Common Vetch - introduced (*Vicia sativa)

Family: Fabaceae (Pea family).

Native of Europe, Asia and Africa.

Occurrence: A scattered weed. It is often a weed in disturbed areas.

Identification:

• it is a scrambling or climbing plant
• the leaf is divided into 5 to 15 pairs of leaflets
• the blunt leaf apex usually has a small point
• the leaf ends in a slender tendril
• the reddish-purple pea flowers are on short (0-1.5 mm) stalks
• the seed pod turns yellow-brown to black when ripe.

There are several other vetches that are widespread weeds. They are generally more slender, with smaller, and narrower leaves, and small, paler flowers. Slender-leaved vetches.

Photo 1: Common Vetch. Urquhart St, Castlemaine.
2, 3, 4: Common Vetch. Parker St, Castlemaine. The leaves have an even number of leaflets, and there is a terminal tendril.