Vicia acutifolia
| Vicia acutifolia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Vicia acutifolia in bloom with developing legumes | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Vicia |
| Species: | V. acutifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Vicia acutifolia Elliott | |
| Synonyms[2][3] | |
| |
Vicia acutifolia, commonly known as fourleaf vetch or sand vetch, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is native to the southeastern United States and the northern Bahamas.[4]
Description
Vicia acutifolia is a perennial herb in the genus Vicia. It produces pinnately compound leaves with multiple pairs of leaflets and bears racemose inflorescences of papilionaceous flowers. The fruit is a legume. Within its range, it is distinguished from similar species such as Vicia floridana by its larger flowers and longer legumes.[4]
Taxonomy
The species was described by Stephen Elliott in 1823 in A Sketch of the Botany of South-Carolina and Georgia (volume 2, page 225).[5] It is widely recognized as a distinct species in modern floristic treatments.[3][4]
The species has also been placed in the genera Cracca and Ervum as Cracca acutifolia and Ervum acutifolium, respectively, though these treatments are not widely adopted.[2] Another synonym, Vicia lutescens, has been used in some classifications.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Vicia acutifolia occurs from southeastern South Carolina south through Florida and west to the eastern Florida Panhandle, with additional occurrences in the northern Bahamas.[1][4] In Florida, it has been documented from numerous counties based on vouchered herbarium specimens.[3]
It inhabits moist environments, including pond margins, pine flatwoods, hammocks, wet woodlands, and roadside ditches.[1][4]
Occurrence data compiled by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) indicate thousands of records across its range, including herbarium specimens and research-grade observations, reflecting its relative abundance.[2]
Phenology
Flowering occurs from April to June.[4]
Ecology
Vicia acutifolia is associated with moist soils and is considered a facultative wetland species (FACW) in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain, indicating that it usually occurs in wetlands but may also be found in non-wetland habitats.[3][4]
Conservation
Vicia acutifolia has a NatureServe global conservation rank of G4G5, indicating that it is considered apparently secure to secure across its range, although the status has not been recently reviewed.[1] The species is reported to be frequent and abundant in parts of its range, particularly in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.[1]
Although it occurs in a variety of moist habitats and is not currently considered at high risk, continued monitoring is recommended due to uncertainty in long-term population trends.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Vicia acutifolia". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Vicia acutifolia". GBIF. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Vicia acutifolia". Atlas of Florida Plants. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Vicia acutifolia". Flora of the Southeastern United States. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- ↑ "Vicia acutifolia Elliott". International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 19 April 2026.