cultivated lentil

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• cultivated lentil
• lentil

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lathyrus lens
• Lens culinaris
• Lentilla lens
• Orobus lens
• Ervum lens
• Cicer lens

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. It is classified within the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Vicia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several key regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species can be found growing in the landscapes of Austria. It also maintains a significant presence within the territories of Czechia-Slovakia. Finally, the plant is commonly distributed throughout Germany, completing its regional range.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vicia lens is defined by its broad altitudinal distribution across diverse mountainous terrains, allowing it to occupy various ecological niches within its habitat. This species demonstrates significant environmental plasticity, with an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 700 m AMSL to a maximum of 2800 m AMSL. The plant thrives across these varied vertical gradients, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 2600 m AMSL, which suggests a strong ecological preference for high-altitude environments and alpine or sub-alpine zones. This wide vertical spread enables the species to adapt to varying temperature regimes, atmospheric pressures, and moisture levels characteristic of different mountain strata.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

700 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Vicia lens is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its survival strategy relies on producing hardy seeds that remain dormant in the soil during unfavorable conditions, allowing the species to persist across seasons despite the absence of living above-ground structures. This life cycle ensures rapid colonization and reproduction, with the plant focusing its energy on quick growth and prolific seed dispersal to secure the next generation before the onset of environmental stress.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Vicia lens is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, lacking parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit rather than being an obligatory or facultative liana, maintaining an erect shoot orientation. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively low-growing, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.75 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.3125 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.75 m

Plant height mean:

0.3125 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vicia lens is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on standard autotrophic nutrient acquisition, though it possesses a specialized capacity for nitrogen fixation, allowing it to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form. The vegetative structure features an alternate leaf arrangement, with individual leaves displaying an elliptic form. These leaves exhibit significant morphological variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.7 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm, and widths spanning from 0.2 cm to 0.7 cm.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

2.5 cm

Leaf length min:

0.7 cm

Leaf width max:

0.7 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vicia lens is primarily driven by sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in July, producing white flowers that range in length from 0.4 cm to 0.9 cm. These flowers utilize a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Once fertilized—a process supported by the presence of self-fertilization—the plant develops a capsule-type fruit. These fruits vary in size, with lengths ranging from 0.6 cm to 2 cm and widths between 0.35 cm and 0.8 cm. The resulting seeds are characterized by a mean mass of approximately 0.035175 g (ranging from 0.0283 g to 0.0489 g) and a consistent volume of 36 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through an autochorous syndrome, where the plant utilizes internal mechanisms to distribute its seeds.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower length max:

0.9 cm

Flower length min:

0.4 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width min:

0.35 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0489 g

Seed mass mean:

0.035175 g

Seed mass min:

0.0283 g

Seed volume max:

36 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vicia lens has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

Chemicals

Vicia lens has 157 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include STARCH, methionine, Lectin, cystine, lysine.

STARCH

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of clinical nutrition
3. Die Naturwissenschaften
4. The Journal of nutrition
5. Archivos latinoamericanos de nutricion

methionine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Reproduction, nutrition, development
3. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
4. Archivos latinoamericanos de nutricion
5. Annals of nutrition & metabolism

Lectin

1. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
2. The Journal of biological chemistry
3. Journal of biochemistry

cystine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Reproduction, nutrition, development
3. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

lysine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Reproduction, nutrition, development
3. Archivos latinoamericanos de nutricion

riboflavin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Lebensmittel-Untersuchung und -Forschung
3. Archivos latinoamericanos de nutricion

AMYLOSE

1. Carbohydrate research
2. Zeitschrift fur Ernahrungswissenschaft. Journal of nutritional sciences. Supplementa

Ash

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Lebensmittel-Untersuchung und -Forschung

FAT

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Flavonoids

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Vicia lens has 540 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antispasmodic, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-HETE-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food chemistry

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HETE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Vicia lens has 6 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include An extract, Crude extract of Lens culinaris, cooked whole food grain legumes, lentil meal, protein concentrates.

An extract

1. Molecular medicine reports

Crude extract of lens culinaris

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Cooked whole food grain legumes

1. Archivos latinoamericanos de nutricion

Lentil meal

1. Archivos latinoamericanos de nutricion

Protein concentrates

1. Archivos latinoamericanos de nutricion

Seed extracts

1. Biological chemistry Hoppe-Seyler