Lathyrus hirsutus L. is cultivated in several parts of the world as a forage crop, as well as for pasture, fodder and soil improvement (Duke 1981), as such, wild types of L. hirsustus are potential gene donors for cultivated varieties. It is a secondary wild relative of L. sativus L., the cultivated grass pea (Yunus and Jackson 1991, Sarker et al. 2001, Brink and Belay 2006),  L. cicera L. and L. odoratus L.,  and more remotely is a tertiary wild relative of L. ochrus (L.) DC. (Kupicha 1983).

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

Due to the widespread nature of this species throughout Europe the fact that it is present in several habitats that are not threatened, its regional assessment in Europe is Least Concern.

L. hisutus is native to most of Europe and temperate Asia, as well as certain areas of the Indian subcontinent and parts of north Africa. It has been naturalised in the Azores (USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program 2010). The International Legume Database & Information Service (2010) records it as being present in Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corsica, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Former Yugoslavia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia in Europe, Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey in Europe and Ukraine. In France it is widespread, occurs in the majority of departments. Not recorded in the northern departments of Manche, Seine-Maritime, Ardennes, Paris, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, the eastern department of Doubs and the southern department of Lozère (Association Tela Botanica 2010).

This is a widespread species, rather common throughout its range, it is found in several habitats which are not threatened; its populations appear to be stable.

L. hirsutus is a winter annual species which flowers in early April. It grows best on well-drained soils, although it also grows well on soils too wet for other legumes (namely clover).  It can grow on lime and acid soils, and in wet conditions, although it it most successful on light, sandy soils. It can tolerate an average rainfall of 820 mm, an average temperature of 13.6ºC, and an average pH of 6.6 (Duke 1981).

This species is likely to be grazed by wild and domesticated species in the pasture and agricultural margins.

L. hirsutus is cultivated in several parts of the world as a forage crop, as well as for pasture, fodder and soil improvement (Duke 1981), as such, wild types of L. hirsustus are potential gene donors for cultivated varieties. It is a secondary wild relative of L. sativus L., the cultivated grass pea (Yunus and Jackson 1991, Sarker et al. 2001, Brink and Belay 2006),  L. cicera L. and L. odoratus L.,  and more remotely is a tertiary wild relative of L. ochrus (L.) DC. (Kupicha 1983).

The genus Lathyrus is listed in Annex I of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture as part of the grasspea gene pool.

L. hisutus is well represented in ex situ genebanks in Europe with 134 accession spread across 14 genebanks sampled from throughout the species range, despite having accessions in a number of collections, including the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Syria (17 accessions) and the Regional Plant Introduction Station in the USA (16 accessions). 

EURISCO reports 129 germplasm accessions held in European genebanks, 94 of which are reported to be of wild or weedy origin. Of the wild accessions, 23 originate from within Europe (EURISCO Catalogue 2010).

In situ the species is likely to be passively conserved in many existing protected areas in throughout its range but as its conservation in these sites is not actively monitored it may be subject to population loss over time from factors such as climate change.

In Slovakia, L. hirsutus is classified as Endangered (EN) (Eliáš P. jun et al. 2007).
Assessments by Moser et al. (2002) and Colling (2005) found L. hirsutus to be Critically Endangered (BGCI 2009).