Vicia sicula, (Rafin.) Guss.

9. V. sicula (Rafin.) Guss. View in CoL , FI. Sic. Syn. 2: 292 (1844).

Glabrous perennial 40-80 cm. Leaves without a tendril; leaflets 1-3 pairs, 20-50 x 1-3 mm, linear, acute. Racemes 15- to 25-flowered. Calyx-teeth unequal, shorter than tube; corolla 15-20 mm, pale purple. Legume 25-50 x 4-10 mm, glabrous, yellow. Seeds c. 6. 5. Italy, Sicilia.?Gr It Si. 10-13. V. cracca group. Perennial up to 200 cm. Leaflets 5-20 pairs; stipules entire. Racemes 8- to 40-flowered. Calyx-teeth unequal; corolla purple, violet or blue; limb of the standard equalling or longer than claw. Legume brown, glabrous. Seeds 4-8.

A critical group of species not yet fully understood and frequently misidentified. Flower-colour may be of taxonomic importance in the group, but it is not clear from the information available to what extent the colour varies in each species. 1 Corolla 8—12(—13) mm; limb of the standard about as long as claw

2 Stems glabrous or pubescent with appressed hairs; lower calyx-teeth about as long as tube 10. cracca 2 Stems densely pubescent with patent hairs; lower calyx-teeth

c. 1 | times as long as tube 11. incana 1 Corolla (10—)12—18 mm; limb of the standard longer than claw

3 Leaflets 2-6 mm wide, linear-lanceolate 12. tenuifolia

3 Leaflets 1-2 mm wide, linear to setaceous 13. dalmatica