Vicia sativa

Vicia sativa, known as the common vetch, garden vetch, tare or simply vetch, is a nitrogen-fixing leguminous plant in the family Fabaceae. It is now naturalised throughout the world occurring on every continent, except Antarctica and the Arctic. The centre of diversity is thought to be the Fertile Crescent, although gold standard molecular confirmation is currently not available. Global common vetch cultivation is limited due to anti-nutritional compounds in the seed although it is grown in dryland agricultural zones in Australia, China and Ethiopia due to its drought tolerance and very low nutrient requirements compared to other legumes. In these agricultural zones common vetch is grown as a green manure, livestock fodder or rotation crop. In cultivated grainfields, like lentils, it is often considered a weed due to downgrading of harvested mixed grain, resulting in farmers receiving less financial returns.

Description

A straggling annual herb. It is 10-70 cm long. The stems can be hairy. The leaflets are 2-12 and vary in shape. They are 0.3-4 cm long by 0.2-1.5 cm wide. They often have a projecting sharp tip. They are wedge-shaped at the base. There is a branched tendril at the end of the upper leaves. The flower is pea like and the standard is pale blue. Flowers are 2-2.5 cm long. The fruits are pods 4-5.7 cm long and 6-8 mm wide. There are 8-10 seeds. The seeds are 4-5 mm across.

Edible Uses

The seeds are cooked but are not particularly palatable or digestible, though they are very nutritious. They can also be dried, ground into a powder, and blended with cereal flour to make bread, biscuits, cakes, and similar baked goods — the beans complement the protein in the cereal, making it more complete. Some caution is advised regarding toxicity. Leaves, young shoots, and young pods are all eaten cooked. The leaves also make a tea substitute.

Traditional Uses

Afghanistan, Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bhutan, Brazil, Britain, Caucasus, Central Asia, Chile, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Europe, Falklands, France, Georgia, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, North Africa, Northeastern India, Norway, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Sicily, Slovenia, South America, Spain, St Helena, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Indies,

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Known Hazards

There is some evidence that the seed may be toxic but this has only been shown under laboratory conditions, there are no recorded cases of poisoning by this plant in Britain.

Distribution

A temperate or Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in the highlands in the tropics. It does not suit acid soils or shady positions. It needs a well-drained but moist soil. In China it grows from sea level to 3,700 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

TEMPERATE ASIA: Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen (north), Afghanistan, Cyprus, Egypt (Sinai), Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russian Federation (Checheno-Ingushetia, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karacaevo-Cerkesskaja Respublika, Krasnodar, North Ossetia, Stavropol), Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia (south)), Russian Federation (Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Kurganskaja oblast, Novosibirsk, Sverdlovsk, Tomsk), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan TROPICAL ASIA: Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Russian Federation (Cuvašskaja Respublika, Karelia, Komi, Marij Èl, Respublika, Mordovija, Respublika, Tatarstan, Udmurtia, Arkhangelsk, Belgorod, Bryansk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kalužskaja oblast, Kirov, Kostroma, Kursk, Leningradskaja oblast, Lipeckaja oblast, Moscow, Murmansk, Novgorod, Orel, Penza, Perm, Pskovskaja oblast, Rostov, Ryazan, Saratov, Smolensk, Tambov, Tula, Ulyanovsk, Vladimir, Volgogradskaja oblast, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl), Ukraine (incl. Krym), Former Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece (incl. Crete), Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Malta, Romania, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Spain (Canarias), Portugal (Madeira Islands), Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya

Cultivation

Succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position if the soil is reliably moist throughout the growing season, otherwise it is best grown in semi-shade. The sub-species V. sativa leucosperma. Ser. is the form usually grown for food. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby.

Propagation

Pre-soak seed for 24 hours in warm water, then sow in situ from late winter to early summer and again in autumn.

Other Uses

A highly valuable green manure crop that can be sown in spring or as late as October. It is deep-rooted and fast-growing, winter hardy, an effective weed suppresser, produces good bulk, and fixes a large amount of nitrogen. Also used as a dynamic accumulator.

Production

There are about 140 Vicia species. They are mostly temperate.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Akra, Akta, Alverjana, Alverjilla comun, Ankari, Ankra, Arverja, Arvejilla, Arwari, Avica, Chatri-matri, Ch’ek’unt’elai, Chilow, Chirinji arxa, Chirinji, Choni, Ervilhaca, Forvikke, Ful rumi, Jangli lobia, Jangli rawan, Jangli rewari, Jawaal, Jhilo arxa, Jhilo sag, Jibban, Kalimarana, Kishnac matar, Matra, Mutri, Navadna grašica, Nuojiefei, Pe-ni-gale, Pervatha, Pesan-ban, Pikhongjai, Rothi, Soqil, Soqila mara, Taw-pe, Vicia comun

References (54)

• Al-Qura'n, S. A., 2010, Ethnobotanical and Ecological Studies of Wild Edible Plants in Jordan. Libyan Agriculture Research Center Journal International 1(4):231-243
• Al-Sodany, Y. M., et al, 2013, Medicinal Plants in Saudi Arabia: I. Sarrwat Mountains at Taif, KSA. Academic Journal of Plant Sciences 6 (4): 134-145
• 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

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