Fabaceae : Vicia americana
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Family Name
Fabaceae
Common Name
American vetch
Native American Name
Lakota: tȟasúsu
Description
Vicia americana is a rhizomatous, perennial herb, the stems sprawling to climbing, 20-100 cm long and smooth to having a sparse covering of hairs . The alternate leaves are compound pinnate with 4 to 8 pairs of elliptical to linear leaflets 10-38 mm long , a pair of stipules ~8 mm long, and with a tendril at the end of the leaf. The inflorescences are racemes in the axils of the upper leaves. The peduncles are well developed with 3-10 flowers. The calyx forms a tube 3.5-5.5 mm long with unequal teeth, the upper short and broad the lower narrower and pointed, 1.2-4 mm long. The papilionaceous corolla is blue to purple, rarely white. The banner is 12-25 mm long and the wings and keel shorter. The fruit is a legume, 2.5-3.5 cm long with 2-14 seeds. American vetch blooms from May to July in a variety of dry, open to moist, shaded habitats; mixed grass prairie, sagebrush steppe, meadows, pine forest, and deciduous woodlands throughout South Dakota.
Horticulture Notes
Seed Collection: Collect brown seed pods in June into August.
Germination: Direct sow American vetch in the fall. The seed will germinate in approximately 14 days.
Soils: Prefers sandy and loamy well drained soils. Preforms poorly in clay soils.
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Water: Moist to mesic.
Additional Notes
American vetch has showy flowers and makes a nice addition to a native plant garden, attracting native bees and butterflies. It needs support to really be seen and do well and can be planted with grasses for support.