Practical
Plants

Vicia cracca

Tufted Vetch

a perennial woody member of the Vicia genus in the family Leguminosae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Vicia
Life cycle
perennial
Woodiness
woody
Height
1.8 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - cooked[5][8][1]. They are boiled or roasted[4]. Leaves and young stems - cooked[1]. Used as a potherb[4]. The leaves are a tea substitute[4].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The cooked plant is used as a galactogogue[7].

Product or use
Galactogogue

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Can be used as a green manure[9].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
Northern Europe, including Britain, to Japan in northern Asia.
Habitat
Grassy and bushy places, avoiding acid soils[2][3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in situ in spring or autumn.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position if the soil is reliably moist throughout the growing season, otherwise it is best grown in semi-shade[6]. This species has occasionally been cultivated as a food plant, but yields are too low to make it very worthwhile[5]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[6].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

  3. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  7. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  8. Sholto-Douglas. J. Alternative Foods.

    ↩

  9. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

Edit this page