Pea Growth Stages

Pisum sativum L.

Legume Types

VE • Epicotyl has emerged from soil

VS • Two small scale leaves appear on stem

Vegetative Stages (1 or more pairs of leaflets)

V1 • 1st true leaf unfolded at 1st node above VS, no tendril

V2 • 2nd true leaf unfolded at 2nd node, tendril present

V3 • 3rd true leaf unfolded at 3rd node, tendril present

Vn • nth true leaf unfolded at nth node, tendril present

R1 • Flower bud present at one or more nodes [Fig. 1]

R2 • First open flower at one or more nodes [Fig. 2]

R3 • First flat pod present at one or more nodes

R4 • Green seeds fill the pod cavity at one or more nodes [Fig. 3]

R5 • Leaves start yellowing and lower pods turn yellow to brown

R6 • Dry seeds fill the pod cavity at one or more nodes

R7 • Most pods are yellow to golden-brown

Figure 1 - Flower bud present at one or more nodes

Figure 2 - First open flower at one or more nodes

Figure 3 - Green seeds fill the pod cavity at one or more nodes

Additional Resources

Authors

H.F. Schwartz (Colorado State University) and M.A.C. Langham (South Dakota State University)

Photo credits

Courtesy of Sam Markell & Kevin McPhee (North Dakota State University), and Weidong Chen (USDA-ARS at Washington State University) [07/10]