Tufted vetch, Cow vetch, Bird vetch
Vicia cracca
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
An annual climbing herb. It is hairy. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. There are 8-24 leaflets and a tendril at the end. The leaflets are 7-15 cm long by 2-8 mm wide. The flowers are pinkish-blue. The pods are flat and oblong. They are 2-4 cm long and with an oblique point at the end. There are 2-5 seeds. They are black.
There are about 140 Vicia species. They are mostly temperate.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. In China it lies below 4,200 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zone 6.
Countries/locations it is found in
Argentina, Asia, Britain, Central Asia, China, Denmark, Estonia, Europe, Falklands, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Mongolia, North America, Norway, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Slovenia, South America, Sweden, Turkey, Türkiye, USA, Vietnam
How it is used for food
Young stems and leaves are eaten as a potherb. The leaves are used as a substitute for tea. The seeds are eaten boiled or roasted. They are also eaten raw.
Edible parts
Leaves, seeds, pods, fruit, flower nectar
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Dikaia vika, Fuglevikke, Gurul, Hirrehernes, Kurehernes, Kus figi, Liendau, Ptičja grašica, Yeqandoujian