Vicia monantha

Retz.

Hard vetch, Spurred vetch, Square stem vetch

FabaceaeSeeds/Nuts

fodderfoodlandscape architecture

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(c) Rebbas, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Rebbas

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(c) missour, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Seeds

Seeds are edible cooked. The thick, floury, lentil-like seeds can be boiled as a vegetable or used as a flavouring and thickener in soups.

Where to Find It

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.

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,

Countries: Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Austria, Australia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Burundi, Benin, Botswana, Belarus, Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Congo (Republic), Switzerland, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Djibouti, Denmark, Algeria, Estonia, Egypt, Eritrea, Spain, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, United Kingdom, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Iceland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Comoros, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Liberia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Libya, Morocco, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, Madagascar, North Macedonia, Mali, Mauritania, Malta, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sudan, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sierra Leone, San Marino, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sao Tome & Principe, Syria, Eswatini, Chad, Togo, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Tanzania, Ukraine, Uganda, United States, Uzbekistan, Yemen, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How to Identify

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.

How to Grow

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. According to one report, this species is no more than a synonym of V. articulata. It is occasionally cultivated as a lentil. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position if the soil is reliably moist throughout the growing season, otherwise it is best grown in semi-shade. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby.

Propagation: Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water, then sow in situ in spring or autumn.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Other Uses

Can be grown as a green manure. Functions as a nitrogen fixer.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Vicia monantha, the barn vetch, is a widespread species of annual herb in the family Fabaceae. It native to the Mediterranean region, and western and central Asia, and has been introduced to Australia. Typical of vetches, it has a climbing habit and pinnate leaves.

Notes

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

Names & Synonyms

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

Vicia cinerea M. Bieb.Vicia griffithii BakerVicia monantha ssp. cinerea (M. Bieb.) Maire

References (13)

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Paczkowska, G . & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Calatogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 453
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1999). Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database. Published on the Internet; http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ceb/sepasal/internet [Accessed 1st May 2011]
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew