Vicia americana

Scientific Name: Vicia americana Muhl. ex Willd.
Family Name: Pea (Fabaceae)
Common Name: American vetch

Morphological Characteristics:
Habit - native perennial legume, mostly single-stemmed below and highly branched above, stems trailing or climbing, 15 to 80 cm (6 to 30 in.) tall.
Leaves - pinnately attached, mostly sessile with entire to arrowhead-shaped, coarsely toothed appendages (stipules) at the base of the leaf petiole, leaflets 8 to 16, variable in shape, 1.5 to 3 cm (0.6 to 1.2 in.) long with prominent parallel veins, terminal leaflet modified into a curling tendril.
Flower - typical pea-like flower, arranged in axillary, rather loose, short-stalked (peduncled) racemes or clusters, 4 to 10 bluish to reddish-purple blossoms, 17 to 27 mm (0.06 to 1.1 in.) long, the uppermost banner petal longest.
Fruit - bean-like pods, flat, elongated, and glabrous, 2 to 4 cm (0.8 to 1.6 in) long, two- to several-seeded, opening lengthwise at maturity, dropping seed.

Blooming: mid- to late-spring and seed matures in early- to mid-August.

Distribution & Habitat: Extremely widespread, common but scattered, prefers fairly deep soils on plains, foothills, and mountains; look for large, robust communities on harsh sites.

Line drawing from Wild Plants of the Canadian Prairies, 1974. A.C. Budd and K. F. Best

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Last Modified: 06/15/2005