Family: Fabaceae
bird vetch, cow vetch
Richard Bauer
Robert Bierman
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Vicia: the classical Latin name for this genus
Plants: climbing or trailing, perennial, up to 3' long forb
Leaves: pinnately-divided into 5-11 pairs of linear leaflets, leaf tips with tendrils
Flowers: blue, 5-parted, 1/2" long, calyx base not swollen; inflorescence a crowded, long-stalked cluster (raceme) with 20-50 stalked flowers; blooms June-Aug.
Fruits: pod
Habitat: fields, roadsides, meadows
Conservation Status: Introduced - naturalized
Plants: climbing or trailing, perennial, up to 3' long forb
Leaves: pinnately-divided into 5-11 pairs of linear leaflets, leaf tips with tendrils
Flowers: blue, 5-parted, 1/2" long, calyx base not swollen; inflorescence a crowded, long-stalked cluster (raceme) with 20-50 stalked flowers; blooms June-Aug.
Fruits: pod
Habitat: fields, roadsides, meadows
Conservation Status: Introduced - naturalized
Fields, roadsides, railroad corridors, degraded prairies, weedy open areas, marshy shores, vacant lots, forest edges. Introduced from Europe and first collected in 1891. Resembling V. villosa, but much less common.
WIS DNR-Bureau of Endangered Resources: Detailed information on Wisconsin invasive species including decription, habitats, control methods USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS): Images of seeds, fruits, embryos, etc.
Robert Bierman
Botancial Illustration
Botancial Illustration
