''Vicia lathyroides'' (spring vetch) is a plant species in the bean family
.
[Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012. ''Webb's An Irish Flora''. Cork University Press. ] It is native to Europe and western Asia, and it is known on other continents as an
introduced species. It is an annual herb with pealike blue- or purple-tinged flowers about half a centimeter wide and hairless
legume
A legume () is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of such a plant. When used as a dry grain, the seed is also called a pulse. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, for livestock f ...
pods up to 3 centimeters long.
Description
''Vicia lathyroides'' is an annual with stems up to 12 cm long. The leaves have 2 or 4 pairs of leaflets which end in a tendril or point. The flowers are single up to 6 mm long and without a stalk. The petals are purple and produce a pod up to 20 mm long.
[Webb, D.A., Parnell, J and Doogue, D. 1996. ''An Irish Flora.'' Dungalgan Press (W.Tempest) Ltd. Dundalk.]
Ecology
In Ireland it is found in sandy ground near the coast.
References
External links
Jepson Manual TreatmentUSDA Plants Profile
*
Washington Burke MuseumPhoto gallery
lathy
Plants described in 1753
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
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