Spring vetch (Vicia lathyroides)
Vicia lathyroides, spring vetch, is a small, annual herb in the bean family with double-leafed leaves and red-violet flowers. Its native to Europe and western Asia. In the Nordic region, it grows in Denmark, the Åland islands and the southern parts of Sweden and Norway.
Spring vetch grows on sunny and dry grasslands and pastures on preferably calcareous soils. It is not very abundant and can go unnoticed, as it is so small with stems up to 12 cm, and with its early flowering in April to May. By midsummer, plants produce a miniature pea pod containing 8-12 comparatively large seeds. With no long-distance dispersal mechanism, the species is presumed to be poor at colonizing new sites.
Classed as vulnerable
In Finland, spring willow is classed as vulnerable (VU) due to its small population size, decline, fragmentation and strong fluctuations in population size. The main threats include overgrowing of meadows and construction. It grows mainly on dry meadows and heaths in Åland where it is a protected species. In Norway, it grows on open dry meadows in coastal areas and is considered highly endangered (EN) because its relatively low number of occurrences, fragmented distribution, declining habitats and decline of the species. In Sweden spring willow is not considered threatened and occurs mainly in coastal areas from Scania to Uppland. In Denmark it is quite common in suitable habitats across the country, mostly on coastal habitats.
Vicia lathyroides is related to cultivated beans including Broad/Fava bean (Vicia faba), Horse bean (Vicia faba var. equina), Tick bean (Vicia faba var. minuta) and Common vetch (Vicia sativa). All of these can be used as fodder for animals and Broad bean also as human food. Broad beans have a long history in agriculture being one of the most ancient plants in cultivation. Vicia faba withstands cold climate and has therefore been cultivated in the Nordic region for a long time. Broad beans were traditionally eaten as boiled or fried as a side dish or in porridges and soups. After potato became an important staple crop in the region, the cultivation of broad beans decreased. However, there has lately been a renewed increased interest in growing broad beans for human consumption in the region as it is a very good alternative to imported soy.
