Hard vetch, Spurred vetch, Square stem vetch
Vicia monantha

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A short herb. A twining annual herb. It grows from 5-30 cm high. It is almost hairless. The stems are branched. The leaves have 4-7 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are pale purple. The pods are yellowish and without hairs. There are 2 subspecies.

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

Where it is found

It grows in rocky places and on waste land. It can grow in neutral or alkaline soils. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 90-1,230 mm. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Algeria, Arabia, Australia, Bahrain, Canary Islands, Central Asia, Cyprus, East Africa, Egypt, Europe, France, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, North Africa, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sinai, Spain, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, USA, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The thick floury seeds are eaten boiled or in soups. They can also be made into flour. It grows in areas with an average annual temperature of 7°-16°C. It can grow up to 1,300 m above sea level.

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

It can be grown from seeds. Seeds do not always germinate easily or regularly.

Its other names

Local names

Auvergne lentil, Bard vetch, Foulia, One-flowered tare, Sella

Synonyms

Vicia cinerea M. Bieb.; Vicia griffithii Baker; Vicia monantha ssp. cinerea (M. Bieb.) Maire;