American vetch

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American vetch

American vetch

American vetch

American vetch habit

American vetch habit

American vetch

American vetch

American vetch

American vetch

American vetch

American vetch

Morphology

Stem

Reclining or climbing, smooth, often zigzag.

Leaves

Alternate, even-pinnately compound, tipped with clinging tendrils; leaflets 4-14, stiff, narrowly linear to linear-oblong, to 1.25 inch long, less than 1/5 inch wide; margins usually entire; tips rounded, blunt, or abruptly pointed; stipules usually serrate.

Inflorescence

Racemes, loose, 3-5-flowered.

Flower

Calyces slightly swollen on 1 side; corollas papilionaceous, 1/2 to 1 inch long, bluish purple; banner with notched tip; stamens 10, 9 united, 1 free.

Fruit

Pods, smooth, around 1 inch long; seeds 8-14, round.

Ecology

Habitat

Dry prairies, lowlands, bluffs, and roadsides.

Distribution

Throughout except southwest corner.

Practical Information

Forage Value

American vetch is good forage that is readily grazed by livestock. It tends to disappear from pastured areas.

Uses

Native Americans utilized many parts of this plant. The seeds were used as food; leaves were applied to spider bites; tea made from the entire plant was used as eyewash; and roots were kept in the pocket as a good luck charm when gambling. Birds also eat the seeds.