Vicia lutea L. (syn.: V. laevigata Smith) (S and W-Eur., W-As., N-Afr., Macaronesia) – A rather rare but probably increasing, locally naturalizing alien. Perhaps first collected on waste land in Liège in 1873 but soon afterwards repeatedly seen at numerous, widely scattered localities. Apparently naturalized by a railway track in Kessel-Lo, at least between 1877 and 1892. Vicia lutea is usually found on dumps, waste land, canal- and railway banks, by roadsides, etc. Its vector of introduction is often uncertain. It was formerly (rarely) introduced with wool waste in the valley of river Vesdre and some records (incl. those from dumps) are obviously associated with cereals and birdseed. Vicia lutea has also been found near timber storage in Staden in 1992. However, most records are from off-ramps, talus slopes and road verges (and other newly sown sites). It is probably introduced with grass seed mixtures (see also Clement & Foster 1994).
Vicia lutea is usually considered to be ephemeral in Belgium (Verloove 2006a). However, according to Graulich (2009) it recently managed to naturalize in parts of central Belgium (at least 13 localities with stable populations). Elsewhere too Vicia lutea often seems to be more or less established but usually in small number and it is questionable if it is really naturalized. By the Albertkanaal in Veldwezelt it occurs on calcareous slopes with Pimpinella peregrina. An overview with recent Belgian records is available here: http://waarnemingen.be/soort/view/7641?from=1900-07-10&to=2013-07-10.
Vicia lutea is a rather variable species (see for instance Romero Zarco 1999 for an overview of its variability). Some Belgian collections were erroneously ascribed to subsp. vestita (Boiss.) Rouy (syn.: V. vestita Boiss., V. lutea var. hirta (Balbis) Lois.). Indeed, plants with pods with reddish hairs would key out to this taxon if one follows Ball (1968). However, genuine subsp. vestita is further distinguished by pinkish to purplish corollas (see also Jauzein 1995) and has not been confirmed from Belgium. In subsp. lutea pods can be either glabrous (rarely so in Belgian collections although pods are glabrescent with age!) or pubescent. In the latter case hairs can be whitish or reddish. Its corolla is always pale yellowish. Subsp. vestita was claimed from the British Isles by Clement & Foster (1994) but these records too are probably erroneous (compare with Sell & Murrell 2009).
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Selected literature:
Ball P.W. (1968) Vicia. In: Tutin T.G. & al. (eds.), Flora Europaea, vol. 2. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 129-136.
Clement E.J. (1977) Adventive news 9. Allies of Vicia lutea in Britain. BSBI News 17: 18.
Clement E.J. & Foster M.C. (1994) Alien plants of the British Isles. BSBI, London: XVIII + 590 p.
Cortenraad J. (1987) De Gele wikke is in Nederland ingeburged. Natuurhist. Maandbl., 76: 6-10.
Graulich A. (2009) Vicia lutea L. dans le district brabançon. Adoxa 61: 27-28.
Jauzein P. (1995) Flore des champs cultivés. INRA, Paris: 898 p.
Neill A.K. (1999) Vicia lutea (Fabaceae) new to Texas. Sida, Contrib. Bot. 18(4): 1265-1266.
Perring F.H. (1956) Vicia lutea L. Bot. Soc. Brit. Isles Proc. 2: 135.
Remacle A. & Jacob J.-P. (2005) Deux jachères à flore diversifiée en Hesbaye Namuroise (province de Namur, Belgique). Natura Mosana 58(2): 33-51.
Romero Zarco C. (1999) Vicia. In: Talavera S. & al. (eds.), Flora Iberica, vol. 7(I). Real Jardín Botánico, Madrid: 360-417.
Roti-Michelozzi G. & Caffaro L. (1984) Cytotaxonomic studies in wild populations of Vicia hybrida L. and Vicia lutea L. Folia Geobot. Phytotax. 19: 169-176.
Sell P. & Murrell G. (2009) Flora of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. 3 Mimosaceae – Lentibulariaceae. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: XXVIII + 595 p.
Verloove F. (2006a) Catalogue of neophytes in Belgium (1800-2005). Scripta Botanica Belgica 39: 89 p.