Vicia bithynica
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| Vicia bithynica | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Tribe: | Fabeae |
| Genus: | Vicia |
| Species: | V. bithynica |
| Binomial name | |
| Vicia bithynica (L.) L. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Lathyrus bithynicus L. Ervum bithynicum (L.) Stank. | |
Vicia bithynica[2] known as Bithynian vetch, is a species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus, initially as Lathyrus bithynicus (as a type of pea) but later moved to the genus Vicia (vetches).[3] The specific name is derived from Bithynia, an ancient kingdom situated on the north coast of Anatolia, in modern day Turkey.
An annual with climbing stems, scrambling or climbing to about 60 cm tall. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem, are up to about 9 cm long, have 2–3 pairs of leaflets, and end in branched tendrils. The petioles are 2 cm long with a large, ovate, dentate stipule at the base. The flowers are arranged in pairs (although sometimes solitary) on long (5 cm) peduncles branching from the leaf axils. The petals are purple and white, 2 cm long, and have 10 stamens and 1 style. The fruit is a hairy pod or legume up to 5 cm long with 4 to 8 seeds.[2] It has 14 chromosomes.[2][4]
Vicia bithynica is not cultivated for human or livestock consumption. The seeds contain high levels of vicine,[5] which causes favism amongst susceptible individuals.[6]