| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
previous taxon |
next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information) |
|
|
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
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
Reference: [Polhill & Raven (eds) 1981 Advances in legume systematics; Allen & Allen 1981 Leguminosae]
Family description and key to genera by 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.
| Introduced |
Annual, glabrous or hairy
Leaf: stipules often toothed; leaflets 8–14, 1.5–3.5 cm, linear to wedge-shaped, tip acute, truncate, or notched, often with 1 slender tooth
Inflorescence << subtending leaf; flowers in sessile or barely peduncled clusters of 1–3, pedicels short
Flower: calyx 7–15 mm; corolla 1–3 cm, pink-purple to whitish
Fruit 2.5–6 cm, 2.5–8 mm wide, initially hairy, quickly glabrous; stalk-like base 0
Chromosomes: 2n=12,14
Ecology: Disturbed areas, fields
Elevation: < 1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to eastern US; native to Europe
Following subspp. sometimes treated as species in US
| Introduced |
Leaf: leaflets 5–7 mm wide, length 4–10 X width, linear to generally oblong-lanceolate
Flower: calyx 7–12 mm; corolla 1–1.8 cm, pink-purple to ± white
Fruit black
Seed 2.5–4 mm wide, spheric
Ecology: Disturbed sites, woodland borders, clearings
Elevation: < 1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to se US
Synonyms: V. angustifolia Reichard
Widespread spring weed in s US.