Scientific Name:
Vicia sativa
Pronunciation:
VISS-ee-uh sah-TEE-vah
Common Name:
common vetch
Family Name:
Fabaceae
Plant Type:
Annual, Weed (horticultural)
Key ID Features:
Hollow, four-sided, stems to 2m long; leaves alternate, compound, and stipulate, with 3-8 pairs of linear, lance-shaped, leaflets up to 3.5 centimeters long, each ending in a branched tendril; flowers pea-like, occur in the leaf axils, solitary or in pairs, petals 1-3cm long, usually bright pink to purple; legume to 7cm long.
Habit:
Spreading
Form:
Climbing
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Landscape Uses:
Urban agriculture
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Compound
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Compound Leaf:
Even-pinnate
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Oblong
Apices:
Rounded
Bases:
Rounded
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers paired
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Bilabiate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Purple, Pink
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun
Fruit Type:
Legume
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Jul, Aug
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes, Root nodules (N-fixing), Tendrils
Course(s):
- not used (on campus)
Location(s):
- (BCE) Boulevard (Circular) Eastend
- (WDY) WeeDY location