Vicia sativa L.

Slender to stout scrambling or tufted annual; stem sparsely hairy. Lvs sparsely to densely hairy; tendrils branched; leaflets in (3)–4–8 pairs, often alternate, linear to elliptic to obovate, (5)–10–30–(40) mm long; stipules simple or with 1, adaxial, basal lobe, or dentate, usually with a dark spot. Infl. much < lvs, 1–2–(4)-flowered. Peduncle much < fls, rarely ± = fls. Pedicel 1–5 mm long. Calyx somewhat gibbous at base; calyx teeth ± equal, < =, or > tube. Corolla usually purple, reddish purple or rose, sometimes white or pink, (8)–12–28 mm long; limb of standard > claw. Pod ± glabrous or puberulent, blackish or brownish black, constricted or not between seeds, 5–12-seeded, (20)–30–60 mm long; seeds light or dark brown with dark spots; hilum ⅙-⅕ of circumference.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Aug.–Jun.