TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California Print edition is available from the University of California Press

	The second edition of The Jepson Manual (2012) is available from the University of California Press
	See also the Jepson eFlora, which parallels the Second Edition

FABACEAE

LEGUME FAMILY

Annual to tree
Leaves generally compound, alternate, stipuled; leaflets generally entire
Inflorescence: generally raceme, spike, umbel or head; flowers sometime 1–2 in axils
Flowers generally bisexual, generally bilateral; hypanthium generally flat or cup-like; sepals generally 5, fused; petals generally 5, free, or the 2 lower ± fused; stamens 1–many, often 10 with 9 filaments at least partly fused, 1 (uppermost) free; pistil 1, ovary superior, generally 1-chambered, ovules 1–many, style, stigma 1
Fruit: legume, sometimes including a stalk-like base above receptacle, dehiscent, or indehiscent and breaking into 1-seeded segments, or indehiscent, 1-seeded, and achene-like
Seeds 1–several, often ± reniform, generally hard, smooth
Genera in family: ± 650 genera, 18,000 species: worldwide; with grasses, requisite in agriculture and most natural ecosystems. Many cultivated, most importantly Arachis , peanut; Glycine , soybean; Phaseolus , beans; Medicago ; Trifolium ; and many orns. [Polhill & Raven (eds) 1981 Advances in legume systematics; Allen & Allen 1981 Leguminosae] Family description and key to genera by Duane Isely.

VICIA

VETCH

Duane Isely

Annual or perennial herb, unarmed
Stem generally sprawling or climbing, ridged or angled
Leaves even-1-pinnate; stipules with an upper (often toothed or lobed) and smaller lower segment; leaflets 4–many, alternate to opposite (often on 1 plant), linear to ovate; main leaf axis generally ending as a tendril
Inflorescence: raceme or cluster, axillary; peduncle or pedicels present; bracts small or 0
Flower: corolla generally lavender to purple, sometimes white or yellow; 9 filaments fused, 1 free; style generally round in X -section, hairs tufted at tip
Fruit dehiscent, generally ± oblong, generally flat; base stalk-like or not
Seeds 2 or more
Species in genus: ± 130 species: North America, Eurasia
Etymology: (Latin: vetch)
Reference: [Herman 1960 USDA Handb 168]
Best separated from Lathyrus by style characters.

Native

V. hassei S. Watson

Annual, ± glabrous
Leaf: leaflets 4–10, 1–2.5 cm, narrowly oblong to elliptic, tip generally truncate, notched, or 1–5-toothed
Inflorescence < subtending leaf; flowers at or near tip, 1 (or if 2, generally 4–8 mm apart)
Flower: corolla 7–8 mm, lavender to white; style hairs in a clump at tip, generally on lower, convex side (opposite banner)
Fruit 2–3 cm, 5–6 mm wide, oblong to saber-shaped, initially with a few hairs; stalk-like base 1–2 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=14
Ecology: Grassy or shrubby slopes, canyons
Elevation: 100–600 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, North Coast Ranges, Great Central Valley, Central Western California, Southwestern California, Peninsular Ranges
Distribution outside California: to Baja California, also (alien?) in s Oregon
Synonyms: V. exigua Nutt. var. h (S. Watson) Jeps
Reference: [Lassetter 1975 Madroño 23:73–78]
In CA, easily confused with V. ludoviciana.