Fodder vetch (Vicia villosa, Tent. Fl. Germ. 2(2): 182 (1793))

Family: Fabaceae

Author: Roth

Bibliography: Tent. Fl. Germ. 2(2): 182 (1793)

Year: 1793

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Vicia

Vegetable: False

Observations: Canary Is., N. Africa, Europe to C. Asia and Afghanistan

Description

Fodder vetch, known scientifically as Vicia villosa, is a versatile and resilient leguminous plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. This species was first described with the authoritative reference appearing in “Tentamen Florae Germanicae” in 1793, attributed to the botanist Roth.

This herbaceous plant is native to an extensive geographical range that includes the Canary Islands, North Africa, Europe, Central Asia, and Afghanistan. Its adaptability to various climates and soil conditions has facilitated its widespread distribution and cultivation.

Vicia villosa is particularly valued in agricultural contexts for its utility as a cover crop and for forage. It is highly effective at fixing nitrogen in the soil due to its symbiotic relationship with root-nodulating bacteria, which enhances soil fertility and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. As a fodder plant, it offers substantial nutritional benefits for livestock, including a high protein content that supports healthy animal growth and productivity.

The plant is characterized by its robust and trailing growth habit, which can provide excellent ground cover and protect soil from erosion. Its compound leaves are composed of numerous small leaflets, and it typically produces dense, purple or bluish-violet flowers that bloom in clusters, adding a touch of beauty to the fields where it is grown.

Due to its extensive utility and ecological benefits, Vicia villosa plays a significant role in sustainable farming practices. Farmers and agriculturalists often incorporate it into crop rotation systems to maintain and improve soil health, while also benefiting from its feed value for various livestock species.

Overall, Fodder vetch (Vicia villosa) is an essential component of both agricultural and ecological landscapes, demonstrating versatile applications, from improving soil conditions to providing valuable forage for animals.

Common Names

Eng: fodder vetch, hairy vetch, winter vetch, woolly vetch, lesser tufted vetch, shaggy vetch
Dan: sand-vikke
Deu: zottel-wicke, zottige wicke
Nld: bonte wikke, bonte wikke subsp. varia, bonte wikke subsp. villosa
Por: ervilhaca, ervilhaca-peluda
Cat: garlanda pilosa
Swe: luddvicker
Fra: vesce de cerdagne, vesce velue, vesce de russie, vesce des sables
Sme: rohkasáhpal
Cym: ffacbys y tir âr, ffacbysen y tir âr, ffugbysen yr âr
En: Fodder vetch, Winter vetch, HAIRY VETCH, Wooly vetch, Woolly vetch, Lesser Tufted Vetch, Shaggy Vetch, Downy Vetch, Russian Vetch
Af: Hariage wiek
Ar: دحريج (دُحريج)، جلبان (جِلبان، جُلُبان), بيقية موبرة
Hy: Վիկ թավոտ
Be: Віка касматая
Bg: Вълнеста глушина
Ca: Veça villosa, Garlanda pilosa
Zh: 长柔毛野豌豆
Cs: Vikev huňatá
Da: Sand-Vikke
Nl: Bonte wikke, Bonte wikke subsp. varia, Bonte wikke subsp. villosa, Zachte Wikke, Zandwikke
Et: Põld-hiirehernes
Fi: Ruisvirna
Fr: Vesce de Cerdagne, Vesce velue, Vesce de Russie, Vesce des sables
De: Hairy vetch, Zottige Wicke, Zottel-Wicke, Winter-Wicke
He: בקיה שעירה
It: Veccia di Cosentini, Veccia pelosa, Veccia vellutata, Veccia villosa
Ja: Birōdo-kusa-fuji
Ko: Teolgalkwideonggul
Li: Zandjwèk
Mk: Глушина
Mn: Үслэг гиш
Se: Rohkasáhpal
Fa: ماشک زمستانی
Pl: Wyka kosmata
Pt: Ervilhaca, Ervilhaca-peluda
Ru: Горошек мохнатый
Sk: Vika huňatá
Es: Veza vellosa, Arvejilla velluda, Veza de arena, Veza velluda
Sv: Luddvicker
Zh-tw: 長柔毛野豌豆
Zh-hant: 長柔毛野豌豆
Tr: Tüylü fiğ
Uk: Горошок волохатий
Cy: Ffacbysen y tir âr, Ffacbys y Tir Âr, Ffugbysen yr Âr

Synonyms

• Vicia unguiculata subsp. villosa ((Roth) Bonnier & Layens)
• Vicia varia subsp. villosa ((Roth) H.J.Coste)
• Vicia godronii (Rouy)
• Vicia villosa f. hamata (Holmb.)
• Vicia unguiculata (Clavaud ex Bonnier & Layens)
• Ervum villosum ((Roth) Trautv.)
• Cracca villosa ((Roth) Gren. & Godr.)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Egypt (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Morocco (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Finland (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Inner Mongolia (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Lesotho (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Montana (introduced)
• Nebraska (introduced)
• Netherlands (introduced)
• Nevada (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• North European Russi (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Northwest European R (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• South Dakota (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Siberia (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Xinjiang (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jun 13, 2018 by Creu Lopez (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 13, 2018 by Creu Lopez (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 29, 2018 by Adamo Davide (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 19, 2018 by JM Martin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 19, 2018 by JM Martin (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Sep 13, 2019 by salih sayin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 16, 2020 by kongier (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2020 by Berta Semar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 24, 2017 by Gym Skuteč (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 13, 2018 by Creu Lopez (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Apr 6, 2021 by Flozinha (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 13, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 10, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 22, 2022 by Frank Sundermeyer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 13, 2018 by Creu Lopez (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jul 3, 2020 by Jäger Latein (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 6, 2020 by Louise SAUVÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 20, 2022 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2020 by Giode Tonpino (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 20, 2022 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jun 25, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 29, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2019 by damien florian (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2021 by yuri (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 10, 2020 by Dominique Bégo (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Sep 14, 2020 by Joseph Moulaison (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 3, 2021 by Sabin Poenariu (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 6, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 16, 2019 by Francesco Chiappalone (cc-by-sa)

© 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.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:525259-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/9182154)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Vicia villosa Roth)

Specifications

Growth form: Single Crown

Growth habit: Forb/herb, Vine

Growth rate: Rapid

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 6.0

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Soil nutriments: 5