Vetches - introduced (*Vicia species)

Vetches are scrambling plants. The leaves are divided into leaflets, and the leaf extends to a narrow tendril.

Family: Fabaceae (Pea family).

Native of the northern hemisphere.

Common Vetch - introduced (*Vicia sativa).

Tiny Vetch - introduced (*Vicia hirsuta)

Identification:

• the flower stalks are more than 1.5 mm long
• it is densely hairy with fine hairs
• the leaves have 8-20 pairs of leaflets
• the calyx teeth (which surround the base of each flower) are more or less equal in size
• the pod is bewteen 6mm and 12mm long.

Slender Vetch - introduced (*Vicia tetrasperma)

Identification:

• the flower stalks are more than 1.5 mm long
• leaves have 6-12 pairs of leaflets
• the flowers are 5mm to 8mm long
• the calyx teeth (surrounding the base of the flowers) are unequal in size.

1: Tiny Vetch (*Vicia hirsuta).
2. Slender Vetch (*Vicia tetrasperma).