Vicia venosa

A perennial vetch growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in) tall, flowering July to September with seeds maturing August to September. The self-fertile, hermaphroditic plant fixes nitrogen in light, medium, or heavy soils with good drainage across mildly acidic to alkaline conditions. It grows in semi-shade or full sun and prefers moist soil.

Description

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are erect and it grows 40-80 cm tall. The leaves have leaflets in pairs along the stalk. There are 2-6 pairs of leaflets. These are narrowly sword shaped and 40-65 mm long by 3-13 mm wide. There are 4-9 flowers in a group. They are red, purple or blue. The pod is oblong and flat and 25-33 mm long. There are 3-6 seeds.

Edible Uses

Leaves and young stems are eaten cooked.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. In north China it grows between 600-1,800 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Siberia,

Propagation

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

Other Uses

Fixes atmospheric nitrogen.

Notes

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

Also Known As

Yolligalk'wi

References (4)

• Melanges Biol. Bull. Phys.-Math. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Peersbourg 9:236. 1874
• Pemberton, R. W. & Lee, N. S., 1996, Wild Food Plants in South Korea: Market Presence, New Crops, and Exports to the United States. Economic Botany, Vol. 50, No. 1, pp. 57-70
• Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
• Urgamal, M., Oyuntsetseg, B., Nyambayar, D. & Dulamsuren, Ch. 2014. Conspectus of the vascular plants of Mongolia. (Editors: Sanchir, Ch. & Jamsran, Ts.). Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. “Admon“ Press. 334pp. (p. 121-143).

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