Bird Vetch Vicia Cracca L
Nez Perce Soil and Water Conservation District
Date: 7/17/2014
To: Nez Perce SWCD Board of Directors
From: Lynn Rasmussen
File Code: D190‐WEED
Subject: Briefing on Vetch Population Status
This purpose of this memo is to provide information regarding a vetch that is found in Nez Perce County. There are two types of purple colored vetch that grow in the county; one is native and the other is not. The non- native is called Bird Vetch and is pictured to the right. The native is called American Vetch and is described in the attached documentation.
The District received several inquiries this spring and summer in regards to the purple colored plant growing along the canyon lands in the Lapwai Valley. This flower was prolific this year. The vetch near the town of Lapwai was identified as Bird Vetch.
Bird Vetch (Vicia cracca), which is an introduced species, is not on the noxious weed list in Idaho, but it is in several other states. There were a couple of key differences between this and the American Vetch (native). The native has a square stem, while this stem is round and ridged, and there are a smaller number of flowers in the inflorescence of the native species.
We’ve received several inquiries questioning the need for weed control on the non- native species. At this time, District staff is recommending that landowners use caution in spraying the vetch. Without proper identification, the wrong plant could be targeted causing ecological and well as financial impacts. Our current recommendation is for landowners to send a sample of the vetch to the University of Idaho extension office for proper identification prior to treatment.
Attached are two fact sheets relating to this plant.
S:\D110_Management\D110_3 BoardMeetings\D110‐3‐14 2014 Board meetings\July 2014\5_4.docx
bird vetch Vicia cracca L.
Synonyms: Ervum cracca (Linnaeus) Trautvetter; Vicia cracca f. canescens Maximowicz; V. cracca var. canescens (Maximo wicz) Franchet & Savatier; V. cracca ssp. heteropus Freyn; V. cracca var. japonica Miquel. Other common names: cow vetch Family: Fabaceae
Invasiveness Rank: 73 The invasiveness rank is calculated based on a species’ ecological impacts, biological attributes, distribution, and response to control measures. The ranks are scaled from 0 to 100, with 0 representing a plant that poses no threat to native ecosystems and 100 representing a plant that poses a major threat to native ecosystems.
Description teeth on the lower calyxes (Cody 1996). Bird vetch is a climbing or trailing, perennial plant that grows 40 to 150 cm tall. Stems are weak and hairy or Ecological Impact glabrous, and they cling to structures. Leaves consist of Impact on community composition, structure, and eight to ten pairs of narrow leaflets and have coiling, interactions: Bird vetch overgrows herbaceous branched tendrils at the ends. Leaflets are linear to vegetation and can climb over shrubs, such as alder and oblong, 11 to 30 mm long, and 2 to 4 mm wide with willow. It forms symbiotic relationships with Rhizobium round or acute tips. Flowers are blue-violet and are bacteria, allowing it to fix nitrogen. This species is borne on one-sided, many-flowered racemes. Pods are highly palatable to grazing and browsing animals. narrow, lanceolate, and 20 to 25 mm long with beaked Flowers are visited by native bees, and their presence apexes (Hultén 1968, eFloras 2008). may alter the pollination ecology of the surrounding area (Klebesadel 1980, Aarssen et al. 1986). Impact on ecosystem processes: Bird vetch alters soil conditions by fixing atmospheric nitrogen (Aarssen et al. 1986).
Leaf of Vicia cracca L. with coiling, branched tendrils.
Racemes of Vicia cracca L. Biology and Invasive Potential Reproductive potential: Bird vetch reproduces sexually Similar species: There are a number of other climbing, by seeds and vegetatively from spreading, underground blue-flowered legumes in Alaska. Bird vetch can be roots (Aarssen et al. 1986). Each plant produces a distinguished from similar species by the presence of copious amount of seeds. Seeds remain viable for a fully developed inflorescences that are longer than the number of years, and large seed banks are common. subtending leaves, many-flowered, one-sided racemes, Role of disturbance in establishment: Bird vetch entire stipules, leaflets with sparse, unobvious lateral establishes in disturbed, grassy areas and roadsides. veins, gradually rounded calyxes, and lance-attenuate Potential for long-distance dispersal: Seeds are large
Last Updated: 2011-02-08 by Helen Klein http://aknhp.uaa.alaska.edu and not easily dispersed (Densmore et al. 2001). Listed noxious in Canada or other countries Potential to be spread by human activity: Bird vetch is used as a cover and forage crop, and it frequently Distribution and Abundance escapes cultivation. It can be introduced with topsoil. Bird vetch grows in waste places, old fields, and Seeds can be carried in tangled vegetation clinging to roadsides. maintenance or construction equipment (Densmore et al. Native and current distribution: Bird vetch is native to 2001). Europe. It can be found throughout Canada and through Germination requirements: Seeds germinate much of the U.S. This species was introduced to Alaska underground. Cold stratification is not required for as a forage crop in Fairbanks and Palmer, and it has germination, but scarification significantly increases spread relatively slowly from these urban centers. Bird germination rates (Aarssen et al. 1986). vetch has been documented from all three Growth requirements: Bird vetch is adapted to all soil ecogeographic regions of Alaska (AKEPIC 2010). textures with pH levels from 4.9 to 7. It is somewhat tolerant of shade and highly tolerant of drought, fire, Pacific Maritime and high calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content. This Interior-Boreal species can withstand temperatures down to -36°C. It Arctic-Alpine requires 110 frost-free days to grow and reproduce successfully (USDA 2002). Collection Site Congeneric weeds: Vicia benghalensis, V. disperma, V. hirsuta, V. lathyroides, V. pannonica, V. sativa, V. tetrasperma, and V. villosa are known to occur as non- native weeds in North America (Hultén 1968, Whitson et al. 2000, USDA 2002).
