Vicia sylvatica

Vicia sylvatica (syn. Ervilia sylvatica),^[1] known as wood vetch, is a species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus.

Vicia sylvatica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Tribe:	Fabeae
Genus:	Vicia
Species:	V. sylvatica
Binomial name
Vicia sylvatica L.
Synonyms
Ervilia sylvatica (L.) Schur[1]

Description

This species is a herbaceous perennial with climbing stems. The leaves have 4 to 12 pairs of leaflets and end in branched tendrils. The flowers are 15 to 20 mm long arranged in racemes of up to 18 flowers. The petals are white with purple veins and the fruit is a pod or legume with 4 to 5 seeds.^[1][2][3][4]

Habitat

It is found in woods, on rocky ground and scree.^[4][5]

Distribution

This species has been recorded in much of Ireland.^[6]