Annual, herb, to 1.5 m high. Fl. pink-blue-purple-red/white, Jul to Dec. Grey, yellow, brown or black sand or loam, red sandy clay, gravel, laterite, granite, limestone, quartzite. Valleys, riverbanks, swampy areas, breakaways, croplands, disturbed sites, gardens, road verges.
Alternative Names. Black-pod Vetch, Narrow-leaf Vetch, Subterranean Vetch.
General Biology. Growth form. Herb. Life form. Annual. Reproduction. Seed. Dispersal. Birds, horses, sheep (by ingestion). Seedbank persistence. Some dormancy.
Notes. Can smother native plants. Colonises bare disturbed sites. Moderately salt tolerant. Flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by bees, moths and butterflies. Capable of fixing nitrogen and is adapted to a range of soils but not acidic, poorly-drained soils. Has a rapid growth rate.
Additional information. Origin. North and eastern Africa, temperate and tropical Asia, Europe. History of use/introduction. Cattle forage and grain.
Suggested method of management and control. Hand remove small/isolated populations. Lontrel® 10 mL/10 L + wetting agent provides effective control in early growth stages, otherwise apply metsulfuron methyl 0.1 g/10 L + wetting agent. Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.
Calendar Type | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Germination | O | Y | Y | Y | |||||||||
Active Growth | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||||
Flowering | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||||
Fruiting | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||||||
Manual Removal | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||||||
Herbicide Treatment | Y | Y | Y |
Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.