Vicia hirsuta

Vicia hirsuta (syn. Ervilia hirsuta) (hairy tare, hairy vetch, tiny vetch) is a species of flowering plant in the pea and bean family Fabaceae.

Description

An annual herb. It is slender and trailing or climbing. It grows about 60 cm high. There is a tendril at the end and it is branched. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are 2-5 cm long and divided into leaflets along the stalk. There are 5-10 pairs of leaflets. These have short stalks. They are 0.8-1.5 cm long and 0.1-0.3 cm wide. They are oblong. The base is rounded. The flowers are white or tinged with purple. The fruit is a pod which is oblong and has 2 seeds. The seeds are 2 mm across and brown. The pod is hairy.

Edible Uses

Seeds are edible cooked and can be used like lentils, eaten as a staple food. Young leaves and stems are also edible cooked, used as a vegetable.

Traditional Uses

The tender leaves, shoots and fruits are cooked as a vegetable.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Known Hazards

The seeds contain trypsin inhibitors. Soaking them before cooking, perhaps even allowing them to sprout a little, and the cooking process itself, all serve to reduce the amount of trypsin inhibitors. The seeds also contain the non-protein amino acid canavanine, a toxic arginine analogue

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. In Nepal plants grow to about 2700 m altitude. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 3,000 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, America, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caribbean, Central Africa, Chile, China, Congo, Czech Republic, Denmark, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Himalayas, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Scandinavia, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, USA, West Indies, Yugoslavia,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed.

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water, then sow in situ in spring or autumn.

Other Uses

A useful nectar plant for insects, especially bees, and provides shelter for beneficial insects including lacewings, parasitic wasps, beetles, and spiders. Acts as a pioneer species, helping to reestablish overused or damaged land. Fixes its own nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with root bacteria. Also a dynamic accumulator of potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. Suited to food forest systems.

Notes

It is considered a weed in crops. There are about 140 Vicia species. They are mostly temperate.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Ankari, Birbut, Chirinji arxa, Chirinji, Choti kaer, Kutilkosa, Jhanjhaniya kari, Jhunjhuni, Jhuse kutelikosa, Kanghi, Kutilkosa, Masur chana, Masuri, Munmuna, Musur chana, Tiririte

References (29)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 675
• Asfaw, Z., Conservation and use of traditional vegetables in Ethiopia. FAO
• Asfaw, Z. and Tadesse, M., 2001, Prospects for Sustainable Use and Development of Wild Food Plants in Ethiopia. Economic Botany, Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 47-62
• Bhatia, H., et al, 2018, Traditionally used wild edible plants of district Udhampur, J&K, India. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2018) 14:73
• Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 89

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