Lucas Land
Cow or Tufted
Vetch
Vicia cracca
From Nearctica
Alien: Native of Europe.
Identification: A climbing vine. Flowers blue-violet to purple, arranged in a crowded, one-sided spike arising on a long flower stalk from the leaf axil. Short stem connecting flower to the flower cluster (pedicel) arises from the rear margin of the calyx. Stem smooth. Leaves divided into 5 to 12 pairs of opposite leaflets with an apical tendril. Apex of each leaflet pointed.
Distribution: Southeastern Canada southward to Missouri in the west to Georgia in the east.
Habitat: Cow Vetch is found in fields, pastures, and thickets.
Flowering period: May to August.