Vicia caroliniana (Carolina Vetch)

Description

Native perennial vine with white flowers improves soil through its symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Vicia sps. (Vetches) are pollinated by long-tongued bees, butterflies and skippers. They are larval hosts of the Silvery Blue, Orange Sulfur Butterflies and the Vetch Looper Moth. Many other insects feed on the foliage, and seeds making them good hunting grounds for mother birds. Turkey and Quail feed on the leaves on seeds. It was used medicinally by the Cherokee for muscular pain, cramps and twitchin. It was also used internally for rheumatism and as an emetic. Though native to many states: AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OK, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, WI, WV, it is rare in our area. The weedy nonnative vetches are far more common. We propagated our stock plants from native populations in Houston Co., GA.