Vetches
August 10, 2015
Print
EmailVicia spp.
Life cycle
Climbing or trailing annual, biennial or perennial vines.
Leaves
Alternate, pinnately compound with several pairs of opposite, narrowly oblong leaflets. The terminal leaflet is modified into a branched, twining tendril used to climb.
Twining tendril of vetch.
Stems
Ascending, climbing or trailing stems are herbaceous but may become woody with age.
Pinnately compound leaf of vetch.
Flowers and fruit
Blue, purple or reddish pea-like flowers are borne on short stalks in the upper leaf axils or found crowded along one side of long, bare stalks. Fruit are variously sized pea-like pods.
Vetch flowers (left). Pea-like pods of vetch (right).
Reproduction
Seeds or rhizomes.
Print a PDF of this page: Vetches
Other Documents in this Series
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
Needs Assessment of the Low-Moisture Food Industry: The Next Steps to Advance Food Safety Research and Extension
Published on August 3, 2022
-
Factors Influencing Desiccation Tolerance of Salmonella and Enterohemorrhagic E. coli
Published on August 1, 2022
-
Impact of Chocolate Coating on the Survival of Salmonella on Dried Nuts and Fruits
Published on August 1, 2022
-
Fate of foodborne pathogens during soaking and drying of walnuts
Published on January 11, 2023
Accessibility Questions:
For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.