Biology:Vicia acutifolia
| Vicia acutifolia | |
|---|---|
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| Vicia acutifolia in bloom with developing legumes | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Vicia |
| Species: | V. acutifolia
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| Binomial name | |
| Vicia acutifolia Elliott
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| Synonyms[2][3] | |
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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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Vicia acutifolia". NatureServe Explorer. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.138587/Vicia_acutifolia.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Vicia acutifolia". GBIF. https://www.gbif.org/species/2975269.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Vicia acutifolia". Atlas of Florida Plants. https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/2647.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 "Vicia acutifolia". Flora of the Southeastern United States. https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=show-taxon-detail.php&taxonid=2996.
- ↑ "Vicia acutifolia Elliott". International Plant Names Index. https://www.ipni.org/n/524493-1.
Wikidata ☰ Q15525400 entry
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