Vicia villosa

Roth.

Large Russian vetch, Hairy vetch, Fodder vetch

Fabaceae Edible: Leaves, Seeds, Flowers Some parts mildly toxic — see hazards 51,290 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Vicia villosa, known as the hairy vetch, fodder vetch or winter vetch, is a plant native to some of Europe and western Asia. It is a legume, grown as a forage crop, fodder crop, cover crop, and green manure. Although non-native, it occurs in all US states and is considered invasive by some states, such as Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, and Washington state — as well as in Japan and some parts of Europe where it is not native. It is also found in most Canadian provinces. Hairy vetch is very similar to tufted vetch (Vicia cracca), the most noticeable difference being that tufted vetch has a smooth stem. Several subspecies are recognized: Vicia villosa ssp. ambigua (Guss.) Kerguelen (= ssp. elegantissima, ssp. pseudocracca) Vicia villosa ssp. eriocarpa (Hausskn.) P.W.Ball Vicia villosa ssp. microphylla (d'Urv.) P.W.Ball Vicia villosa ssp. varia (Host) Corb. (= ssp. dasycarpa) Vicia villosa ssp. villosa The species Vicia hirsuta is also called hairy vetch.

Description

A climbing herb. It is hairy and an annual plant. It has branched tendrils. It can grow 2 m long. The stems have long hairs. The stipules are not lobed. The leaves have 4-12 pairs of narrow leaflets. The groups of flowers are longer than the leaves. The flowers are violet, purple or blue. They are 10-20 mm long. There are 10-30 flowers in a raceme. The fruit are pods 20-40 mm long and brown. The seeds are round and black and 3-4 mm across.

Edible Uses

The seeds are edible and the plant is also used as a vegetable, though no further preparation details are recorded for either use.

Traditional Uses

It is sometimes used as a vegetable. The leaves are eaten as a salad. The unripe seeds are eaten raw as a snack. They are also cooked as a vegetable.

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

It is a temperate plant. In China it grows between sea level and 1,800 m above sea level, mainly in north China. In Argentina it grows below 700 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Africa, Albania, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Britain, Bulgaria, Central Asia, Chile, China, Crete, Cyprus, Czech, East Africa, Ethiopia, Europe*, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Korea, Lebanon, Libya, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mozambique, North Africa, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye, Yugoslavia,

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. Cultivated for its edible seed in N. and C. Europe. This species is not very deep rooting. 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 in spring or autumn.

Other Uses

Used as a green manure, sown in spring or autumn. Seed can be sown in September to overwinter, or as late as October for use as a greenhouse green manure. Fixes atmospheric nitrogen.

Notes

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

Also Known As

Arvejilla velluda, Bagla otu, Clarincillo, Deli bakla, Fi, Pane e casu, Vicia velluda, Yabani bezelye

References (18)

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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
Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 88
Flora of Pakistan. www.eFloras.org

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