Vicia sativa
Vetch
Vicia sativa, commonly known as common vetch, is a versatile legume valued for its medicinal and nutritional properties. Rich in essential amino acids and antioxidants, it supports digestive health and immune function. Historically used in traditional remedies, this hardy plant remains a vital resource in herbal medicine and sustainable agriculture.
- Scientific name: Vicia sativa
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Europe
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. Finally, it is identified by the genus Vicia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Vicia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Vicia sativa, is recognized by various common names depending on the region and language. In Simplified Chinese contexts, including mainland China (zh-cn), Singapore (zh-sg), and standard Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), it is referred to as 窄叶野豌豆. Similarly, in Traditional Chinese contexts such as Hong Kong (zh-hk) and Taiwan (zh-hant), the plant is known as 窄葉野豌豆.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 窄叶野豌豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 窄葉野豌豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 窄葉野豌豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 窄叶野豌豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 窄叶野豌豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 窄葉野豌豆 | Wikidata |
| pl | wyka siewna | Wikidata |
| fr | Vesce commune | Wikidata |
| tr | Fiğ | Wikidata |
| ca | veça | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as Vicia sativa, exhibits a specific distribution across the northern regions of Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland landscapes of Denmark. Its presence is also documented throughout the various territories of Great Britain. Moving further north, the species inhabits the rugged terrains of Iceland and the Faroe Islands (Føroyar). Finally, the plant extends its range into the northernmost reaches of Finland.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Føroyar | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Iceland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Svalbard | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as common vetch, is primarily utilized in herbal applications through its aerial parts. These above-ground structures include the slender, climbing stems, the delicate pinnate leaves, and the characteristic pea-like flowers. Because the medicinal properties are concentrated in these aerial parts, they are typically harvested during the growing season to be dried and used in various traditional remedies.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Vicia sativa has 26 reported phytochemicals identified across 27 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include legumin, 11-dodecenoic acid, 11-dodecynoic acid, 3,5,7,3'-tetrahydroxy-4'-methoxyflavanone, 7,3'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyflavanone.
- Total chemicals
- 26
- Scientific sources
- 27
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| legumin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 11-dodecenoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 11-dodecynoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3,5,7,3'-tetrahydroxy-4'-methoxyflavanone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 7,3'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyflavanone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 9,10-dihydroxystearic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 9,10-epoxystearic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 9-decenoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| NaHCO3 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acetic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Vicia sativa has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include acne.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| acne | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |