Herbs perennial. Stems climb­ing, robust, 6–20 dm. Leaves 9–23 cm; tendrils usually branched; stipules foliose, semi­sagittate, without nectariferous patch; leaflets 16–30, blades ovate to lanceolate, 15–75 × 4–20 mm, apex obtuse, surfaces sparsely appressed-pubescent. Inflorescences 6–25-flowered, 5–25 cm, somewhat shorter than subtending leaf rachis. Flowers 15–25 mm; calyx base symmetric, lobes unequal, longest one equal to tube; corolla reddish purple to yellowish, banner oblong, blade equal to claw, glabrous; style compressed abaxially, evenly pubescent throughout. Legumes black, oblong, 33–55 × 10–20 mm, oblique-tipped, glabrous; stipe to 4 mm. Seeds 3 or 4, purplish black, subglobose, 5–6 mm diam.; hilum encircling 3/4+ circumference of seed. 2n = 14.

Phenology: Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat: Upper margins of beaches, meadows, clearings, stream banks, thickets, mesic for­ests, open, coniferous forests, roadsides, forest edges.
Elevation: 0–100 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

B.C., Alaska, Calif., Oreg., Wash.

Discussion

J. S. Lassetter and C. R. Gunn (1979) made a case for combining the common North American Pacific Coast taxon Vicia gigantea with V. nigricans of the South American Pacific Coast.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.