Vicia sativa

Vicia sativa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Vicia
Species:
V. sativa
Binomial name
Vicia sativa
Subspecies[2]
  • Vicia sativa subsp. amphicarpa (L.) Batt.
  • Vicia sativa subsp. cordata (Wulfen ex Hoppe) Batt.
  • Vicia sativa subsp. devia J.G.Costa
  • Vicia sativa subsp. incisa (M.Bieb.) Arcang.
  • Vicia sativa subsp. macrocarpa (Moris) Arcang.
  • Vicia sativa subsp. nigra Ehrh.
  • Vicia sativa subsp. sativa
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Vicia communis proles sativa (L.) Rouy (1899)

Vicia sativa, known as the common vetch, garden vetch, tare or simply vetch, is a nitrogen-fixing leguminous plant in the family Fabaceae. It is now naturalised throughout the world occurring on every continent, except Antarctica and the Arctic.[3] The centre of diversity is thought to be the Fertile Crescent, although gold standard molecular confirmation is currently not available.

Global common vetch cultivation is limited due to anti-nutritional compounds in the seed although it is grown in dryland agricultural zones in Australia, China and Ethiopia due to its drought tolerance and very low nutrient requirements compared to other legumes. In these agricultural zones common vetch is grown as a green manure, livestock fodder or rotation crop. In cultivated grainfields, like lentils, it is often considered a weed due to downgrading of harvested mixed grain, resulting in farmers receiving less financial returns.

Global estimates of vetch production area varies considerably due to no formal assessment system. However, current cultivation estimates in Australia vary between 400,000 to 600,000 hectares (1,500,000 acres) per year.

  1. ^ Maxted, N.; McFarlane, D. (2019). "Vicia sativa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T176097A1430281. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T176097A1430281.en. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Vicia sativa L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  3. ^ Ian C. Murfet and Kristin L. Groom. "Vicia Sativa Aggregate." Handbook of Flowering, Volume VI. Abraham Halevy, ed. CRC Press, 2019. Page . ISBN 9781351089487