Legal Listings Distribution of bird vetch in Alaska
Has not been declared noxious Management Listed noxious in Alaska This species is very difficult to eradicate once Listed noxious by other states established. Federal noxious weed
References: Aarssen, L.W., I.V. Hall, K.I.N. Jensen. 1986. The Hultén, E. 1968. Flora of Alaska and Neighboring biology of Canadian weeds. 76. Vicia Territories. Stanford University Press, Stanford, angustifolia L., V. cracca L., V. sativa L., V. CA. 1008 pp. tetrasperma (L.) Schreb. and V. villosa Roth. Invaders Database System. 2010. University of Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 66 (3):711- Montana. Missoula, MT. 737. http://invader.dbs.umt.edu/ AKEPIC database. Alaska Exotic Plant Information ITIS. 2010. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Clearinghouse Database. 2010. Available: http://www.itis.gov/ http://akweeds.uaa.alaska.edu/ Klebesadel, L.J. 1980. Birdvetch. Forage crop, Alaska Administrative Code. Title 11, Chapter 34. 1987. ground cover, ornamental, or weed? Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Agroborealis. January/1980: 46-49. Division of Agriculture. USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), Cody, W. 1996. Flora of the Yukon Territory. National NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Research Council of Canada Monograph Service). 2002. The PLANTS Database, Publishing Program. Ottawa, ON. 634 p. Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Densmore, R.V., P.C. McKee, C. Roland. 2001. Exotic Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874- plants in Alaskan National Park Units. Report 4490 USA. on file with the National Park Service – Alaska Whitson, T.D., L.C. Burrill, S.A. Dewey, D.W. Cudney, Region, Anchorage, Alaska. 143 pp. B.E. Nelson, R.D. Lee, R. Parker. 2000. Weeds eFloras. 2008. Published on the Internet of the West. The Western Society of Weed http://www.efloras.org [accessed 19 October Science in cooperation with the Western United 2010]. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, States Land Grant Universities, Cooperative MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Extension Services. University of Wyoming. Cambridge, MA. Laramie, Wyoming. 630 pp.
Last Updated: 2011-02-08 by Helen Klein http://aknhp.uaa.alaska.edu
Plant Fact Sheet
help restore roadsides, former coal mine sites and AMERICAN VETCH disturbed rangelands. Use this plant as a native alternative for crown vetch in landscaping. Vicia americana Muhl. Ex Willd. Plant Symbol = VIAM Status American vetch is listed as endangered/extirpated in Contributed by: USDA, NRCS, Norman A. Berg National Maryland. Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your Plant Materials Center, Beltsville, MD State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g., threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicatorvalues).
Weediness This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, state natural resource, or state agriculture department regarding its status and use. Weed information is also available from the PLANTS Web site at http://plants.usda.gov. Please consult the Related Web Sites on the Plant Profile for this species for further information.
Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA NRCS. 1992. Description and Adaptation American vetch is a native, perennial, climbing vine that Alternate Names Purple vetch grows approximately 1 to 2 feet tall. Each plant has a American deer vetch single stem. Tendrils emerge from the end of the multiple Stiff-leaf vetch leaflets to help secure the plant to the climbing structure. The purple flowers, which are gathered together in racemes (flower stalks) of 3 to 10 flowers, appear in late Uses Crop: American vetch fixes nitrogen and can be grown as spring (May through August) and give way to 1 to 1.5 a cover preceding late spring-planted crops. inch pods about one month after flowering. Each pod contains two or more pea like brown seeds. American Conservation: American vetch is a drought-tolerant vetch spreads through rhizomes (roots that spread out climbing vine excellent for sunny and partially shady from the parent plant and produce new plants). locations. It is a native plant and can be part of a wildlife seed mixture where native grasses and wildflowers are Distribution: American vetch grows in medium- to finely- seeded together. It will support itself using tall grasses textured moist to dry soils in full sun. It is widely such as rye . distributed west of the Mississippi River and in the northeastern United States (USDA cold hardiness zones 4 Ethnobotanical: Native Americans used the pods, seeds, through 7). and leaves of American vetch as food. A poultice of the leaves has been used to treat spider bites, an infusion of the plant has been used as eyewash and an infusion of the tops has been used as a wash in sweat houses. American vetch has also been used as a panacea, an aphrodisiac, and a good luck charm. Native Americans would get horses to smoke the plant to increase the horses’ endurance. Landscaping and wildlife: American vetch is an excellent grazing and fodder plant for game birds, small mammals, black bear, grizzly bear, and mule deer. Horses, sheep, and cattle will browse on the aerial portions of American vetch. Growing in disturbed sites it can be planted to
Habitat: American vetch grows in open patches in Environmental Concerns swampy woods, road banks, fencerows, borders, mixed No concerns known environmental concerns. forests, meadows, foothill canyons, and clearings. Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) There are no recommended cultivars or selected materials at this time.
Prepared By Samantha Kirk and Shawn Belt, NRCS, Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center, Beltsville, MD
Citation Kirk, S. and Belt, S. 2010. Plant fact sheet for American Vetch (Vicia americana), USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center, Beltsville, MD 20705
Published: January, 2011
Edited: 4-2009 SMK, 12-2010 SVB American vetch distribution from USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database. For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation For updated distribution, please consult the Plant Profile District
Management American vetch grows in moist to dry soils and typically reaches its full height only if it attaches itself to a supporting structure. It prefers full sun and neutral to slightly acidic soil.
Pests and Potential Problems Vicia spp. is susceptible to several species of Botrytis fungus. Vetch seeds are also susceptible to vetch bruchid (Bruchus brachialis) injury. This insect pest is largely responsible for poor natural reseeding of vetch in pastures.
USDA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER