pealike

Pealike refers to flowers that resemble those of peas (Pisum sativum) and other members of the legume family Fabaceae. In botanical usage, pealike describes a papilionaceous or butterfly-like corolla type characterized by bilateral symmetry and a distinctive arrangement of five petals: a large upper standard (banner), two lateral wings, and a bottom keel formed by two fused petals that enclose the reproductive organs. The five sepals often form a fused calyx that encircles the corolla. The reproductive structure typically includes a single pistil and a staminate arrangement that is often diadelphous (nine stamens fused into one bundle and the tenth free) in many taxa, though variation occurs.

Many pealike flowers are zygomorphic, with nectar guides and a spur in some species, adapted to pollinators such as bees. The term is most commonly applied to the subfamily Faboideae (also called Papilionoideae) within Fabaceae, and is used in contrast to bilaterally symmetrical flowers of other legume lineages or to radially symmetrical pea-like flowers outside Fabaceae. While most classical pealikes belong to Fabaceae, some genera outside the family exhibit similar corolla morphology and are described as pealike in descriptive floras.

In systematic botany and horticulture, recognizing pealike flowers aids in identification and classification, particularly within the diverse legume group. The term is descriptive rather than a taxonomic rank, and it highlights floral traits that influence pollination strategies and evolutionary relationships.