Hairy tare, Hairy vetch
Vicia hirsuta

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It is slender and trailing or climbing. It grows about 60 cm high. There is a tendril at the end and it is branched. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are 2-5 cm long and divided into leaflets along the stalk. There are 5-10 pairs of leaflets. These have short stalks. They are 0.8-1.5 cm long and 0.1-0.3 cm wide. They are oblong. The base is rounded. The flowers are white or tinged with purple. The fruit is a pod which is oblong and has 2 seeds. The seeds are 2 mm across and brown. The pod is hairy.

It is considered a weed in crops. There are about 140 Vicia species. They are mostly temperate.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Nepal plants grow to about 2700 m altitude. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 3,000 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, America, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caribbean, Central Africa, Chile, China, Congo, Czech Republic, Denmark, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Himalayas, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Scandinavia, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, USA, West Indies, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The tender leaves, shoots and fruits are cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, stems

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Ankari, Birbut, Chirinji arxa, Chirinji, Choti kaer, Kutilkosa, Jhanjhaniya kari, Jhunjhuni, Jhuse kutelikosa, Kanghi, Kutilkosa, Masur chana, Masuri, Munmuna, Musur chana, Tiririte

Synonyms

Cracca hirsuta (L.) Gennari; Cracca minor Gren. & Godron; Enduisa hirsuta Alef.; Ervilia hirsuta Opiz.; Ervilia vulgaris Godron; Ervum filiforme Roxb.; Ervum hirsutum L.; Vicia coreana Leveille; Vicia mitchellii Raf.; Vicia parviflora Lapeyr.; Vicia taquetii Leveille; Vicioides hirsuta Moench;