Fabaceae FAMILY

Vicia nigricans

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Vicia nigricans is a vigorous, herbaceous perennial plant with stout, branched stems that can be 1 metre or more long. The stems scramble over the surrounding vegetation, attaching themselves by means of tendrils, and often forming extensive tangles and draperies over shrubs. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and hair tonic.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeWestern N. America - Alaska to California; S. America - Argentina, Chile

HabitatMoist places in California, especially in redwood forests[ 71 Title A California Flora. Publication Author Munz P.A. & Keck D.D. Publisher University of California Press; Los Angeles Year 1959 ISBN - Description An excellent flora but no pictures. Not for the casual reader. ]. Upper margin of sand or shingle beaches in the driftwood zone, also on rocky headlands and open woods near the coast.