Vicia graminea Smith

Leguminosae

Synonyms

• Vicia selloi Vogel (1839)
• Vicia dibentata Hooker (1831)
• Vicia kingii Hooker f. (1832)

Common names:

Vicia graminea

Description:

Herbaceous, winter annual or biennial, slim root with numerous secondary roots, abundant stems up to 1 m high. Starts growing in autumn and develops at end winter/early spring, flowers/fruits up to mid-summer; at sea level. Not resistant to drought.

Distribution:

Distributed in Eastern Argentina from Chaco to Patagonia, Uruguay and Southern Brazil.

Habitat:

Prefers humid meadows, flooding areas or river/sea sides; deep soils with high organic matter, does not tolerate compact, clay, shallow, low fertility soils.

Use:

Poor forage production, desired by cattle, stands moderate grazing, responds to P fertilization; at flowering, crude protein 24.1 %, P 0.23 %.

Nodulation and N fixation:

Shows good natural nodulation.

Other Uses:

Important in medicine, seeds contain phyto-agglutinins (anti N-agglutinins) specific for certain human blood groups.

References:

Izaguirre & Beyhaut, (1998); Fernández et al. (1988); Rosengurtt, (1946)