Vicia tetrasperma - Smooth Tare

Family:	Leguminosae
Habit:	Annual
Height:	0.6
Synonyms:	V. gemella.
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and W. Asia.

Vicia tetrasperma (Smooth Tare) is a Annual which grows to a height of 0.6m . It has a hardness rating of 0.
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees, self

Soil Information

Smooth Tare will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Smooth Tare prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Smooth Tare can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Grassy places, avoiding acid soils[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds
• Suits a meadow

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position if the soil is reliably moist throughout the growing season, otherwise it is best grown in semi-shade[200]. Dislikes shade according to another report. 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[200]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
Young leaves and shoots - cooked as a vegetable[2, 105, 183]. A coffee substitute[183]. The part used is not specified, it is almost certainly the roasted seed[K].

• Coffee - the various substitutes that can be used instead of coffee.
• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in situ in spring or autumn.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

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