Edit Plant: Vicia

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'''''Vicia''''' ('''Vetches''') is a large genus of about 140 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Fabaceae]], native to [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[Africa]]. One species, ''Vicia faba'', commonly known as [[Vicia faba|Broad Bean]] or fava bean is cultivated for human consumption, while a number of other species ''[[Vicia sativa]]'', ''[[Bitter vetch|Vicia ervilia]]'', ''[[Vicia articulata Hornem.]]'' and ''[[Vicia narbonensis]]'' are cultivated as [[forage]] and [[grain legume]] for livestock or [[green manure]]. ''[[Vicia villosa]]'', ''[[Vicia benghalensis]]'' and ''[[Vicia pannonica]]'' are cultivated for forage and green manure. Other species are wild flowers. Some have been identified as sources for unusual lectins [proteins which bind specific sugars]. ''[[Bitter vetch|Vicia ervilia]]'' is one of the first crops domesticated in the Near East. Certain species of vetch are suitable for consumption by [[ruminant]] animals, but not for single-stomach animals including humans, due to a toxin. However, split vetch seed (''Vicia sativa'') resembles split [[red lentil]]s (''Lens culinaris''), and cases have been reported of vetch being deliberately mislabelled (by exporters or importers) and sold for human consumption to countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Egypt, which are traditional consumers of lentils. This has resulted in import bans by those countries. (''ref.'' [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/helthrpt/stories/s22429.htm Vetch Scandal]) {{Inc| Vicia (classical Latin name). Vetch. Tare. Mostly weedy or insignificant-looking plants, but a few are grown for the bright flowers, others of late for green-manure crops (see Cover-crops), and one (V. Faba) is a garden bean. Herbs, mostly climbing, with pinnate foliage, closely allied to Lathyrus, Pisum, and Lens, but differing in minute floral characters: wings adhering to the keel; style very slender, with beard or hairs all around the upper part or only at the apex: pod flat, 2- to many- seeded, 2-valved, and dehiscent, the seeds either globular or flattish; stamens diadelphous (9 and 1): fls. mostly blue or violet, sometimes yellowish or white.— About 150 species widely spread in the northern hemisphere and some in S. Amer. About two dozen species occur in N. Amer., some of the species intro. The species are mostly cool-season plants of easy cult. The interest in the vetches in this country is mostly for their value as soil-covers and for foliage. V. sativa and V. villosa are the important species at present for agricultural purposes, and V. Cracca, V. Gerardii, and V. fulgens are sometimes used as ornamentals. For literature, see Farmers' Bulls. Nos. 515 and 529, Bur. Pl. Ind. Circ. No. 15, and U. S. Dept. Agric. Circ. No. 45. }} ==Cultivation== <!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line --> ===Propagation=== <!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line --> ===Pests and diseases=== ''Vicia'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including ''[[Chionodes|Chionodes lugubrella]]'' (recorded on ''V. cracca''), [[Angle Shades]], [[Double-striped Pug]], [[Flame (moth)|The Flame]], [[Lime-speck Pug]] and two case-bearers of the genus ''[[Coleophora]]'' which feed exclusively on ''Vicia'': ''C. cracella'' and ''C. fuscicornis'' (the latter feeds exclusively on ''V. tetrasperma''). ==Species== About 140 species, including:<br/> ''[[Vicia americana]]'' (American Vetch)<br> ''Vicia articulata'' Hornem. (Bard Vetch)<br/> ''Vicia bithynica'' (Bithynian Vetch)<br/> ''Vicia canescens''<br/> ''Vicia cassubica'' (Danzig Vetch)<br/> ''[[Tufted Vetch|Vicia cracca]]'' (Tufted Vetch)<br/> ''Vicia dumetorum'' <br/> ''[[Bitter vetch|Vicia ervilia]]'' (Bitter Vetch)<br/> ''[[Vicia faba]]'' (Broad Bean)<br/> ''[[Hairy vetch|Vicia hirsuta]]'' (Hairy Vetch)<br/> ''[[Vicia lathyroides]]'' (Spring Vetch)<br/> ''[[Vicia lutea]]'' (Yellow Vetch)<br/> ''Vicia monantha'' (single flowered vetch)<br/> ''Vicia narbonensis'' <br/> ''Vicia onobrychioides''<br/> ''Vicia oroboides''<br/> ''Vicia orobus'' (Upright Vetch)<br/> ''Vicia pannonica'' <br/> ''Vicia pisiformis'' (Pea-flowered Vetch)<br/> ''[[Vicia pyrenaica]]''<br/> ''[[Common Vetch|Vicia sativa]]'' (Common Vetch)<br/> ''[[Vicia sepium]]'' (Bush Vetch)<br/> ''[[Vicia sylvatica]]'' (Wood Vetch)<br/> ''Vicia tenuifolia'' (Fine-leaved Vetch)<br/> ''Vicia tenuissima'' (Slender Vetch)<br/> ''Vicia tetrasperma'' (Smooth Vetch)<br/> ''Vicia unijuga''<br/> ''[[Vicia villosa]]'' (Fodder Vetch) ==Gallery== {{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery --> <gallery> Image:Upload.png| photo 1 Image:Upload.png| photo 2 Image:Upload.png| photo 3 </gallery> ==References== *[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963 *''The Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe.'' Fitter, R. & A., Collins 1974. <!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 --> <!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 --> <!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 --> ==External links== *{{wplink}} {{stub}} __NOTOC__ [[Category:Faboideae]]

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