Peas and Vetches
What are they?
This group brings together the low-growing, often scrambling, members of the Pea Family, most of which being readily recognised as such by their typical pea flowers.
Where are they found?
Most species occur in a variety of open, often sunny, locations, especially grassy fields, waste areas and open wetlands. A number of species are introduced aliens so may be expected in disturbed and semi-natural habitats.
Identification
Members of this group can be narrowed down by checking if leaves have three leaflets (trifoliate), or if they have many pairs of leaflets arranged like a ladder (Compound). A few finer details of flower or fruit structure may be required for some.
Common Partridge-pea Chamaecrista fasciculata
Common in open, sandy soils, especially in the south of the county. Easily told by its relatively large, golden-yellow flowers with reddish center. Flowers July to September.
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Sensitive Partridge-pea Chamaecrista nictitans
Seems to be less common than Common Partridge-pea in the Cape May area, but perhaps overlooked when not in flower. Flowers July to October. The two species are very similar but Sensitive Partridge-pea has much smaller flowers.
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Wild Indigo Baptisia tinctoria
Widespread in small numbers in dry, sandy soils, in open fields, roadsides and woodland margins. Parts of the plant - especially the seed pods and fading flowers - are blackish and the whole plant yields an indigo dye. Flowers June to July.
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Common Rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
Though widespread in North Jersey, this species appears to be uncommon in Cape May. A low growing plant with yellow flowers borne singly from a leafy base. Favors dry, sandy, usually sunny locations. Flowers June to August.
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pointed wings |
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Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Introduced from Europe. Can become very common in all kinds of grassy, sunny locations, but seems to be rare in Cape May County. Currently known from a roadside near Woodbine. Flowers June to September. Flowers in small clusters on long stems, followed by long seed pods with a 'rat-tail' tip. Leaves with three leaflets.
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Common Broom Cytisus scoparius
Introduced from Europe. Grown as a garden shrub and occasionally found in an apparently wild state on roadsides or the sites of former dwellings. Flowers May. The original species has yellow flowers, but many color forms have been raised including red, pink, white or combinations of two or more colors - red and yellow being particularly common. Leaves appear for a short period in late spring/early summer but for much of the year the plant bears leafless, wirey green stems which are strongly angled.
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Perennial Lupine Lupinus perennis
Occasional in mostly dry, sandy, sunny places along field edges and in woodland clearings. Flowers May to June.
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Hybrid Lupine Lupinus x hybridus
An occasional escape from cultivation which may self-seed into open, grassy areas or roadsides. Flowers May to June. Taller and larger-flowered than the native Perennial Lupine; flowers come in a wide range of colors.
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Virginia Sweet-pea Tephrosia virginiana
(Goat's-rue) Not uncommon in sandy soils in the northern half of the county. Flowers June to July. The whole plant is shaggily hairy, including the seed pods.
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Downy Milk-pea Galactia volubilis
A rare plant of sandy, woodland edge. Flowers July to September. Flowers are two-colored, pink and white and are carried in open, rounded heads. Very similar to the tick-trefoils and fuzzy-beans, but leaves are distinctively rounded and flowers are narrower.
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Crown Vetch Securigera varia
Introduced from Europe and used in some areas for its Nitrogen-fixing abilities as a constituent of seed mixes on highway roadsides. Occasionally found in grassy, sunny places and often forms scattered colonies of low, bushy plants. Flowers June to August. Flowers are two-colored, pink and white and are carried in open, rounded heads.
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Hairy Vetch Vicia villosa
Can be locally common, especially in the south of Cape May County where it grows in open,grassy fields, scrubby marginal land and roadsides. Originally introduced from Europe as a fodder crop for livestock. Flowers May to August.
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Smooth Tare Vicia tetrasperma
A tiny, delicate vetch which scrambles through rank grass in open fields and roadsides. Much less common than Hairy Tare, from which it differs in its relatively larger (though still small), violet-veined flowers which are borne in smaller clusters and its hairless seed pods. Introduced from Europe. Flowers May to June.
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Hairy Tare Vicia hirsuta
Introduced from Europe, this is a common species in rough grassland and along roadsides. Flowers May to June. Similar to Smooth Tare but flowers tiny and in larger trusses, while seed pods are hairy not hairless.
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Common Vetch Vicia sativa
(Spring Vetch in some books) An introduction from Europe; common and widespread in grassy places, especially old fields, roadsides and all manner of disturbed places in urban and suburban environments. The form commonly seen around Cape May (subspecies nigra) was once considered a different species, Narrow-leaved Vetch (Vicia angustifolia). Flowers April to June.
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usually into three |
Spring Vetch Vicia lathyroides
This species is not listed in any literature as occuring in Cape May County but it is, in fact, quite widespread and even common in parts of Cape May south of the canal. Mostly an annual of short turf communities in lawns and other short grass areas. Flowers April to June. Can easily be confused with smaller plants of Common Vetch, but the tendril at the end of the leaf is unforked or even absent.
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unforked tendril |
no tendril |
Large Yellow Vetch Vicia grandiflora
Introduced from Europe. A common to abundant species in rough, grassy areas, old fields and roadsides. A rather variable species, the flowers begin deep brownish-yellow in bud, opening pale yellow and becoming whitish. Some flowers flush with purple as they age. Although variable, the species is always distinct from other vetches and easily recognised. Flowers April to June.
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pale purple |
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Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea Lathyrus latifolius
(Perennial Pea) Introduced from Europe. A frequent species, found in shady or sunny spots in hedgelines, roadsides, woodland edge and the margins of old fields. Flowers June to August. A relatively large, scrambling species with showy flowers.
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Hairy Pea Lathyrus hirsutus
Introduced from Europe. First found in Cape County in 2012 in rough grassy areas around Rio Grande and Villas. Flowers May to July. The bright cerise flowers and very hairy seed pods are distinctive.
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Common Groundnut Apios americana
A fairly common climber in moist soils around the margins of swamps, lakes and tidal areas. The rather dull, dark flowers make this plant easy to miss, but it can be quite common, such as at Cape May Point State Park. The choice of English name refers to the species edible root tubers but is unfortunate as the name Groundnut is also well established as an alternative name for the Peanut Arachis hypogaea, another species in the same family. Flowers July to August.
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Hog Peanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
Occasional in species-rich, wet woodland. Flowers August to September. A late-flowering species, often found trailing across the ground and twining over low vegetation in large patches.
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Trailing Fuzzy-bean Strophostyles helvola
Common in a variety of habitats but most often found where the soil is moist in seasonally flooded ground and in wet dune hollows. Both species of fuzzy-bean have trifoliate leaves that bear a close resemblance to those of Poison-ivy. Flowers July to September.
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side lobes |
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in fuzzy pith |
Pink Fuzzy-bean Strophostyles umbellata
Common in a variety of habitats but most often found where the soil is dry in old fields, roadsides and woodland margins. Both species of fuzzy-bean have trifoliate leaves that bear a close resemblance to those of Poison-ivy. Flowers July to September.
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and unlobed |
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Small-flowered Fuzzy-bean Strophostyles leiosperma
Not native in New Jersey but introduced from elsewhere in North America. May appear in open, grassy places. Flowers July to September.
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and unlobed |
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