Single-flowered vetch (Vicia articulata Hornem.): A relic crop in Italy

Single-flowered vetch (Vicia articulata Hornem.), a crop native of the Medi terranean area, is widespread mainly in south Europe, in west Asia and Aust ralia for forage, green manure and human food. In Italy this crop was still cultivated in the 1950s but, later, no records concerning its cultivation were available. This strongly suggested to place V. articulata among the It alian crop species that disappeared in the 20th century. In the course of a collecting expedition in Sardinia, a relic population, mistaken for lentil , was found. This population has been characterised from a botanical, nutri tional and cytological point of view. V. articulata appears to be lower in nutritional quality than lentil. However, within the framework of a sustain able agriculture, V. articulata could find interesting opportunities. In fa ct, its role in soil conservation and rescue of marginal areas could be int eresting, as well as its potentialities as a source of useful genes in bree ding programmes.