Vicia sativa subsp. nigra
Narrow-leaved vetch, Narrow-Leaved Vetch
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Vine · Not Native
Vicia sativa subsp. nigra (Narrow-leaved vetch) is a non-native California vine in the Fabaceae family, recognized by narrow leaflets and small spherical seeds.
Narrow-leaved vetch is a naturalized annual found in coastal and central California regions, including the North Coast, Sacramento Valley, Central Western California, Southern California, and Channel Islands in grasslands, roadsides, and open woodland areas at elevations below 1,608 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces pink-purple to white flowers 10 to 18 millimeters long with distinctive calyx tubes. Growing with slender, spreading stems, it forms delicate patches in disturbed landscapes. Its compound leaves feature 5 to 7 millimeter wide leaflets that are linear to lance-oblong, typically 4 to 10 times longer than their width. The plant produces small black fruits containing spherical seeds 2.5 to 4 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; narrow leaflets and small spherical seeds are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadsides, disturbed areas, grassland, open areas in oak woodland, riparian woodland
Elevation: < 1608 m
California counties: Humboldt, Placer, Orange, San Diego, Alameda, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, El Dorado, Santa Clara, Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, Sacramento, Calaveras, Amador, Yolo, Nevada, Marin, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Solano, Contra Costa, San Francisco, Sonoma, Butte, Sutter, Yuba, Napa, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Stanislaus, Del Norte, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Ventura, Riverside, San Benito, Fresno, Colusa, Lake, Madera
Outside California: to southeastern United States, native to Europe
Bloom period
Vicia sativa subsp. nigra blooms Mar-Jun.
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 sativa subsp. nigra native to California?
No. Vicia sativa subsp. nigra is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Vicia sativa subsp. nigra bloom?
Vicia sativa subsp. nigra blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Vicia sativa subsp. nigra grow?
Vicia sativa subsp. nigra occurs in Humboldt, Placer, Orange, San Diego, Alameda, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of < 1608 m.
What plant family does Vicia sativa subsp. nigra belong to?
Vicia sativa subsp. nigra is in the Fabaceae family, genus Vicia.
What habitat does Vicia sativa subsp. nigra grow in?
Vicia sativa subsp. nigra grows in Roadsides, disturbed areas, grassland, open areas in oak woodland, riparian woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.