Why would you assume they are the same? Reason I ask is I am wondering where you are getting your info on all these?

"Clay" (aka Iron & Clay), although fully edible, is primarily used for wildlife feed and forage plots. Pennyrile (aka Penny Rile) has very different plant shape and size and different pea color.

http://www.southernexposure.com/vegetables-southern-peas-cowpeas-c-3_121.html

Dave

I have some peas that that make a good bit of bushy vine with runners up to maybe 6' - 7' long with lavender colored flowers the pods are a green color that lighten to a light yellow when they dry. The pods get 16 - 18 peas in them.The peas turn a light tan after they dry. I like them dry as well as when green shelled. The peas are not big but are not small either comparable with Black Eyes or Purple Hulls. They load up with a lot of peas. Me and everyone that I have shared them with say they are the best peas they have ever tasted. The closest I can find that looks like them is the Penny Rile. A friend said that they look like Clay peas. I got them from a neighbor who found them growing in his Purple Hull pea patch. They wouldn't pick them because the peas weren't purple hull so left them in the patch. When I ask him about the green podded peas he told me I could have them because they would not pick them. I picked them and cooked some of them and thought they tasted great so have grown them for the last 6 years. I just would like to find out what kind they are. I know it would be impossible for you to say what they are without seeing them but I can't help but wonder what they are. I appreciate your entrust . The pictures in the seed advertisements make the Iron & Clay peas look kind of blue. I have a friend who grows Penny Riles told me they look just like his Penny Riles. I guess I should just enjoy the peas and not worry about what they are called. A friend I gave some to called them Poor Man peas.

Can you post a photo of the dried peas and dried pods? Much easier to tell them apart when dried. A "light tan" color of peas eliminates many of the varieties but you are right that you likely will never know what they are for sure.

Dave

digdirt,

I don't know how to post pictures on here. I apologize for taking up your time with my dumb questions.

No apologies needed and not dumb questions at all. Completely understand the desire to know what they are - we have all been in that situation. But sometimes it just isn't possible so we just enjoy it and name it whatever we want. ;-)

You can load photos from your computer or other mobile device using the Photo or Houzz Photo links below.

Dave

the photo and houzz photo links appear when you click on the comment box.

Farmerdill & digdirt,

The term Iron & clay peas is new to me, all I ever heard them called was Clay peas. I didn't know about them being called Iron until I read it in the seed catalogs and found it on the computer. Can you tell me why they are called Iron & Clay peas? The pictures in the seed catalogs and on the computer all look sort of blue, What I always thought was Clay peas are a light tan sort of clay color pea, where does the Iron come from. This has been kind of confusing for me. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Most of us in the south tend to use the shortest form of a name that is recognized. I only see seed vendors use the term Iron & Clay. Local vendors label Iron Clay. When we call for them we just say "gimme 50 lbs of clay peas" These are recognized as the original pea introduced in the seventeenth century. Don't know any one who has compiled a real history .http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/86/ You may enjoy this piece by Melody Rose. Small light brown peas that are best as dried peas.

Haven't grown the clays for a number of years but I sure don't recall them being blueish. That blue may just be the coloring in the photograph film rather than the beans themselves. Rather various shades of brown, mostly tan/khaki color with some darker brownish ones mixed in and maybe even a few reddish browns included in a handful. They aren't a uniform color.

But like farmerdill said Clay, Iron and Clay, Iron & Clay, or Iron Clay - you see them all used as the name for the same peas.

Dave

Farmerdill & digdirt,

Thank you both for the help with my question. The Iron threw me as all I've ever heard them called is Clay Peas. You are probably right about the blue look just being just the photos as the only ones I've ever seen were the light tan or khaki color with some being a little darker. Thanks' again for clearing this up for me.