Family: Fabaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 737 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Vicia
Vegetable: False
Observations: Madeira, Medit. to C. Asia and W. Himalaya
Description
French vetch, scientifically known as Vicia narbonensis, is a notable species within the Fabaceae family. First documented by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753, this plant holds a firm place in botanical literature, with its earliest reference appearing in the seminal work “Species Plantarum.”
Endemic to a broad geographical range, French vetch is found thriving from the Mediterranean region to Central Asia and extends as far as the Western Himalayas. Its adaptability to such diverse climates speaks to its hardiness and ecological versatility.
French vetch is significant both botanically and agriculturally. As a member of the Fabaceae family, it shares many common traits with other legumes, such as nitrogen-fixing capabilities, which enhance soil fertility. This makes it an asset in crop rotation and sustainable agriculture practices.
Despite its broad distribution, French vetch is particularly noted in Madeira, where it contributes to the local biodiversity. In these regions, it plays a role in supporting local ecosystems by providing forage for pollinators and other wildlife.
In summary, Vicia narbonensis, or French vetch, is a plant of considerable interest and utility, both in natural habitats and agricultural systems, underscoring its importance in the realms of ecology and agronomy.
Common Names
Eng: french vetch, narbonne vetch, purple broad vetch, narbon-bean, narbon bean
Deu: maus-wicke, mauswicke, französische wicke
Spa: alverjón, haba loca
Por: ervilha-de-narbona, ervilhaca-de-narbona
Swe: klotvicker, klotvicker/tandvicker
Cat: moreu
Est: muti-hiirehernes
Fra: vesce de narbonne
Ces: vika narbonská, vikev narbonská
Cym: ffacbys narbonne, ffacbysen narbonne
En: French vetch, Narbonne vetch, Narbon-bean, Purple broad vetch, Narbon Bean, Moor’s Pea
Ar: بخر (بَخْر)، بخرا (بَخْرا), دحريج (دُحريج)، جلبان (جِلبان، جُلُبان), فول العباس (فول العَباَّس)، فول, نعمان برى (نُعمان بِرى)، فول ابليس (فول إبليس), بيقية نربونية
Be: Гарошак нарбонскі
Bg: Бобовидна глушина
Ca: Moreu
Cs: Vikev narbonská, Vika narbonská
Et: Muti-hiirehernes
Fi: Purppuravirna
Fr: Vesce de Narbonne, Fève des chevaux, Vesce de Johann
De: Mauswicke, Französische Wicke, Maus-Wicke, Schwarze Ackebohne
He: בקיה צרפתית
Hu: Fogaslevelű bükköny
It: Veccia selvatica, Veccia selvaggia, Favaccia
Pt: Ervilha-de-Narbona, Ervilhaca-de-narbona
Ru: Gorošek narbonskij, Горошек нарбонский
Es: Alverjón, Haba loca
Sv: Klotvicker, Klotvicker/tandvicker
Cy: Ffacbysen Narbonne, Ffacbys Narbonne
Synonyms
- Faba bona subsp. minuta ((Alef.) Soják)
- Bona speciosa (Medik.)
- Bona narbonensis ((L.) Medik.)
- Vicia narbonensis var. culta (Alef.)
- Vicia platycarpos (Roth)
- Faba vulgaris var. minuta (Alef.)
- Faba bona (Medik.)
- Vicia narbonensis var. jordanica (H.I.Schäf.)
- Vicia narbonensis var. salmonea ((Mouterde) H.I.Schäf.)
- Vicia latifolia (Moench)
- Faba serratifolia (Fuss)
- Vicia serratifolia subsp. salmonea (Mouterde)
- Faba narbonensis ((L.) Schur)
- Vicia narbonensis var. platycarpos ((Roth) Alef.)
- Vicia narbonensis var. integrifolia (Ser.)
- Vicia narbonensis var. heterophylla (Rouy)
- Vicia monadelpha (Roth)
Distribution
- Albania (native)
- Algeria (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Corse (native)
- Cyprus (native)
- East Aegean Is. (native)
- Egypt (native)
- France (native)
- Greece (native)
- Hungary (native)
- Iran (native)
- Iraq (native)
- Italy (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Krym (native)
- Lebanon-Syria (native)
- Libya (native)
- Madeira (native)
- Morocco (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Palestine (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sardegna (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- Sinai (native)
- Spain (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Turkey-in-Europe (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Austria (introduced)
- Baltic States (introduced)
- Belarus (introduced)
- Central European Rus (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- East European Russia (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Kenya (introduced)
- Maryland (introduced)
- Mongolia (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- North European Russi (introduced)
- Northwest European R (introduced)
- South European Russi (introduced)
- Ukraine (introduced)
- West Siberia (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Fruit
Taken Apr 13, 2021 by Flozinha (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 26, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Patrick LEBOULENGER (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 12, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Geneviève Botti (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 24, 2018 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 17, 2021 by Jean-François Baudin (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken May 7, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 26, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Patrick LEBOULENGER (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 19, 2021 by Boualem Felfoul (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 17, 2021 by Jean-François Baudin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 20, 2018 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Apr 23, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 6, 2021 by Alison Donaldson (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 26, 2018 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 15, 2018 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 17, 2021 by Jean-François Baudin (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Mar 27, 2007 by Tela Botanica − Daniel MATHIEU (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 24, 2018 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 28, 2018 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 22, 2018 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 11, 2018 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Apr 15, 2022 by John Walsh (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 7, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 23, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 23, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 23, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Apr 15, 2018 by bas yves (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 13, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 22, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2975132)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:524974-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Vicia narbonensis L.)
Specifications
Growth habit>: Forb/herb, Vine
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 8
Atmospheric humidity: 4
Bloom months: [‘may’, ‘jun’, ‘jul’]
Soil nutriments: 5