him quite a few years ago, and still have plants growing now. I know that the land he was growing on meant he had to vacate, and I haven’t heard anything from him since. I’d really like to know how he is because he was a wealth of practical info concerning this plant. I’d like to pick his brains again.
August 15, 2016 at 10:22 AM
Valare Beauchamp
I obtained some seeds and from http://www.myseeds.com but am having trouble growing them and if anyone has had success are there any tips you can offer. currently I have them in containers and am experimenting with different conditions; indoors, outdoors, fertilizer, no fertilizer…