Vicia tenuifolia

Roth

Fabaceae Edible: Seed 5,075 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Vicia tenuifolia, the fine-leaved vetch, cow vetch, fodder vetch or bramble vetch, is a herbaceous perennial plant species in the family Fabaceae. This species is widespread in Europe and some parts of both Asia and Africa. In some other areas it occurs as an introduced species. In a few countries this edible vetch is used as food for both humans and farm animals.

Description

A herb. It grows 1 m tall. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are hairy. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. There are 6-13 pairs of leaflets. They are 10-30 mm long by 2-6 mm wide. The flowering shoots are 15-30 cm long with 20-30 flowers. They are hairy. The pod is 18-30 mm long by 3-7 mm wide. They taper to both ends. There are 4-7 seeds.

Edible Uses

Used as a vegetable, though no further details are recorded. It is likely that the young shoots or seeds are the parts consumed.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Pakistan, Turkey, Türkiye,

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.

Propagation

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

Other Uses

Forms a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, which create nodules on the roots that fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen feeds the plant itself, while some becomes available to neighbouring plants. Also used as a dynamic accumulator.