Family |
Fabaceae
Vicia peregrina
L.
Vicia peregrina L.
First published in Species Plantarum: 737 (1753)
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, Pl. CLXV nº 5; 1969)
• Life-form & habit: Annual herb, appressed-puberulent, with slender, trailing, ascending, or climbing stems, 20–60 cm long.
• Leaves: Stipules very small, obtriangular, divided into narrow subulate lobes. Leaves bearing tendrils, with 3–5 pairs of linear leaflets, attenuate at the base, truncate or retuse at the apex, and mucronate.
• Inflorescence & flowers: Peduncles axillary, usually 1-flowered, slightly shorter than the calyx. Calyx appressed-hispid, with an oblique mouth and lanceolate teeth, the lower one as long as the tube. Corolla violet to purplish, 15–20 mm long, about twice the calyx length.
• Fruit: Legume stipitate, compressed, appressed-hispid, lanceolate, slightly arched toward the apex, containing 5–6 globose, compressed, marbled seeds.
• Phenology: Flowers and fruits from February to April.
• Habitat & elevation: Field margins, cultivated and disturbed areas, and open grassy habitats from lowland plains to the foothills.
• Lebanese distribution: Reported by Mouterde from Saïda, Bir Hassen, Tripoli, Kaftine, ʿAbey, ʿAïnab, ʿAley, ʿAsfouriyé, Jamhour, Antélias, Dik el-Mahdi, Bikfaya, Ghazir, Jabal Terbol, Beskinta, Machghara–Jezzine pass, Mdeireje, Dahr el-Baïdar, Hasroun, Ehden, Zellaya–Yohmor, Ouadi Hasbani, Marjayyoun, and east of Jebrayé.
• Native range: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Bulgaria, China (North-Central and South-Central), Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Egypt, France, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon–Syria, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Peninsula, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Romania, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, South European Russia, Spain, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam (POWO).
• Introduced into: Germany, Hungary, Maryland, Switzerland (POWO).
• ⚠️ Taxonomic note: A variable species in the eastern Mediterranean; Lebanese plants are typical of V. peregrina s.str., characterised by their narrow, few-paired leaflets, violet corolla, and uniflorous peduncles. It can be confused with V. mollis Boiss. & Hausskn. but is less pubescent and has longer flowers and pods.