Vicia monantha Retz. [incl. V. calcarata Desf., V. monantha subsp. calcarata (Desf.) Romero Zarco, V. monantha subsp. triflora (Ten.) B.L. Burtt & P. Lewis] (Medit. SW-As.) – A very rare and ephemeral alien. Probably recorded only twice in Belgium. First seen in 1913 (without obvious vector of introduction). In 2015 found on rough ground by river Schelde in Antwerpen. In the latter locality it was found among species that probably arose from a wild flower seed mixture (Coreopsis tinctoria, Echium plantagineum, Gilia tricolor, Glandularia aristigera, Gypsophila elegans, etc.). Vicia monantha, however, is not known as a component of such mixtures. In the British Isles it is always associated with grain (Clement & Foster 1994).
Vicia monantha is a variable species (Burtt & Lewis 1949). Several subspecies have been described and some of these have been accepted as distinct species by some authors. However, all are separated on quantitative rather than qualitative characters (e.g. flower size, number of flowers per inflorescence) and their separation is often problematic. Although many recent authors still accept subspecies (e.g. Romero Zarco 1999, Tison & de Foucault 2014), V. monantha is probably best seen as a variable species, without recognizing infraspecific taxa.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Selected literature:
Burtt B.L. & Lewis P. (1949) Vicia Monantha Retzius. Kew Bulletin 4(4): 497-515.
Clement E.J. & Foster M.C. (1994) Alien plants of the British Isles. BSBI, London: XVIII + 590 p.Romero Zarco C. (1999) Vicia. In: Talavera S. & al. (eds.), Flora Iberica, vol. 7(I). Real Jardín Botánico, Madrid: 360-417. [available online at: http://www.floraiberica.es/floraiberica/texto/pdfs/07_33%20Vicia.pdf]
Roy G.P. & Singh V. (1981) Vicia monantha Retz. and Sporobolus airoides (Torr.) Torr.: new to Indian flora. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 77(3): 532-534.
Tison J.-M. & de Foucault B. (coord.) 2014) Flora Gallica. Flore de France. Editions Biotope, Mèze : xx + 1196 p.