The sweet vetch is a very polymorphic species with a Mediterranean-Turanian distribution, which is present in all regions of Italy with several subspecies, some of which are cultivated since Neolithic times for human consumption, below the upper montane belt. The species sporadically appears in the outer belt of the temporary ponds of Sardinia, in contact with pastures. The seed, indigestible and unappetising, was dried, ground and mixed with grain flour for making bread; the nominal subspecies was also widely cultivated by the Romans as an excellent forage plant; the subsp. nigra is present in all regions of Italy as an infesting weed of cereal crops. The genus name derives from the Latin 'viere' or 'vincire' (to tie), referring to the presence of tendrils with which many species cling to a support; the species name refers to the fact that in the past the plant was frequently cultivated. Flowering period: March to June.

Italian name(s): Almet (Piemonte, Agliano), Aviccia (Calabria), Avsarda (Piemonte, Alessandria), Bisocie (Friuli), Bisul de culora (Sardegna, Alghero), Cesarella (Veneto, Venezia), Chichinet (Piemonte, Mondovì), Cuculiddi di frumentu (Sicilia, Mirto), Erba gritta (Liguria, Ronco), Essa (Lombardia, Brescia), Farchie (Abruzzi), Farchio (Abruzzi), Ferchia (Abruzzi), Genello (Piemonte, Val S. Martino), Graca (Veneto, Istria), Lemu (Liguria, Valle di Polcevera), Menaruele (Friuli), Mochi (Liguria, Savona), Occhio di pesce (Lombardia, Valtellina), Oev de trutta (Lombardia, Cant. Ticino), Pappasolu (Sardegna, Cagliari), Pisi pisi (Sardegna), Ridiglia (Emilia-Romagna, Modena), Rudea (Emilia-Romagna, Modena), Rudia (Emilia-Romagna, Modena), Veccia (Abruzzi), Veccia (Toscana), Veccia buona (Toscana), Veccia da piccioni (Toscana), Veccia dolce (Italia), Veccia dolce (Toscana), Veccia nera (Toscana), Veccia nostrale (Toscana), Vece (Friuli), Vedrioe (Lombardia), Vedriol (Lombardia), Vescia (Liguria, Genova), Vessa (Piemonte), Vessa (Lombardia, Brescia), Vessa (Liguria, Chiavari), Vessia (Liguria, Ponti di Nava), Vesso (Piemonte, Val S. Martino), Veza (Emilia-Romagna, Romagna), Veza (Veneto, Treviso), Vezza (Emilia-Romagna, Reggio), Vezza (Veneto, Verona), Vezza (Campania, Ischia), Vissa almet (Piemonte, Agliano), Vizza (Calabria), Vizza (Sicilia), Vizza favalora (Sicilia, Modica), Voezza (Emilia-Romagna, Piacenza).