Vetches
June 16, 2015
Vicia spp. Fabaceae (Legume family)
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.
Pinnately compound leaf of vetch.
Stems
Ascending, climbing or trailing stems are herbaceous but may become woody with age.
Twining tendril 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) and pea-like pods (right).
Reproduction
Seeds or rhizomes.
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