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Name That Plant!Vines Texas Gardening

Trifoliate Vetch With Purple Flowers?

last month

This forb with ~1" trifoliate leaves and ~1/2" purple flowers was found on an unmowed hillside. What is it?

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Comments (4)

Jay 6a Chicago
last month
last modified: last month
Are you sure this vetch is trifoliate? It looks bifoliate to me. The stems appear to be winged? Lathyrus hirsutus, is the most common Lathyrus in Dallas. Lathyrus pucillus is rarer. Lathyrus hirsutus produces a very hirsute seed pod. The stems shoul be winged on L. hirsutus, but I can't verify that with these 2 photos.
blakrab Centex thanked Jay 6a Chicago
blakrab Centex
Original Author
last month
^ Hmm, you might be right, maybe it is just bifoliate? I'll have to go back and recheck the leaves and if there's any seed pods yet?
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Jay 6a Chicago
last month
last modified: last month
The photo of the stem is bleached out, but the width seems to indicate it's winged, and the pods in the upper right corner look like they are possibly hirsute. The resolution is just a tad bit weak to say for sure. This post got me interested in seeing if there were any native Lathyrus species here in Illinois, and there are a couple beautiful species, Lathyrus palustris and Lathyrus venosus. I don't think these native sweetpeas are fragrant like Lathyrus odoratus. Im tempted to grow "Cupani's Original" again also, for the sweet fragrance Lol.

Lathyrus venosus, Veiny Pea

Seeds ordered from Prairie Moon.

Lathyrus palustris, Marsh Pea.

I can't find seeds, so I may have to collect some in late summer for next year.
floraluk2
last month
"I'll have to go back and recheck the leaves and if there's any seed pods yet?"

As Jay says there are pods in your photo but it's hard to see if they're hirsute. If you go back you should see plenty. More, better focus, closer pix would help.

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