Kingdom:
Phylum:
Angiosperms
Order:
Fabales
Family:
Genus:
Species:
lens
ID:
213399

Status:
valid

Authors:
(L.) Coss. & Germ.

Source:
ildis

Year:
1845

Citation Micro:
Fl. Descr. Anal. Paris: 143 (1845)

WFO Identifier:
wfo-0000212728



Common Names

  • Vicia lens
  • Lens Vicia
  • Lens Vetch


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Synonyms

  • Lens lens (L.) Huth [invalid]
  • Ervum lens L. [unknown]
  • Lens culinaris Medik. [unknown]
  • Lens esculenta Moench [illegitimate]
  • Lentilla lens (L.) W.Wight [unknown]
  • Lathyrus lens (L.) Bernh. [unknown]
  • Orobus lens (L.) Stokes [unknown]
  • Cicer lens (L.) Willd. [unknown]
  • Lens culinaris esculenta Briq. [invalid]
  • Lens culinaris disperma (Roxb.) P.Fourn. [valid]
  • Vicia lens subexasperma (Godr.) Arcang. [valid]

Description

Vicia lens (also called lentil vetch, among many other common names) is an annual herbaceous plant that grows up to 40 cm tall. It has a slender stem with small, ovate-lanceolate leaves. It is native to Europe and is found in dry grasslands, rocky slopes, and other disturbed habitats.

Uses & Benefits

Vicia lens is used as a food crop and for animal feed. It is also used as an ornamental plant in gardens and parks.

Cultivars, Varieties & Sub-species

Vicia lens sub. lens
Vicia lens sub. lamottei (Czefr.) H.Schaef., Coulot & Rabaute

Flower, Seeds and Seedlings

The flower of Vicia lens is a purple color with a five-lobed corolla. The seed is a small, flattened, oval-shaped seed. The seedlings are thin and have a single pair of leaves.

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Cultivation and Propagation

Vicia lens is an annual plant that can be grown from seed. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil and is tolerant of drought. Propagation is by seed, which should be sown in early spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Where to Find Vicia lens

Vicia lens can be found in Europe, North Africa, and western Asia.

Vicia lens FAQ

What is the scientific name of Vicia lens?

Vicia lens

What is the common name of Vicia lens?

Lens Vetch

Where is Vicia lens found?

It is found in Europe and North Africa

Species in the Vicia genus

Vicia hassei, Vicia lomensis, Vicia ocalensis, Vicia setifolia, Vicia epetiolaris, Vicia macrograminea, Vicia pampicola, Vicia acutifolia, Vicia americana, Vicia andicola, Vicia bijuga, Vicia caroliniana, Vicia humilis, Vicia leucophaea, Vicia linearifolia, Vicia magellanica, Vicia menziesii, Vicia minutiflora, Vicia montevidensis, Vicia nana, Vicia nigricans, Vicia pallida, Vicia pulchella, Vicia stenophylla, Vicia vicina, Vicia peruviana, Vicia andina, Vicia sessei, Vicia tetrasperma, Vicia graminea, Vicia balansae, Vicia michauxii, Vicia pseudo-orobus, Vicia hyrcanica, Vicia amurensis, Vicia splendens, Vicia alpestris, Vicia ciceroidea, Vicia multijuga, Vicia megalotropis, Vicia cassia, Vicia cypria, Vicia kalakhensis, Vicia eristalioides, Vicia mollis, Vicia hyaeniscyamus, Vicia johannis, Vicia parviflora, Vicia tenuissima, Vicia kotschyana,

Species in the Fabaceae family

References

Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778): Based on occurrence of standard abbreviation 'L.' in the authors string.
Ernest Cosson (1819-1889): Based on occurrence of standard abbreviation 'Coss.' in the authors string.
Jacques Nicolas Ernest Germain de Saint-Pierre (1814-1882): Based on occurrence of standard abbreviation 'Germ.' in the authors string.