Vicia americana

Vicia americana
Vicia americana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Vicia
Species: V. americana
Binomial name
Vicia americana
Muhl. ex Willd.[1]

Vicia americana is a species of legume in the vetch genus known by the common names American vetch and purple vetch. It includes a subspecies known as mat vetch. It is a climbing perennial forb that grows from both taproot and rhizome. The leaves are each made up of oblong leaflets and have tendrils for climbing. It bears showy pea-like flowers in shades of lavender and fuchsia. The fruit is a hairless pod about 3 centimeters long that contains usually two light brown peas. American vetch is widespread across North America.

It is a common understory plant in many types of forest and other habitats such as chaparral and it provides forage for wild and domesticated animals. This vetch is used to reclaim burned or disturbed land, such as that which has been cleared by wildfire or altered by human activities such as mining or construction. It is drought-tolerant and thrives in both dry and moist habitats.

References

  1. ^ USDA Plants Profile

External links

Media related to Vicia americana at Wikimedia Commons


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Vicia americana — Systematik Ordnung: Schmetterlingsblütenartige (Fabales) Familie …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Vicia americana — ID 87839 Symbol Key VIAM Common Name American vetch Family Fabaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity Native to U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution AK, AZ, CA, CO, DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Vicia americana ssp. americana — ID 87841 Symbol Key VIAMA3 Common Name American vetch Family Fabaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity Native to U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution AK, AZ, CA, CO, DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NJ, NM,… …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Vicia americana ssp. mexicana — ID 87850 Symbol Key VIAMM4 Common Name N/A Family Fabaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity Cultivated, or not in the U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution N/A Growth Habit N/A …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Vicia americana ssp. minor — ID 87851 Symbol Key VIAMM3 Common Name mat vetch Family Fabaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity Native to U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution AZ, CO, IA, ID, KS, MN, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, SD, TX, UT, WY Growth Habit Vine …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Vicia americana Muhl. ex Willd. ssp. americana — Symbol VIAMA3 Common Name American vetch Botanical Family Fabaceae …   Scientific plant list

  • Vicia americana Muhl. ex Willd. var. americana — Symbol VIAMA3 Synonym Symbol VIAMA6 Botanical Family Fabaceae …   Scientific plant list

  • Vicia americana Muhl. ex Willd. — Symbol VIAM Common Name American vetch Botanical Family Fabaceae …   Scientific plant list

  • Vicia americana Muhl. ex Willd. ssp. mexicana C.R. Gunn [excluded] — Symbol VIAMM4 Botanical Family Fabaceae …   Scientific plant list

  • Vicia americana Muhl. ex Willd. ssp. minor (Hook.) C.R. Gunn — Symbol VIAMM3 Common Name mat vetch Botanical Family Fabaceae …   Scientific plant list

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