Plant of the Month: Hairy vetch

Vicia villosa

Characteristics: An introduced annual, trailing or climbing, cool season legume found on a variety of sites. Most common in open areas and along roadsides. The Latin word "villosa" means "having soft, long hairs". Not found in poorly managed pastures.

Area of Importance: Eastern two-thirds of Oklahoma and Texas.

Attributes: Often overseeded in pastures or planted with small grains for livestock forage. Foliage is browsed by whitetailed deer and the seeds are eaten by many species of birds, including bobwhite quail.

Problems: Due to the trailing, climbing, vine-like growth form of Hairy vetch, it can cause mechanical problems with hay and seed harvesting machinery.

I.D. Tip: Leaves usually have 10-20 leaflets. Stems and leaflets are hairy. Seed pod is usually short and fat.

Hundreds of plants are identified in the Noble Foundation Plant Image Gallery.