Taxon:  Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.



Summary
Genus:
Vicia
Subgenus:
Vicilla
Section:
Ervilia
Family:
Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae)
Subfamily:
Faboideae
Tribe:
Fabeae
Nomen number:
41481
Place of publication:
Sp. pl. 3(2):1103.  1802
Verified:
09/29/1988 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
227 (175  active, 127  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Basionym
Ervum ervilia L.

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)
Seed

Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. Afonin, A. N., S. L. Greene, N. I. Dzyubenko, & A. N. Frolov, eds. Interactive agricultural ecological atlas of Russia and neighboring countries. Economic plants and their diseases, pests and weeds (on-line resource).
  2. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  3. Ali, S. I. & S. M. H. Jafri, eds. 1976-. Flora of Libya.
  4. Allkin, R. et al. 1986. Names and synonyms of species and subspecies in the Vicieae: issue 3. In: Bisby, F. A. et al., Vicieae Database Project 7:53.
  5. Arechavaleta, M. et al., coords. 2009. Lista de especies silvestres de Canarias: hongos, plantas y animales terrestres
  6. Berger, J. D. et al. 2003. Agricultural potential of Mediterranean grain and forage legumes: 2) Anti-nutritional factor concentrations in the genus Vicia. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 50:201-212.
  7. Bryant, J. A. & S. G. Hughes. 2011. Chapter 14. Vicia. In: Kole, C., ed., Wild crop relatives: genomic and breeding resources, legume crops and forages 273-289.
  8. Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
  9. Demilly, D. et al. 2001. Liste alphabétique des principales espèces de plantes cultivées et de mauvaises herbes. Noms latins et noms français, ed. 7 GEVES-SNES, Beaucouzé, France.
  10. Duke, J. A. 1981. Handbook of legumes of world economic importance
  11. Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
  12. Enneking, D. 1995. The toxicity of Vicia species and their utilization as grain legumes 27.
  13. Enneking, D. 2011. The nutritive value of grasspea (Lathyrus sativus) and allied species, their toxicity to animals and the role of malnutrition in neurolathyrism. Food Chem. Toxicol. 49:694-709. Note: Vicia ervilia mixed with Lathyrus sativus can be toxic to mules, but also toxicity of V. ervilia occurs in pigs accidentally eating its seeds
  14. Eriksson, O. et al. 1979. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 2.
  15. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
  16. Francis, C. M. et al. 1999. When and where will vetches have an impact as grain legumes? Curr. Pl. Sci. Biotech. Agric. 34:671-683. Note: Vicia ervilia is one of five species cultivated as hay crop
  17. Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
  18. Hermann, F. J. 1960. Vetches of the United States - native, naturalized and cultivated. U.S.D.A. Agric. Handb. 168:9.
  19. Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
  20. Ladizinsky, G. & H. van Oss. 1984. Genetic relationships between wild and cultivated Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 89:97-100. Note: 2n=14
  21. Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
  22. Meikle, R. D. 1977-1985. Flora of Cyprus.
  23. Mouterde, P. 1966-. Nouvelle flore du Liban et de la Syrie.
  24. Pignatti, S. 1982. Flora d'Italia.
  25. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  26. Quézel, P. & S. Santa. 1962-1963. Nouvelle flore de l'Algerie.
  27. Raveendar, S. et al. 2015. Comparative efficacy of four candidate DNA barcode regions for identification of Vicia species. Pl. Genet. Resources Charact. Util. 1-10. DOI: 10.1017/S1479262115000623.
  28. Raynaud, C. 1976. Monographie et iconographie du genre Vicia L. au Maroc. Bull. Inst. Sci. Univ. Mohammed V. 1:170.
  29. Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
  30. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  31. Schaefer, H. et al. 2012. Systematics, biogeography, and character evolution of the legume tribe Fabeae with special focus on the middle-Atlantic island lineages. B. M. C. Evol. Biol. 12:250.
  32. Smythies, B. E. 1984-1986. Flora of Spain and the Balearic Islands: checklist of vascular plants. Englera 3:1-882.
  33. Täckholm, V. 1974. Students' flora of Egypt, ed. 2.
  34. Townsend, C. C. & E. Guest. 1966-. Flora of Iraq.
  35. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  36. Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
  37. Zohary, M. & N. Feinbrun-Dothan. 1966-. Flora palaestina.
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
Englishbitter vetch  1Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Englishervil  1Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Frenchalliez  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Frenchers  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Frencherse  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Frenchervilière  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Frenchpois de pigeon  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Frenchvesce bâtarde  2Demilly, D. et al. 2001. Liste alphabétique des principales espèces de plantes cultivées et de mauvaises herbes. Noms latins et noms français, ed. 7 GEVES-SNES, Beaucouzé, France.
