Vicia
Vetches
Vicia, commonly known as vetch, is a versatile genus of herbaceous plants prized for their medicinal and nutritional properties. Often used in traditional herbalism to support digestive health and skin vitality, these legumes also enrich soil quality, playing a vital role in ecological wellness and sustainable agricultural practices worldwide.
- Scientific name: Vicia
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, 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, belonging to the genus Vicia, is known by various names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Chinese, it is referred to as 野豌豆屬 in Hong Kong (zh-hk) and mainland China (zh-cn), while in Taiwan (zh-tw), it is commonly called 蠶豆屬. In Poland, it is known as wyką (pl), and in Hebrew, it is identified as בקיה (he).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hk | 野豌豆屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 野豌豆属 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 蠶豆屬 | Wikidata |
| pl | wyka | Wikidata |
| he | בקיה | Wikidata |
| et | Hiirehernes | Wikidata |
| de | Wicken | Wikidata |
| ja | ソラマメ属 | Wikidata |
| ba | Кәрешкә | Wikidata |
| hsb | Woka | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern concentrated within the regions of Northern Europe. Its presence is documented across various island territories, including the Faroe Islands and Iceland. It can also be found growing throughout the landscapes of Great Britain. Furthermore, the species inhabits the northern territories of Denmark and Finland. This collection of locations highlights its preference for the unique climates found in the northernmost reaches of the continent.
| 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, known scientifically as Vicia, is often utilized in traditional medicine where specific preparations are made to harness its healing properties. While much of its therapeutic value is derived from its seeds or leaves, certain applications involve extracting the liquid essence or juice from its components to create potent medicinal infusions. This liquid is frequently used in topical treatments or diluted for internal consumption, depending on the specific species and the ailment being addressed.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| juice | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Vicia has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ABA, Ba(2+), Ca(2+), Cl(-), K(+).
- Total chemicals
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ABA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ba(2+) | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ca(2+) | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cl(-) | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| K(+) | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| K+ | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| alpha-dendrotoxin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |