Vicia americana
Vicia americana
Vicia americana is a species in the subfamily of the Fabaceae ( Faboideae ). It is one of the most common legumes in North America. Because of the shape of fruits it is called in Lakota Tasúsu which literally means " buffalo testicles " means.
Description
Vicia americana is a perennial, herbaceous plant. It forms both taproots and rhizomes. It has vines on the leaves. In thicket -like plant communities, such as in Chaparral, it grows climbing, crawling on the prairie. Resembles the European Fence Vetch (Vicia sepium ) and has a sprawling, bald or slightly hairy stems that reaches depending on the location, a length of 15 to 60 centimeters. The leaves are paired pinnate, with usually 8 to 18 oblong- oval leaflets are formed, which are often pointed grannenartig. The color of the leaves is vigorous green. The tendrils are as leaflets at the leaf ends and remain relatively inconspicuous in creeping plants. In dry areas the leaflets remain puny narrow, linear- lanceolate rather, and by reducing the leaf area they are drought resistant.
The zygomorphic flowers are typical butterfly flowers. The flower and particularly the flag is striking to pale violet stain strongly - pink, the wings are usually brighter whitish and cover the darker boat. Rarely, the whole flower is colored white, sometimes bluish or lavender in color. The flowering period extends from May to June.
The hairless, beany, about 3 inches long legume opens when ripe lengthwise and usually contains two seeds. The pea- like seed is light brown.
Ecology
She lives like other legumes in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing root nodule bacteria that colonize the root system, and thereby contributes to the improvement of the soil. Due to the high protein content, it is an important forage plant that is grazed by wild and domesticated ungulates. The stock goes to improve in overgrazing.
Distribution and habitat requirements
Vicia americana is widely used in North America. Their range extends from central Alaska east through Canada to southern Ontario, south to southern Virginia, and westward through the Great Plains to California, Oregon and Washington. Especially frequently it is in the mountain foothills of western North America. In the Great Plains, it is in the wetter north to be found slightly more often than in the drier south.
This Wickenart thrives on moist as on dry soil and populated forested habitats as well as open grassland. It is a pioneer plant on burned areas and wastelands. It thrives in sandy and clayey, both acidic and slightly alkaline or saline soils.
System
The species Vicia americana belongs to the section Americanae from the subgenus Vicilla in the genre of vetches ( Vicea ). In addition to the nominate subspecies Vicia americana subsp. linearis distinguished.