Vicia bithynica
Bithynian vetch
(c) Todd Boland, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Todd Boland · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Vicia bithynica (Bithynian vetch) is a non-native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by very limited coastal range and distinctive leaflet count.
Bithynian vetch is a naturalized annual found in the central coastal region of Monterey County in disturbed areas at elevations below 20 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces purple and white to pink flowers in small clusters of one to three blooms. Growing with climbing or ascending hairy stems up to 60 centimeters tall, it has a delicate, sprawling growth habit. Its leaves have 2 to 6 leaflets ranging from 1 to 7 centimeters long, with leaflets shaped from obovate to lanceolate and featuring dentate stipules. The fruit is a narrowly oblong, slightly recurved pod 2.5 to 4.5 centimeters long, bearing 2 to 7 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; very limited coastal range and distinctive leaflet count
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 20 m
Outside California: introduced to northern and western Europe, native to Mediterranean Europe, western Asia, northern Africa
Bloom period
Vicia bithynica blooms Feb-Apr.
How to tell it apart
vs Lathyrus: Vicia style is round and hairy all around; Lathyrus style is flattened with hairs only on top.; vs Astragalus: Vicia has tendrils at leaf tips; Astragalus leaves end in a leaflet with no tendril.; vs Pisum: Vicia has many leaflets and tiny stipules; Pisum has 4-6 leaflets and giant stipules.; vs Salvia: Vicia has pea flowers and tendril-tipped leaves; Salvia has tubular two-lipped flowers and simple leaves.; vs Lupinus: Vicia has tendril-tipped pinnate leaves; Lupinus has palmate leaves radiating from one point.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vicia bithynica native to California?
No. Vicia bithynica is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Vicia bithynica bloom?
Vicia bithynica blooms Feb-Apr.
What plant family does Vicia bithynica belong to?
Vicia bithynica is in the Fabaceae family, genus Vicia.
What habitat does Vicia bithynica grow in?
Vicia bithynica grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.