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Volume IV (1988) - Flora of New Zealand Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons
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Vicia L.

VICIA L.

Annual or perennial, erect or scrambling herbs; stems angled but not winged. Lvs pinnate, tendrilous or mucronate, very rarely with a terminal leaflet; leaflets usually pinnately veined, opposite or alternate, in 1-many pairs; stipules simple or toothed. Infl. axillary, racemose, 1-many-flowered. Calyx teeth 5, subequal or upper shorter, < 2× as long as tube. Staminal tube oblique at apex; stamens diadelphous. Style linear, not contorted, variously hairy; ovules numerous, rarely 2. Pod compressed, 2-valved; seeds globose or rarely compressed, with long or short hilum, smooth or rough.

Key

1
Peduncles < corolla; corolla 5-30 mm long
2
Peduncles > corolla; corolla 3-18 mm long
6
2
Most lvs with 4-8 pairs of leaflets
3
Lvs with 1-3 pairs of leaflets
4
3
Calyx teeth ± equal; corolla red, purple, white or pink
7. *sativa
Calyx teeth unequal; corolla yellow, sometimes tinged purple
6. *lutea
4
Corolla 5-8 mm long; calyx teeth ± equal; infl. 1-flowered
5 *lathyroides
Corolla 10-30 mm long; calyx teeth unequal; infl. 1-6-flowered
5
5
All lvs without tendrils, the rachis terminated by a short mucro
3. *faba
At least the upper lvs with tendrils
*narbonensis ζ
6
Infls 1-7-(9)-flowered; corolla 3-6 mm long
7
Infls mostly 10-45-flowered; corolla 8-18 mm long
9
7
Lvs with 2-5 pairs of leaflets; infl. 1-2-(4)- flowered; pods (2)-3-5-seeded
8. *tetrasperma
Lvs with 5-10 pairs of leaflets; infl. 2-7-(9)-flowered; pods (1)-2-seeded
8
8
Calyx teeth ± equal; fls c. 4 mm long; pod hairy
4. *hirsuta
Calyx teeth unequal; fls 5-6 mm long; pod ± glabrous
2. *disperma
9
Corolla (13)-14-18 mm long; calyx strongly gibbous at base; hilum 1/9-⅙ of seed circumference
9. *villosa
Corolla c. 8-12 mm long; calyx slightly gibbous at base; hilum 1/4-⅓ of seed circumference
1. *cracca

c. 140 spp., N. temperate areas, S. America, topical E. Africa. Naturalised spp. 10.

Several spp. are important fodder plants. Fls or seeds are essential for identification.

Fig. 69. Fls of Vicia. A V. cracca; B V. sativa; C V. villosa subsp. varia. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X5V]
Fig. 69. Fls of Vicia. A V. cracca; B V. sativa; C V. villosa subsp. varia. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X5V]
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