bitter vetch

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Ervil
• Bitter Vetch
• blister vetch

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ervilia sativa
• Rhynchium plicatum
• Lens pygmaea
• Ervum ervilia
• Ervum plicatum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and the genus Vicia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence can be observed within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, it is found across the landscape of Germany. The species also inhabits the territories of Austria and Switzerland. Finally, its range extends through the regions of Czechia and Slovakia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vicia ervilia is characterized by its adaptability to diverse terrains and human-influenced environments, ranging from disturbed sites to rugged landscapes. This species thrives in various habitats, including crop fields, dumps, and mountainous regions, demonstrating a resilience to both agricultural settings and waste-disposal areas. Its distribution is spread across a significant altitudinal gradient, occupying ecological niches from a minimum elevation of 900 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 3200 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

3200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

900 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, dump, mountains

Life history

The life history of Vicia ervilia is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental progression from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its life form is defined by the strategy of surviving unfavorable environmental conditions through highly resistant seeds rather than maintaining perennial vegetative structures. This life history strategy allows the species to exploit ephemeral resources and quickly colonize available habitats, ensuring the continuation of the species through the production of a seed bank before the onset of seasonal stress.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Vicia ervilia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It functions as an obligatory climber, utilizing surrounding vegetation for support rather than being self-supporting. The plant maintains a terrestrial habitat and exists as an independent organism, showing no parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.41 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.41 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vicia ervilia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure exhibits a mean leaf size of approximately 3.1516 cm², reflecting its morphological adaptations for light interception and gas exchange. Furthermore, it possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 191.8 cm²/g, a physiological metric that provides insight into its leaf thickness and resource allocation strategies regarding biomass and photosynthetic capacity.

Leaf size mean:

3.1516 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

191.8 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vicia ervilia is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period that typically begins in June and concludes in July. During this reproductive phase, the plant produces fruit in the form of a capsule. The seeds produced are relatively small and uniform in weight, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.0452195 g, falling within a range that spans from a minimum of 0.0405 g to a maximum of 0.0526 g. Regarding the distribution of its progeny, the species utilizes an autochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning it relies on internal mechanisms for seed dispersal rather than external agents like wind or animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit type :

capsule

Seed mass max:

0.0526 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0452195 g

Seed mass min:

0.0405 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Vicia ervilia has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include D-galactose.

D-galactose

1. Revista espanola de fisiologia

Preparations

Vicia ervilia has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include raw legume, raw legumes.

Raw legume

1. Revista espanola de fisiologia

Raw legumes

1. Poultry science