Vicia faba  L.   Fabaceae (Pea Family)   Old World   Horse-Bean                                Broad-Bean

                                     March Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Erect annual, glabrous, 1-2 m. high; stipules half-cordate, mostly entire; lfts. 2-3 pairs, ovate to elliptic, 4-10 cm. long, obtuse to acute; tendril 0; stipules toothed or cut; fls. 2-6, crowded, 2-3 cm. long, subsessile, axillary, dull white with a large purple spot on the wings; pods 8-12 cm. long, 1-2 cm. wide, often narrowed between seeds, 2-5 seeded, the seeds flat. 

Habitat:  Grown widely in Calif. and escaping.  Bloom period not listed in Munz, my photos were taken March to May.

Name: Vicia is the classical Latin name for vetch.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 476).   Faba is the classical Latin name for bean.  (Bailey 552). 

General:  Uncommon in the study area having been found only twice; first in 1985 at the southerly end of the burn area in Eastbluff and second in 1997 along the horse and bike path in Santa Ana Heights.  (my comments).      The bean of history grown for man and animals, cult. somewhat in the cooler parts of N. America  or as a cool-season crop. (Bailey 552).      Certain individuals upon eating the raw or half-cooked beans acquire a severe poisoning called "favism".  Most of those affected are children.  A genetic trait is believed to be involved.  Inhaling the pollen from the flowers can cause dizziness and a headache within 2-3 hours.  (James 83).      About 130 species of N. Hemis. and temp. S. Am.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 476).      Food and forage crop; probably not naturalized in CA.  Seeds and pollen toxic to certain enzyme-deficient humans (some fatalities in young males).  (Hickman, Ed. 656).

Text Ref:  Bailey 552;  Hickman, Ed. 656; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 476.

Photo Ref: April-May 85 #12; Mar 5-April 1 85 # 1,2; April-May 85 # 12; Jan-Mar 97 # 24A, 26A.

Identity: by John Johnson.  

First Found:  March 1985.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 342.

Plant specimen donated to UC Riverside in 2004.

Last edit  8/5/05.

                         May Photo                                             March Photo