vetch

Vetch is the common name for plants in the genus Vicia, within the legume family Fabaceae. The group includes about 80 species of annual and perennial herbs and vines, among them several important forage crops such as common vetch (Vicia sativa) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa).

Most vetches are climbing or trailing plants with pinnate leaves, each leaf typically possessing several pairs of narrow leaflets and a terminal tendril. The flowers are small, pea-like, and often blue, purple, or white. After flowering, they produce slender pods containing several seeds. Like other legumes, vetches form root nodules that host nitrogen-fixing bacteria, enriching soil nitrogen.

Vicia species are native to Eurasia and North Africa and have been cultivated widely in temperate regions for centuries. They are now grown around the world as forage crops, green manures, and cover crops, and some can establish in naturalized fields or disturbed habitats.

In agriculture, vetches are valued for rapid establishment, cool-season growth, and the ability to fix nitrogen. They are often sown with cereals or used in rotation, and inoculation with compatible Rhizobium bacteria improves nodulation. Some varieties are winter-hardy and frost tolerant.

Notable species include common vetch (Vicia sativa), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), and tufted vetch (Vicia cracca). Vetch seeds are used as animal feed; human consumption is limited to specific cultures and species. Some vetches can become weedy under certain conditions and may contribute to bloat in grazing livestock if consumed as lush or immature forage.