Relatives
Vicia baicalensis (Turcz.) B.Fedtsch. - Baikal Vetch.
Taxonomic position.
Family Fabaceae Lindl., genus Vicia L.Morphology and biology.
Perennial. Rhizome thick, short. Stems 40.60 cm tall, numerous, erect, glabrous or covered with sparse hairs. Leaves 2.3-paired; leaflets 5.6 cm long, 2,0.2,8 cm wide, coriaceous, broad, ovate-elliptic, glabrous, poorly pubescent on veins. Leaf rachis ends with linear short cusp. Lateral veins distinct, numerous, venation reticular. Stipules 8.12 mm long, semilunar, with obtuse or falcate lobe. Peduncles equal to or longer than axillary leaf. Raceme 6.15-flowered. Flowers 12.15 mm long, pale violet or lilac-blue. Calyx teeth linear. Lower tooth 1/2 as long as calyx. Standard oblong, without distinct constriction between standard blade and unguis. Standard blade not reflexed from keel, equal to the latter in length. Style compressed dorsally, linear, evenly pubescent with short hairs. Pods 22.25 mm long, 3.4 mm wide, oblong-lanceolate. Seeds light brown. Seed hilum makes 1/3 of seed circuit. Flowers in early June, fruits in late July - early September. Cross-pollinated. 2n=12.Distribution.
Transbaikal area, Primorie Territory.Ecology.
In shady mixed and coniferous forests, less often in their fringes.Economic value.
Has significance as a forest forage plant, equal to common vetch in feeding value, contents of protein and other nutrients.References:
Fedchenko BA. 1948. Genus Vetch - Vicia L. In: Shishkin BK., Bobrov EG., eds. 1948. Flora URSS. V.13. P.406-475. (In Russian).Polozhij AV., Malyshev LI., eds. 1994. Flora of Siberia. V.9. Fabaceae (Leguminosae). Novosibirsk: Nauka. 280 p. (In Russian).