vetch flower

Vetches – Vicia spp.

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.

Stems

Ascending, climbing or trailing stems are herbaceous but may become woody with age.

Flowers and fruit

Blue, purple or reddish pealike 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 pealike pods.

Reproduction

Seeds or rhizomes.

Vetch flower
Vetch flower
Vetch leaf
Vetch leaf
Vetch pod
Vetch pod
Vetch tendril
Vetch tendril

Other Documents in this Series

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.