Common Vetch, Winter tares, Lentil of Canada
Vicia sativa
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
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.
There are about 140 Vicia species. They are mostly temperate.
Where it is found
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.
Countries/locations it is found in
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, 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
How it is used for food
Young leaves, pods and shoots are eaten cooked. They are eaten in soups. The seeds are eaten cooked. They can be ground into flour and mixed with flour from corn, rye or wheat and made into bread. The young unripe seeds are eaten raw as a snack. Also the pods. The leaves are used as a tea substitute. CAUTION: There is some evidence that the seeds may be slightly poisonous.
It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Seeds, shoots, pods, leaves - tea, stem
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. They should be presoaked for 24 hours before sowing then sown directly where they are to grow.
Its other names
Local names
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