Vicia sylvatica explained

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.

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

Found in woods, rocky ground and scree.^{[4] [5]}

Distribution

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

Notes and References

1. [C. A. Stace]
2. Book: Blamey. M.. Fitter. R.. Fitter. A. 2003. Wild flowers of Britain and Ireland: The Complete Guide to the British and Irish Flora.. A & C Black. London. 978-1408179505.
3. Book: Clapham . A.R. . Tutin . T.G. . Warburg . E.F. . 1981 . Third . Excursion flora of the British Isles . Cambridge University Press . 9780521232906 .
4. Book: Webb . D.A. . Parnell . J. . Doogue . D. . 1996 . An Irish Flora . Dundalgan Press Ltd. . Dundalk . 0-85221-131-7 .
5. Hackney, P. ed. 1992. Stewart and Corry's Flora of the North-east of Ireland. Third Edition. Institute of Irish Studies. The Queen's University of Belfast.
6. Scannell, M.J.P. and Synnott, D.M. 1972 Census Catalogue of the Flora of Ireland. Dublin. The Stationery Office