The nationally scarce Sea Pea (Lathyrus japonicus) was first recorded in literature in Britain on Orford Ness in 1570 by John Caius founder of Caius College, Cambridge.

He noted that in 1555 it was said to be so abundant, it was harvested by the people of Aldeburgh as food in a time of famine.

It is particularly mentioned in the European Union Special Area for Conservation (cSAC) designation proposal for the Ness. Growing predominately along the drift line just behind the beach, the plant had largely disappeared from the site by 1993 due in the main to damage and disturbance caused by illegal access onto the site by vehicles and pedestrians. Since this access has been largely stopped. The Sea pea, which is being monitored for presence biennially, has re-established and appears to be thriving along almost the whole length of the site once again.