Vicia caroliniana
Species of legume
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vicia caroliniana (common name Carolina vetch, or Carolina wood vetch) is a plant found in North America.[4] It is a perennial leguminous vine found in a variety of habitats.[3]
| Carolina vetch | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Tribe: | Fabeae |
| Genus: | Vicia |
| Species: | V. caroliniana |
| Binomial name | |
| Vicia caroliniana | |
| Synonyms[2][3] | |
| |
Description
The compound leaves of V. caroliniana are alternately arranged and the subalternate elliptical to lanceolate leaflets have hairy undersides.[5] The leaves have paired stipules at their bases and terminate in single or bifurcated tendrils.[3] The slightly winged stems are hollow.[5] The flowers have five petals and are borne in inflorescences that originate in the leaf axils. The anthers are orange[3] while the flower petals are pale purple to white.[6] V. caroliniana produces dehiscent seed pods 1.5 to 3 centimetres (0.59 to 1.18 in) long.[3]
Uses
Native peoples of southeastern North America,[3] including the Cherokee, use this plant for a variety of medicinal purposes. It is used for back pains, local pains, to toughen muscles, for muscular cramps, twitching and is rubbed on stomach cramps. They also use a compound for rheumatism, for an affliction called "blacks", and it is taken for wind before a ball game.[7] An infusion is used for muscle pain, in that it is rubbed on scratches made over the location of the pain. An infusion is also taken as an emetic.[8] It is also used internally with Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium ssp. obtusifolium for rheumatism.[9]
_Vicia_angustifolia_-_flowers.jpg){kind=small}