Scientific Family
Fabaceae
Other common names
America's vetch
purple vetch
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
To 4 feet
Riparian
No
Vining or trailing to 4 feet; clings to other plants with its coiling tendrils.
Vine-like. Flowers 1/2 to 1 inch long, purple, in leaf axils, banner, wings and keels, wings adhering to the keels, 2 to 10 flowers per stem. Pinnate leaves 6 to 16 narrow to oval, leaflets end in tendrils. Stipules toothed.
Habitat
Clearings in ponderosa and mixed conifer forests.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
5000
High elevation
10000
Flower Characteristics
Pealike, to 1-1/4 inches long; 2 to 10 in loose cluster on stalk in leaf axil; followed by a pealike pod.
Flower color
Pinkish to purple
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Tipped with clinging tendrils; leaflets 4 to 14, stiff, narrowly linear to linear-oblong, to 1-1/4 inches long, less than 1/5 inch wide; margins usually smooth; tips rounded, blunt, or abruptly pointed.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit type
Pod
Fruit color
Brown
Seed surface smooth, mottled or patchy.