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 Vicia grandiflora | ||||||||||||||||
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| About 140 species, including: Vicia americana (American Vetch) |
Vicia (Vetches) is a large genus of about 140 species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, native to Europe, Asia and Africa. One species, Vicia faba, commonly known as Broad Bean or fava bean is cultivated for human consumption, while a number of other species Vicia sativa, 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].
Vicia ervilia is one of the first crops domesticated in the Near East.
Vicia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Chionodes lugubrella (recorded on V. cracca), Angle Shades, Double-striped Pug, 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).
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 lentils (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. Vetch Scandal)
References
- The Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe. Fitter, R. & A., Collins 1974.
- Enneking, D. 1995. The toxicity of Vicia species and their utilisation as grain legumes.
- Vetch Scandal Health Report, Australian Broadcasting Corporation 19 April 1999.
External links
- Laghetti, G. et al. 2000 [http://www.springerlink.com/(qycbvx55kty2do55vx13vo45)/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,13,13;jo
urnal,42,150;linkingpublicationresults,1:102893,1 Single-flowered vetch (Vicia articulata Hornem.): A relic crop in Italy] (requires subscription)
- Vicia Plant profiles (USDA)
- Mansfeld's database for cultivated plants (search for Vicia, 17 cultivated tax listed) [1]