Black vetch
Vicia nigricans

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has stout, hollow climbing stems. They can grow 2 m tall. It attaches to objects by tendrils. The leaves have 9-13 pairs of leaflets. There are 15-20 flowers in a one sided group. The fruit are legume pods 4 cm long by 1.5 cm wide.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Chile, South America

How it is used for food

The young seeds are eaten raw or cooked.

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Vicia andina Phil.; and several others