GermanLinsenwicke  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
GermanSteinlinse  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Portugueseervilha-de-pombo  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Portuguesegero  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Portugueseorobo  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishalacarceña  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishyeros  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedishlinsvicker  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Transliterated RussianFrancuzskaja čečevica  2Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAfricaMacaronesiaPortugalMadeira Islands  
1NativeAfricaMacaronesiaSpainCanarias Arechavaleta, M. et al., coords. 2009. Lista de especies silvestres de Canarias: hongos, plantas y animales terrestres
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaAlgeria introd.?Quézel, P. & S. Santa. 1962-1963. Nouvelle flore de l'Algerie.
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaEgypt n.w. 
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaLibya rareAli, S. I. & S. M. H. Jafri, eds. 1976-. Flora of Libya.
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusArmenia  Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusAzerbaijan  Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusGeorgia  Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusRussian FederationDagestan Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusRussian FederationKrasnodar Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateMiddle AsiaKazakhstan  Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateMiddle AsiaKyrgyzstan  Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateMiddle AsiaTurkmenistan  Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateMiddle AsiaUzbekistan  Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaAfghanistan  Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaCyprus  Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIran  Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIraq n.Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIsrael  Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaJordan  Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaLebanon  Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaSyria  Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaTurkey  Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeAlbania  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeBulgaria  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeFormer Yugoslavia  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeGreece incl. CreteTutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeItaly incl. SicilyTutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeFrance  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropePortugal  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeSpain incl. BalearesTutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
2Cultivated    also cult. 
Native
Africa
  • MACARONESIA: Spain [Canarias], Portugal [Madeira Islands]
  • NORTHERN AFRICA: Algeria (introd.?), Egypt (n.w.), Libya (rare)
Asia-Temperate
  • WESTERN ASIA: Afghanistan, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq (n.), Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey
  • CAUCASUS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation [Dagestan, Krasnodar]
  • MIDDLE ASIA: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Europe
  • SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Former Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece (incl. Crete), Italy (incl. Sicily)
  • SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain (incl. Baleares), France, Portugal
Cultivated (also cult.)

Reference(s)
  1. Ali, S. I. & S. M. H. Jafri, eds. 1976-. Flora of Libya.
  2. Arechavaleta, M. et al., coords. 2009. Lista de especies silvestres de Canarias: hongos, plantas y animales terrestres
  3. Quézel, P. & S. Santa. 1962-1963. Nouvelle flore de l'Algerie.
  4. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  5. Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Animal foodfodder Duke, J. A. 1981. Handbook of legumes of world economic importance
Environmentalsoil improver Duke, J. A. 1981. Handbook of legumes of world economic importance
Human foodpulselocally cultivated in Morocco, but also see Ladizinsky & van Oss (1984)Francis, C. M. et al. 1999. When and where will vetches have an impact as grain legumes? Curr. Pl. Sci. Biotech. Agric. 34:671-683. Note: Vicia ervilia is one of five species cultivated as hay crop
Vertebrate poisonsmammalsto livestockEnneking, D. 1995. The toxicity of Vicia species and their utilization as grain legumes 27.
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=41481. Accessed 17 April 2026.