Grass-pea (Lathyrus Sativus)
This little-known variety of pulse is rarely grown because it can only be cultivated by hand. It looks like a squashed chick-pea. It is an herbaceous plant, which grows on arid land, exposed to the sun. The stalks are harvested in August and left out to dry until threshed. Grass-peas are only sold as dried pulses and need to be soaked for a long time before cooking. They have a strong, rounded flavour and a high nutritional value.