Herb: Large Russian Vetch


Latin name: Vicia villosa


Family: Leguminosae



Edible parts of Large Russian Vetch:

Seed. No more details are given. Used as a vegetable. No more details are given.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial Climber


Height:
180 cm
(6 feet)

Flowering:
June to
September

Habitat of the herb:

Cultivated land and waste places, avoiding acid soils and shady positions.

Other uses of Large Russian Vetch:

Used as a spring or autumn sown green manure. The seed can be sown in September to overwinter, or as late as October for a greenhouse green manure.

Propagation of the herb:

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

Cultivation of Large Russian Vetch:

Cultivated land and waste places, avoiding acid soils and shady positions.

Medicinal use of the herb:

None known

Known hazards of Vicia villosa:

There is some evidence that the seed may be toxic but this has only been shown under laboratory conditions, there are no recorded cases of poisoning by this plant in Britain.

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.