Herbs annual. Stems erect, stout, 5–20 dm. Leaves 1–7 cm; tendrils absent; stipules foliose, approaching leaflets in size, broadly semisagittate, with nec­tariferous patch abaxially; leaf­lets 2–6, blades elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, 40–100 × 10–30 mm, apex obtuse, sur­faces glabrous. Inflorescences 2–4-flowered, to 1 cm, much shorter than subtending leaf rachis. Flowers 20–30 mm; calyx base symmetric, lobes unequal, longer than tube; corolla white with purple mottling, banner stenonychioid, blade longer than claw, glabrous; style compressed abaxially, pubescent apically, tufted abaxially. Legumes dark brown to black, linear, 80–200 × 10–30 mm, oblique-tipped, sparsely pubescent; stipe 1–2 mm. Seeds 2–4, purplish, greenish, or black, sometimes spotted gray, globose and 7–9 mm diam., or strongly compressed and 12–35 mm diam.; hilum large, terminal, blackish, encircling 1/6–1/5 circumference of seed. 2n = 12, 14.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Roadsides, waste areas.
Elevation: 0–800 m.

Distribution

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Introduced; Calif., Conn., D.C., Maine, Md., Mass., N.Y., Oreg., Pa., Vt., Wash., sw Asia, n Africa.

Discussion

Vicia faba has been domesticated and is grown as a vegetable crop and for forage in temperate and sub­tropical areas worldwide.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.