VETCH

n.

Any of about 150 species of herbaceous plants in the genus Vicia of the pea family (see legume ).

A few species are cultivated as important fodder and cover crops and as green manure . Trailing or climbing stems grow 1–4 ft (0.3–1.2 m) tall, bearing compound leaves with several pairs of leaflets. Magenta, bluish-white, white, or yellow flowers are borne singly or in clusters. The pods contain 2–10 seeds. Like other legumes, vetches add nitrogen to the soil through nitrogen fixation . See also crown vetch .

Vetch ( Vicia cracca )

Walter Dawn