Vicia l. ludoviciana
Family: Fabaceae
Plant Description: Annual vine with stems to 60 cm or longer, climbing by terminal tendrils or trailing. Leaves pinnate with leaflets 5-20 cm or longer, up to 12 leaflets, alternate. Flowers racemose, the upper petal lavender-blue, strongly bilateral. We have 2 subspecies locally.
Field Identification: Tendril at the leaf tip is identifying characteristic.
Plant Trivia:
Occurrence: Frequent on various soils in prairies, open areas, and disturbed sites. This is not an obvious plant. One must be looking for it or stumble across it. With few flowers and leaves this plant blends into its surroundings well.
Bloom Period: February – May
Plant Use: Nectar source; foil fertilizer with Myochorrizia bacteria.
Key to the Genus Vicia:
- Corolla more than 9 mm long……………………………………………….V. vilosa
Corolla 2-9 mm long……………………………………………………………………………2
2. Peduncles 1- or 2-flowered, calyx lobes equal……….V. minutiflora
Peduncles 3- to 12-flowered, calyx lobes unequal…V. ludoviciana
