Wild peas can be found in almost any place worldwide.

How they look varies from place to place, as many species exist.

The beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) also known as sea pea or sea vetchling, is native to Europe, Asia, North America and South America. With such a wide distribution it's a definitely a species worth knowing. The genus Lathyrus consists of 160+ species give or take, so if this species doesn't grow nearby maybe another similar one does. Beach peas tend to grow in a sandy environment hence their name, and below is a typical biome you can find them in: a sandy lakeshore.

You can identify this plant by looking for the round, opposite leaves, pea-like flowers that are deep purple and have multiples per raceme, and unmistakable pea pods when the plant is fruiting.

So are they edible? All I can say is that I've eaten a handful of them raw and am still here writing to tell about it. Others have eaten significantly more and also remain. My research tells me that native peoples have used this plant as a food, though other species are known to cause a condition called Lathyrism which is caused by the ingestion of Oxalyldiaminopropionic acid, a neurotransmitter mimick which can over-excite glutamate receptors in the brain leading to neurological issues. The Sweet pea most well-known, is the main culprit of this, causing issues in famine-struck areas where large quantities of it are consumed.

Bon appetit?

Foragers have a natural skepticism for legumes because eaten raw, some can be dangerous. However in doing lots of research I have found this very good article by author Hank Shaw about Lathryus species used as food. Personally if I came across these again, I would try cooking them in a pot of water over the fire and then draining the water which may have dissolved any toxins. That being said, this is one species that has a long history of human use, from almost all parts of the globe. Check it out next time you're at the beach and see a suspiciously pea-looking plant growing nearby.