| vetch | <botany> Any leguminous plant of the genus Vicia, some species of which are valuable for fodder. The common species is V. Sativa. The name is also applied to many other leguminous plants of different genera; as the chichling vetch, of the genus Lathyrus; the horse vetch, of the genus Hippocrepis; the kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria); the milk vetch, of the genus Astragalus; the licorice vetch, or wild licorice (Abrus precatorius). Origin: Also fitch; OE. Ficche, feche, for veche, OF. Veche, vecce, vesche, vesce, F. Vesce, fr. L. Vicia. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| vetchling | <botany> Any small leguminous plant of the genus Lathyrus, especially L. Nissolia. Origin: Vetch + -ling. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| milk vetch | <botany> A leguminous herb (Astragalus glycyphyllos) of Europe and Asia, supposed to increase the secretion of milk in goats. The name is sometimes taken for the whole genus Astragalus, of which there are about two hundred species in North America, and even more elsewhere. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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