Vicia narbonensis L. (S-Eur., Medit., W-As.) – A rare and ephemeral alien. Perhaps first collected in Tinlot in 1888. Nearly all other records are from waste land. Repeatedly seen for instance around Brussel in the beginning of the 20th century (Sint-Gillis, Ukkel, Vorst). Also seen in the port of Gent in 1922. In the past decades still rarer and only exceptionally seen, for instance on a calcareous slope of the Canal Albert near Visé in 1996 (apparently as a grass seed alien), on a fallow field in Flône in 2011-2013 (along with Vicia bithynica and V. pannonica) and in Tienen at the sugar refinery. The exact vector of introduction of most other records is uncertain but most are probably related with cereals and birdseed (see also Clement & Foster 1994).
Vicia narbonensis is part of a taxonomically difficult group of minor species. At present, these are given specific status (see Euro+Med Plantbase, following Schäfer 1973). Other authors adopt a lower taxonomic rank, usually as a subspecies (see Jauzein 1995, Romero Zarco 1999). Vicia serratifolia is here accepted as a separate species (see there). Nowadays it is more often seen than Vicia narbonensis s.str. and usually readily distinguished on key characters.
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Selected literature:
Clement E.J. & Foster M.C. (1994) Alien plants of the British Isles. BSBI, London: XVIII + 590 p.
Jauzein P. (1995) Flore des champs cultivés. INRA, Paris: 898 p.
Kirn H.S. (1983) Vicia narbonensis Linn: an addition to the Indian flora from Poonch. J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 4(3): 979-980.
Romero Zarco C. (1999) Vicia. In: Talavera S. & al. (eds.), Flora Iberica, vol. 7(I). Real Jardín Botánico, Madrid: 360-417.
Schäfer H. (1973) Zur Taxonomic der Vicia narbonensis Gruppe. Kulturpflanze 21: 211-273.