Herbs annual or biennial. Stems sprawling or climbing, slender, 10–20 dm. Leaves 3–6 cm; ten­drils branched; stipules much smaller than leaflets, semi­sagittate, without nectariferous patch; leaflets 10–16, blades ovate-oblong to linear, 10–30 × 4–9 mm, apex obtuse, surfaces villous. Inflorescences 2–12-flowered, 3–12 cm, equal to subtending leaf rachis. Flowers 13–18 mm; calyx base gibbous, lobes unequal, usually equal to tube; corolla white at base, purple apically, banner pandurate, blade shorter than or equal to claw, glabrous; style compressed adaxially, pubescent apically. Legumes tawny, narrowly oblong, 25–35 × 8–12 mm, oblique-tipped, densely villous; stipe to 1–2 mm. Seeds 4 or 5, velvety black with prominent white hilum, compressed-subglobose, 4–5 mm diam.; hilum encircling 1/5 circumference of seed. 2n = 14.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–May.
Habitat: Disturbed areas.
Elevation: 0–200 m.

Distribution

Introduced; s Asia, introduced also in s South America.

Discussion

Vicia benghalensis is cultivated as a cover crop along the Pacific Coast; it has become established in California. It can be distinguished from V. villosa by its pubescent fruits.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.