Common Name:

General Information

Vicia pseudo-orobus is a herbaceous perennial plant with stems 50 - 150cm long that scramble over the ground, climbing into the surrounding vegetation where they attach themselves by means of tendrils[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its flowers.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - eastern Siberia, Russian Far East, Mongolia, China, Japan, Korea

Habitat

Shrubberies, dry slopes and forest edges[]. Hill slopes, bush-woods and forests; at elevations from 800 - 2,000 metres in northern and western China[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally succeed in any well-drained soil in a sunny position if the soil is reliably moist throughout the growing season, otherwise they are best grown in semi-shade[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

Young stems and leaves - cooked[]. Eaten as a vegetable[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in spring or autumn. The seed has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.