1. Lens culinaris Med. (syn.: Vicia lens (L.) Coss. et Germ., Ervum lens L.) (origin obscure) – A regular but always ephemeral alien, mostly from food refuse or birdseed. Reported at least since 1852 as an escape from cultivation in numerous, very widely scattered locations. Most recent records are from port areas (sometimes abundantly germinating from spilled seeds on unloading quays or waste land near mills), road verges (from spilled seeds), dumps, etc. Sometimes seen in urban habitats (foot of walls, cracks in pavement, etc.), obviously from birdseed waste.
References:
Chefranova Z.V. (1971) Obzor vidov roda Lens Mill. (Conspectus specierum generis Lens Mill.). Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 8: 184-191.
Ferguson M.E., Maxted N., Van Slageren M. & Robertson L.D. (2000) A re-assessment of the taxonomy of Lens Mill. (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Viceae). Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 133(1): 41-59.
Ladizinsky G. (1984) The biological species of the genus Lens L. Botanical Gazette 145: 253-261.