LEGUMINOS^ 429 



vekh (Vicia ftdgens), Narboniic velch {Vkia narbonnemis) and woolly podded 

 vetch iyicia dasycarpa) are rather rare species, cultivated to a slight degree 

 on the Pacific Coast. 



The term "vetch" is given to a number of plants, not belonging to the 

 genus Vicia, for example: Crown vetch [Coronilla sp.), kidney vetch (Anlhyl- 

 lis vulneraria), Dakota vetch (Hosackia americana) and Lathyrus spp. 



VICIA FABA (Broad Bean, Windsor Bean) 



This is a strong, erect annual, 2 to 4 feet high with a well- 

 developed primary root (Fig. 181). The leaves are pinnately 

 compoimd, and become blackish on drying. The inflorescence 

 is an axillary raceme of two to six flowers. The flower is 

 white, its wings marked by a large black spot. The pods 

 are large and thick, and vary considerably in length, each 

 bearing a number of large, black seeds. The smaller-rseeded 

 sorts, sometimes known as pigeon bean, field bean and tick 

 bean, are used as an animal food, while the large-seeded 

 varieties are used as human food. 



The home of the wild plant from which the cultivated 

 varieties are derived is Algeria. Broad bean is cultivated 

 chiefly in Canada. It thrives best where the summers are 

 long and cool. 



VICIA SATIVA (Common Vetch or Tares) 



This is an annual climbing plant which branches freely. 

 The leaves are pinnately compound with about seven pairs 

 of leaflets, and a terminal tendril. Flowers occur singly or in 

 twos in the leaf axils; they are short pedimcled, and reddish 

 purple (rarely white) in color. The flowers are cross-fer- 

 tilized. The hairy pods have four or five smooth, globular, 

 gray or marbled seeds. The Willamette Valley, Oregon, 

 produces a large proportion of the common vetch seed in the 

 United States. Vetch seed loses its viability very rapidly 

 after about the third year. The plant is a native of Europe. 



