vetch

vetch
vetchlike, adj.
/vech/, n.
1. any of several mostly climbing plants belonging to the genus Vicia, of the legume family, having pinnate leaves ending in tendrils and bearing pealike flowers, esp. V. sativa (spring vetch), cultivated for forage and soil improvement.
2. any of various allied plants, as Lathyrus sativus, of Europe, cultivated for their edible seeds and for forage.
3. the beanlike seed or fruit of any such plant.
[1325-75; ME ve(c)che < AF; OF vecce (F vesce) < L vicia]

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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

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plant
also called  Tare,  
 any herbaceous plant of the genus Vicia, within the pea family (Fabaceae). About 150 species are known. The plants are 30–120 cm (1–4 feet) tall, with trailing or climbing stems and compound leaves with several pairs of leaflets. The magenta, bluish white, white, or yellow flowers are borne singly or in clusters. Two to ten seeds are borne in a pod. A few species of vetch are cultivated as important fodder and cover crops and as green manure. Like other legumes, they add nitrogen to the soil by means of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and thus are particularly valuable as a soil-enriching crop. For the low-growing ground cover Coronilla varia, see crown vetch.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Vetch — Vetch, n. [Also fitch; OE. ficche, feche, for veche, OF. veche, vecce, vesche, vesce, F. vesce, fr. L. vicia.] (Bot.) Any leguminous plant of the genus {Vicia}, some species of which are valuable for fodder. The common species is {Vicia sativa}.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • vetch — vetch; vetch·ling; …   English syllables

  • vetch — [vech] n. [ME feche, veche < NormFr veche < L vicia, vetch < IE * weik (< base * wei , to bend > WEAK)] any of a number of leafy, climbing or trailing plants (esp. genus Vicia) of the pea family, grown chiefly for fodder and as a… …   English World dictionary

  • vetch — [vetʃ] n a plant with small flowers, often used to feed farm animals …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • vetch — [ vetʃ ] noun count a wild plant with small flowers …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • vetch — (n.) late 14c., from O.N.Fr. veche, variant of O.Fr. vece, from L. vicia, which perhaps is related to vincire to bind (Cf. second element of PERIWINKLE (Cf. periwinkle) (1)). Du. wikke, Ger. Wicke are loan words from L. vicia …   Etymology dictionary

  • vetch — ► NOUN ▪ a leguminous plant with purple, pink, or yellow flowers, cultivated for silage or fodder. ORIGIN Old French veche, from Latin vicia …   English terms dictionary

  • vetch — noun Etymology: Middle English fecche, veche, from Middle French dialect (Norman & Picard) veche, from Latin vicia; perhaps akin to Latin vincire to bind Date: 14th century any of a genus (Vicia) of herbaceous twining leguminous plants including… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • vetch — [[t]ve̱tʃ[/t]] vetches N MASS Vetch is a wild plant. Some types of vetch are sometimes grown as a crop …   English dictionary

  • vetch — UK [vetʃ] / US noun [countable] Word forms vetch : singular vetch plural vetches a wild plant with small flowers …   English dictionary

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