Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_1861.JPG-06-16-2019
Flower name (scientific): Vicia americana Muhlenberg ex Willdenow PY: 1802. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) VIS-ee-uh a-mer-ih-KAY-na
Flower name (common): American Vetch
Family name (common): Pea
Family name (scientific): Fabaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: Latin name used by Pliny for a vetch, with the origin of the classical Latin vicia unknown. Also possibly from Latin meaning to bind, referring to the climbing habit of the vetches.
    Specific epithet: Of or from America.
Common name origin: Vetch is from the classical Latin vicia, of unknown origin.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.4 to 0.7 inches (1.0 to 1.8 cm)
     Petal count: 5
     Color: purple
     Other: flower arrangement, None
Plant description:
     Size: 12 to 36 inches (30 to 91 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is compound
     Size: Leaflets up to 3 cm long and up to 6 mm wide.
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, pinnately-divided (FWI), leaflet, linear-oblong to linear-lanceolate (MP), elliptic (FWI)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon
Bloom time (typical): June to August
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Prairies, woods, fields, meadows, sun or part shade, moist.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): Of the other common Vicia species that are similar, V. americana can be distinguished by the stipules (leafy outgrowths at the base of the petioles), which have 3 teeth. Vicia sativa (Narrow-Leaved Common Vetch) also has teeth on its stipules, but can be distinguished by its narrow leaves.
Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes in the Wisconsin region, but employed by several tribes including the Iroquois, Navajo, Mendocino, and others to produce medicines for various ailments, as a food source, and for cordage (Moerman, pp. 595-596, 1998).
Latitude: 44.799797
Longitude: -91.505822
Altitude: 256.30
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AK, AZ, CA, CO, DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NT, ON, QC, SK, YT) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: Vicia americana var. americana (The other infraspecific is Vicia americana var. minor William Jackson Hooker which occurs in the central states and provinces of the US and Canada.)
Wetland Status (NC): FACU
Wetland Status (MW): FACU