Vicia floridana
| Vicia floridana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Vicia floridana in bloom | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Vicia |
| Species: | V. floridana |
| Binomial name | |
| Vicia floridana S.Watson | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Vicia floridana, commonly known as Florida vetch, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is endemic to the southeastern United States, where it occurs from eastern Georgia south into peninsular Florida.[3][4]
Description
Vicia floridana is a perennial herb in the genus Vicia. It produces pinnately compound leaves with paired leaflets and bears racemose inflorescences of small papilionaceous flowers. The fruit is a legume, as in other members of the family.
Taxonomy
The species was described by Sereno Watson in 1879 in the Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (volume 14, page 292).[5] It is recognized as a distinct species with no widely accepted synonyms in major modern floras.[3][4]
The name has also been placed in the genus Ervum as Ervum floridanum (S.Watson) Stank., though this treatment is not widely followed.[5] A misspelling, Vicia floridiana, appears in some datasets.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Vicia floridana is native to the southeastern United States, occurring from McIntosh County in eastern Georgia southward into central peninsular Florida.[1][3][4] In Florida, it has been documented from numerous counties based on vouchered herbarium specimens.[4]
It grows in moist habitats, including hammocks, ditches, roadbanks, pond margins, and wet woods.[1][3]
Occurrence data compiled by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) indicate hundreds of records across its range, including herbarium specimens and research-grade observations.[2]
Phenology
Flowering occurs from April to May.[3]
Ecology
Vicia floridana is associated with moist soils and is considered a facultative wetland species (FACW) in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain, meaning it usually occurs in wetlands but may also be found in non-wetland habitats.[3][4]
Conservation
Vicia floridana has a NatureServe global conservation rank of G3G4, indicating that it is considered between vulnerable and apparently secure, though its status requires further review.[1] It is endemic to the southeastern United States and is reported to be frequent in parts of central Florida, with numerous documented occurrences based on herbarium records.[1][4]
The species occurs in a variety of moist habitats and does not currently face clearly defined widespread threats, but continued monitoring is recommended due to uncertainty in population trends and distribution.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Vicia floridana". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Vicia floridana". GBIF. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Vicia floridana". Flora of the Southeastern United States. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Vicia floridana". Atlas of Florida Plants. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Vicia floridana S.Watson". International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 19 April 2026.