E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Vicia lathyroides L.
spring vetch
Fabaceae (Pea family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Adolf Ceska  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #20434)

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Distribution of Vicia lathyroides
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Species Information

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General:
Tiny annual herb from a taproot; stems spreading to ascending, glabrous or hairy, to 20 cm long/tall.
Leaves:
Alternate, pinnately compound; leaflets 4-6, lanceolate to narrowly egg-shaped, rounded but abruptly sharp-pointed at the tip, 3-15 mm long; tendrils short and unbranched or lacking; stipules small, mostly entire.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of 1 or 2 pea-like flowers on very short stalks in the axils of upper leaves; corollas lavender or dull blue fading to white, 5-7 mm long; calyx-teeth awl-shaped, about as long as the tube.
Fruits:
Pods, 1.5-3 cm long, oblong, somewhat flattened, glabrous; seeds 8 to 12.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Dry sandy, waste areas and grassy openings in the lowland and montane zones; rare in SW BC ; introduced from Europe.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is not evaluated, unknown or variable.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References