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Vetch

Vicia sp.

Vetch, Vicia, Kenya, photo © by Michael Plagens

Observed on a farming plot near Eldoret, Kenya. January 2014.

From Wikipedia: Vicia is a genus of about 140 species of flowering plants commonly known as vetches. Member species are native to Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa. Some other genera also have names containing "vetch", for example the vetchlings (Lathyrus) or the milk-vetches (Astragalus). The broad bean (Vicia faba) is sometimes separated in a monotypic genus Faba; although not often used today, it is of historical importance in plant taxonomy as the namesake of the order Fabales, the Fabaceae and the Faboideae. The tribe Vicieae in which the vetches are placed is named after the genus' current name. Among the closest living relatives of vetches are the lentils (Lens) and the true peas (Pisum).

Fabaceae -- Bean Family -- Papilionoideae - Typical Bean Sub-Family

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Copyright Michael J. Plagens, Created on 25 April 2014