Vicia benghalensis L.

Spice Flowers In the field

Family: LEGUMINOSAE

Genus: Vicia

Catalan common name: Matagat. Veça de ramelles. Veça vermella.

Spanish common name: Arveja roja. Veza púrpura.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte. Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Fields and sides roads.

Characteristics: Like most vetches, it can be found hanging from rocks or other plants. Leaves are composite, with up to 10 pairs of folioles. The plant is covered with hairs, especially on the top half. Forms one-sided inflorescences, and flowers all open at the same time; these are rose or red coloured flowers with a dark apex and a pallid, hair-covered base. The form of the flowers and the inflorescence makes it discernable from the other Vicia species. Flowers in spring.