Vicia lutea L.

Spice Fruit In the field

Family: LEGUMINOSAE

Genus: Vicia

Catalan common name: Galabarç. Galavars. Veça groga.

Spanish common name: Arveja amarilla. Arvejna. Arvejón.

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

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

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

Characteristics: Vicia lutea is named for the to the yellow colour of its flowers, which are often speckled with violet. These are large flowers 2 to 3 centimetres in diameter, that emerge detached above a very short peduncles. The leaves have many folioles, which is usual for this genus. The legumes are covered with hairs and have a tubercle at the base. Flowers since the end of spring and beginning of summer.