Today's Nature Post features Giant Vetch!

Belonging to the group more commonly known as Vetch, this plant is also known as Vicia and is a genus of plants including over 140 flowering species. This genus belongs to the Fabaceae family, or the Legume family, which includes relative such as clover, lentils, chickpeas, and peas. These are perennial plants that are native to multiple areas such as Europe, Asia, Africa, as well as North and South America. Giant Vetch belongs to a subfamily of the Vicia known as Faboideae. Other species belonging to that subfamily include Vetchlings and Milk-Vetches. Giant Vetch grows from thick, hollow stems known for their climbing ability which allows them to grow over 6 feet in length or height. This plant features compound leaves that can grow to approximately an inch and a half long and sport branched, curling tendrils at the end of each leaf. It produces pea-like flowers in a variety of colors from orange to reddish-purple or yellow-white. These flowers often grow in groups and bunches of seven to twenty flowers on one side of a stem. Giant Vetch, in particular, will prefer to grow in low elevations such as in meadows, streams, the edge of beaches, or forests. It can often be found in coastal regions along the West coast of North America from California to Alaska. The Bitter Vetch is known as one of the earliest domesticated crop with it's use beginning around 9,000 years ago in Western Asia. However, over time, it was phased out from human use and only used as a last resort crop during times of starvation where it became used greatly in the diet of poor folk in the eighteenth century. The Common Vetch began to used more often over the years and the Vetch family was used primarily as a forage crop for ruminant animals or as a cover crop, or a plant used to manage soil quality, soil erosion, weeds, pests, or soil fertility. However, it is important to note that Vetches are often toxic to non-ruminant animals such as humans or humans. Two species of Vetch in particular have seeds that contain Canavanine, a toxin consisting of the amino acid Arginine. These species being V. Villosa and V. Benghalensis. Certain Vetch can be used in small quantities as feed to ruminants, however, when used as the main food it can cause Lathyrism which is neurological disease also known as Odoratism and affects the linking of collagen in the body.

Giant Vetch, Vicia Spp, is known for it's spiritual connections to fidelity. It is said that if your loved one has wandered that you can remind them you are still waiting by rubbing the root of the Giant Vetch on your body, wrap it in cloth, and place it under your pillow. Native Americans would use safe species of the plant as food including the leaves, pods, and seeds of the plant. The Makah First Nation used Giant Vetch as a cover for steaming sprouts while the Saanich First Nation used it when making hair tonic. The leaves of the American Vetch can be made into a poultice to treat spider bites while infusions can be used as an eyewash. This infusion was also used for washes in sweat houses. American Vetch was also used as an aphrodisiac, remedy for multiple uses, as well as a good luck charm.