Four-seed vetch (Vicia tetrasperma, Spic. Fl. Lips.: 26 (1771))

Family: Fabaceae

Author: (L.) Schreb.

Bibliography: Spic. Fl. Lips.: 26 (1771)

Year: 1771

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Vicia

Vegetable: False

Observations: Macaronesia, Temp. Eurasia to Indian Subcontinent, N. Africa

Description

Four-seed vetch, known scientifically as Vicia tetrasperma, is a plant species first described in 1771 in the “Spicilegium Florae Lipsiensis” by noted botanist (L.) Schreb. This species, part of the Fabaceae family, is notable for its widespread distribution across various geographic regions, including Macaronesia, temperate Eurasia, the Indian Subcontinent, and Northern Africa.

Adaptable and resilient, Vicia tetrasperma thrives in a variety of climates and soils, making it a species of interest for ecological and botanical studies. Its ability to spread across such diverse regions indicates a strong adaptability to different environmental conditions. The plant is typically found in fields, roadsides, and other disturbed habitats, where it plays an essential role in nitrogen fixation, thereby enriching the soil and supporting agricultural ecosystems.

The four-seed vetch is distinguishable by its delicate, vine-like stems and tiny, four-seeded pods, a characteristic from which its common name is derived. The small, paired leaflets and tendrils assist the plant in climbing and sprawling across other vegetation, enhancing its ability to capture sunlight efficiently.

Given its extensive range and adaptability, Vicia tetrasperma serves as a valuable species for understanding ecological interactions and plant distribution patterns. Furthermore, its membership in the Fabaceae family links it to a group of plants that are fundamental to both natural ecosystems and human agriculture due to their role in nitrogen cycling.

In conclusion, the four-seed vetch exemplifies the intricate connections between plant species and their environments, underlining the importance of such plants in global ecological balances and agricultural systems.

Common Names

Eng: four-seed vetch, lentil tare, lentil vetch, slender vetch, smooth tare, smooth vetch, sparrow vetch
Dan: tadder-vikke
Deu: viersamige wicke
Nno: firfrøvikke
Nob: firfrøvikke
Swe: mäkivirvilä, sparvvicker
Fin: mäkivirvilä
Nld: slanke wikke en vierzadige wikke, vierzadige + slanke wikke, vierzadige en slanke wikke
Fra: vesce à quatre graines, cicérole, lentillon
Cat: vicia tetrasperma
Cym: corbysen lefn bedair-ronynnog, corbysen lefn bedwar-ronynnog, corbysen lefn ronynnog, ffacbys llyfn, ffacbysen lefn
En: Four-seed vetch, Slender vetch, Smooth tare, Smooth vetch, Lentil tare, Sparrow vetch, Lentil vetch, Four-seeded Vetch
Ar: دحريج (دُحريج)، جلبان (جِلبان، جُلُبان), بيقية رباعية الحبوب
Be: Гарошак чатырохнасенны
Ca: Vicia tetrasperma, Vicía tetrasperma
Zh: 四籽野豌豆, 烏嘴豆
Kw: Gwegbys mool
Cs: Vikev čtyřsemenná
Da: Tadder-Vikke
Nl: Vierzadige wikke, Vierzaige Wikke, Gladde wikke, Slanke Wikke, Vierzadige en Slanke wikke, Slanke wikke en vierzadige wikke, Vierzadige + Slanke wikke
Et: Neljaseemneline hiirehernes, Neljaseemnene hiirehernes
Fi: Mäkivirvilä
Fr: Vesce a quatre graines, Vesce à quatre graines, Cicérole, Lentillon
De: Viersamige Wicke
He: בקיה עדינה
Ga: Peasair mhín
It: Veccia a 4 semi, Veccia a quattro semi, Veccia tetrasperma
Ja: Kasuma-gusa
Ko: 얼치기완두
Nb: Firfrøvikke
Nn: Firfrøvikke
Fa: ماشک چهاردانه‌ای
Pl: Wyka czteronasienna
Ru: Gorošek četyrechsemjannyj
Sk: Vika štvorsemenná
Es: Vícia tetrasperma, Garrobilla, Veza tetrasperma
Sv: Sparvvicker, Mäkivirvilä
Zh-tw: 四籽野豌豆
Zh-hant: 四籽野豌豆
Cy: Ffacbysen lefn, Corbysen Lefn Bedair-Ronynnog, Corbysen Lefn Bedwar-Ronynnog, Corbysen Lefn Ronynnog, Ffacbys Llyfn

Synonyms

• Cicer tetraspermum ((L.) Vest)
• Vicia pusilla (Muhl. ex Willd.)
• Vicia agrestis (Scheele)
• Ervum glabrum (Gilib.)
• Ervum tetraspermum var. tenue (Wahlenb.)
• Ervilia tetrasperma ((L.) Opiz)
• Ervum tetragonum (Höfft)
• Vicia tetrasperma subsp. eutetrasperma (Briq.)
• Ervum tetraspermum var. tenuifolium (Fr.)
• Vicia tetrasperma var. major (Gray)
• Vicia gemella (Crantz)
• Ervum tetraspermum var. gracile (Klett & Richt.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Altay (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Japan (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Korea (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Amur (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Chatham Is. (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Chile North (introduced)
• Chile South (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Khabarovsk (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Sakhalin (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Siberia (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jul 6, 2020 by Kinga Szelényi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 23, 2019 by idc pierre (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 24, 2019 by Jude McLoughlin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 15, 2021 by stelwagen lolke (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 11, 2021 by Darren Giddins (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jun 15, 2006 by Tela Botanica − Laurent PETIT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2008 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken May 25, 2022 by Stefana Popova (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 28, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Bertrand BUI (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jul 23, 2021 by Pieter Verbrugghe (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 10, 2022 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 25, 2022 by Stefana Popova (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 7, 2021 by Alexander Baransky (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 24, 2018 by MARCEL ETIENNE (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 7, 2021 by Alexander Baransky (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 7, 2020 by Sloeniy Sloeniy (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Mathieu MENAND (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Mathieu MENAND (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 24, 2018 by MARCEL ETIENNE (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jun 2, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Bertrand BUI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 6, 2020 by Kinga Szelényi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 6, 2020 by Kinga Szelényi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 3, 2021 by L Bakker (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 29, 2021 by We To (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken May 17, 2022 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2975083)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60016556-3)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Vicia tetrasperma (L.) Schreb.)
• WFO (No URL)
• WFO (No URL)

Specifications

Growth habit: Vine, Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 5.5

Ph minimum: 5.0

Light: 6

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Soil nutriments: 5