American Vetch - Vicia americana
Above: American Vetch in UW Arboretum's Greene Prairie in Madison, Wisconsin (6/01/21).
American Vetch - Vicia americana
American Vetch is a native climbing perennial plant that likes moist woods and meadows.
Individual flowers are in the typical shape of the pea family (slightly elongated, 1/2" to 1 1/4" long). Flower color ranges from pink to purple to blue and are arranges 2 to 9 flowers in loose clusters above the leaf axils in the upper part of the stem.
Leaves are pinnately-divided into 4-8 pairs of elliptical leaflets with a tendril at the end of the leaf that winds around other plants for support.
Blooms June - August.
Other names: Purple Vetch.
Above: American Vetch leaves (6/01/21).
For more information on the American Vetch, visit Wikipedia.
Or, visit the UW-Madison Wisconsin State Herbarium website page about American Vetch - Vicia American.
American Vetch
Vicia americana
Above: American Vetch in UW Arboretum's Greene Prairie in Madison, Wisconsin (6/01/21).
Above: American Vetch (Vicia americana) specimen collected on Burnett, Wisconsin 1 km N. of bridge over St. Croix River. (6/10/2014).
Above: American Vetch (Vicia americana) botanical illustration by Mary Vaux Walcott circa 1917/1918.
Above: American Vetch (Vicia americana) botanical illustration by Mary Vaux Walcott circa 1922.
