Hasse's vetch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hasse's vetch |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Vicia
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| Species: |
hassei
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Vicia hassei is a type of plant known as Hasse's vetch or slender vetch. It is part of the vetch family. This plant grows naturally along the west coast of North America.
You can find it from Oregon through California all the way to Baja California in Mexico. It lives in many different kinds of places, both near the ocean and further inland.
What Does Hasse's Vetch Look Like?
Hasse's vetch is an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, makes new seeds, and then dies, all within one year. Its leaves are made up of a few pairs of smaller parts called leaflets.
These leaflets can be up to 2.5 centimeters (about 1 inch) long. Their tips often look flat, have a small notch, or have tiny teeth.
The plant usually has one or two flowers growing together. These flowers have white or light purple petals, which are called corollas. Each flower is quite small, just under a centimeter (less than half an inch) long.
After the flowers bloom, they produce a fruit. This fruit is a legume pod. It looks like a small, flat bean pod. The pod is about 2 to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) long and only a few millimeters wide. Inside these pods are the seeds of the plant.
Where Does Hasse's Vetch Grow?
Hasse's vetch is native to the western parts of North America. It grows well in many different environments. You can find it in various coastal areas. It also thrives in many inland habitats.
These habitats include chaparral and woodland areas. It is found in places like the California Coast Ranges and the San Francisco Bay Area. It also grows in the Central Valley (California) and on the Channel Islands of California.
