VICIA SATIVA subsp. AMPHICARPA

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE/Sect. VICIA

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Vicia subterranea.

Meaning:- Vicia (L) Binder, to bind, a name used by the Roman naturalist and

philosopher Pliny for vetch.

Sativa (L) Planted, cultivated, not wild.

Amphicarpa (Gr) With curved pods.

General description:- Plant with underground stems bearing minute apetalous

flowers.

Stems:-

1) Usually 20-60 cm tall, ascending to suberect.

Leaves:-

1) Leaves, 4-8-paired.

2) Leaflets, linear, acute to obcordate, tendril usually branched.

3) Stipules, semi-hastate.

Flowers:-

1) 1-2(-3), subsessile in the leaf axils.

2) Calyx, narrowly campanulate, almost regular,

a) teeth, shorter than the tube.

2) Corolla, 20-25 mm.

a) standard, dark reddish-purple.

b) wings, much darker.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, 25-35 x 4-6 mm, not contracted between the seeds, dark brown,

usually

glabrous.

2) Seeds, 1-2, 4·5-5 mm.

Key features:-

1) Plant, with underground stems bearing apetalous flowers and white,

2) Legumes, 1- to 2-seeded

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Damp meadows, open woodland and in a variety of disturbed habitats, 0-

900 m (ocasionally to 1600 m) in Crete

Distribution:- Mediterranean area and SW Asia. Rare on Crete, currently known

from only two locations (see map).

Flowering time:- Mainly Mar-June.

Photos by:- Currently none available