photo: Cleveland Metroparks
Crown Vetch (Coronilla varia)
 Cleveland Metroparks |
 Cleveland Metroparks |
 Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org |
Form:
Herbaceous perennial with trailing, stems that forms dense colonies, growing 2-6' long. In winter and early spring, crown vetch can be easily recognized as large, brown patches.
Leaves:
Pinnately compound, alternate, 2-6" long, with 11-25 elliptic leaflets occurring in an odd number.
Flowers:
Pea-like, ranging in color from pink or lavender to white. Flowers are clustered in flat-topped umbels of 14-20 flowers that grow on long stalks extending from the leaf axils. Bloom from mid-spring through mid-summer.
Fruits & Seeds:
Long, slender, pointed seed pods contain 3-7 narrow seeds each. Seeds remain viable in the soil for up to fifteen years.
Roots:
Reproduces vegetatively by fleshy rhizomes that grow up to 10' long. Roots are not fibrous, limiting the utility of crown vetch for erosion control.
Tier 3 - Presence is of Interest
The species that occur in this tier are likely ornamental escapes. It is not known whether they are established and/or spreading within Cleveland Metroparks. The ecological impact is poorly known for these species.
Action: The presence of these plants should be recorded by approximating the number of plants. Initial population numbers are likely small.
