Stem
- Up to 5 ft. tall and covered with short hairs
Leaves
- Pinnate-compound; leaflets are oval, opposite, 0.2-0.8 in. long, lack leaf stems (petioles) and covered with short hairs on lower surface
Flower
- Pea-like, reddish-orange and 0.5 in. long
- Pods are oval, bladder-like, translucent and contain many seeds; seeds remain in pods during dispersal
Root
- Woody, creeping root system; roots associate with nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Other
- Often infests roadsides, fencerows and irrigation ditches; not known to occur in Nevada
- Perennial; reproduces by seed and creeping roots
- Potential contaminant of alfalfa seed due to similar size, shape and weight
- Also known as Austrian peaweed
Control
- Hand removal of individual plants, including roots, can limit spread of small infestations
- Apply 2,4-D, aminopyralid, clopyralid, dicamba, glyphosate, picloram, or triclopyr at bloom stage
Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B.
2020,
Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Swainsonpea,
Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide
