Vetch

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• common vetch
• garden vetch
• Spring Vetch
• kurehernes

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vicia communis proles sativa

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. Finally, it is identified by the genus Vicia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vicia sativa is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse topographical gradients and human-altered landscapes. It is frequently found colonizing disturbed environments, specifically thriving within crop fields where it can integrate into agricultural ecosystems. This species exhibits a remarkable elevational plasticity, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 2800 m AMSL. Throughout its natural and anthropogenically influenced distribution, it maintains a mean elevational presence at approximately 1600 m AMSL, demonstrating its capacity to persist in both lowland plains and significant montane regions.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields

Genetics

The genetics of Vicia sativa are characterized by a complex and diverse karyotype, which reflects its evolutionary history and varying levels of polyploidy. A defining feature of its cytogenetic profile is the significant variation in chromosome number observed across different accessions and populations. Specifically, the chromosome number is not fixed but can manifest as 10, 12, 14, 18, or 24. This numerical plasticity suggests a high degree of genomic flexibility, often associated with the formation of various cytotypes and aneuploidies that contribute to the plant's adaptive capacity. Such chromosomal diversity plays a critical role in the genetic structure and evolutionary lineage of the species.

Chromosome number :

10, 12, 14, 18, 24

Life history

The life history of Vicia sativa is characterized by its classification as a therophyte, meaning it completes its life cycle primarily through a specialized seed stage that allows it to survive unfavorable conditions. Depending on environmental factors and specific cultivars, its lifecycle can be variable, often manifesting as an annual species, though it can also exhibit biennial or perennial tendencies. As a deciduous plant, it sheds its foliage in response to seasonal changes or life stage transitions. This combination of a therophytic life form and a flexible developmental strategy enables the species to thrive in diverse ecological niches by focusing its energy on rapid growth and seed production.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Vicia sativa 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 tendencies, and it is not an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit with an ascending shoot orientation. In terms of size, the plant height varies significantly, ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.70625 m. Furthermore, the shoot length is substantial, measuring between a minimum of 40 cm and a maximum of 80 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.70625 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot length max:

80 cm

Shoot length min:

40 cm

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vicia sativa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake through its root system, significantly enhanced by its ability to function as a nitrogen fixer. This nitrogen fixation capability allows the plant to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, supporting its structural development. The vegetative morphology features paripinnate leaf forms with significant variability in dimensions; leaf lengths range from a minimum of 0.6 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, while leaf widths vary from 0.1 cm to 1.5 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of approximately 7.4885 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 226.335 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its physiological adaptation to light interception and resource allocation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

paripinnate

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

0.6 cm

Leaf size mean:

7.4885 cm²

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

226.335 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vicia sativa is driven by sexual processes through bisexual flowers, which exhibit a pink coloration. The flowering period typically commences in May and continues through July. Pollination is a biotic process primarily facilitated by insects, with bees serving as a key pollinator. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. Following fertilization, the plant develops dry, dehiscence-type fruit in the form of a pod. These pods vary in size, with a mean length of 4.5 cm (ranging from 2.4 cm to 8 cm) and a mean width of 4.5 cm (ranging from 0.35 cm to 1.1 cm). Each fruit is prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are characterized by a mean length of 4 mm (ranging from 2.5 mm to 4 mm) and a mean volume of 32 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds have a mean weight of approximately 0.02887 g, with individual seeds weighing as little as 0.0066 g and as much as 0.0678 g. Once mature, the seeds are dispersed via an autochorous syndrome, where the plant utilizes its own mechanisms to scatter its offspring. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

8 cm

Fruit length mean:

4.5 cm

Fruit length min:

2.4 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

1.1 cm

Fruit width mean:

4.5 cm

Fruit width min:

0.35 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

4 mm

Seed length min:

2.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0678 g

Seed mass mean:

0.02886907275 g

Seed mass min:

0.0066 g

Seed volume max:

32 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Vicia sativa has 26 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 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.

Legumin

1. Biokhimiia (Moscow, Russia)
2. Planta

11-Dodecenoic acid

1. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

11-Dodecynoic acid

1. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

3,5,7,3'-tetrahydroxy-4'-methoxyflavanone

1. Plant molecular biology

7,3'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyflavanone

1. Plant molecular biology

9,10-Dihydroxystearic acid

1. The Biochemical journal

9,10-EPOXYSTEARIC ACID

1. The Biochemical journal

9-Decenoic acid

1. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

Antitrypsin

1. Roczniki Akademii Medycznej w Bialymstoku (1995)

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Conditions

Vicia sativa has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include acne.

Acne

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Preparations

Vicia sativa has 5 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Root exudate, benzene, chloroform, methanol, microsomes.

Root exudate

1. Plant molecular biology

Benzene

1. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan

Chloroform

1. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan

Methanol

1. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan

Microsomes

1. The Biochemical journal