Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

Uses in traditional medicine: The vernal Orobó is not a plant widely used as its composition has hardly been studied. Formerly employed as a remedy to disinfect wounds and injuries, but was gradually being replaced by other more popular plants today is quite limited its use as a home remedy. In medicine is not optional extensively used in making pharmaceutical preparations. On occasion also been used as an astringent, it has properties to lower inflammation. This plant has been replaced by others with the same properties but its effects much more effective.
Mundotema medicinal plants https://www.mtplantas.com/eng/plants/orobo-vernal.htm

Nomenclature

Spring vetchling. It is the Orobus sylvaticus purpureus vernus of Bauhin (1671) and Orobus sylvaticus angustifolius of Parkinson (1640).
Oakeley, Dr. Henry F. (2013). Wellcome Library notes. link

Family name change from Papilionaceae
http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/

Toxicity

Lathyrus vernus (L.)Bernh. Papilionaceae previously Orobus vernus L. (Linnaeus, 1753) Spring vetchling. Distribution: Europe to Siberia. The seeds of several Lathyrus species are toxic, and when eaten cause a condition called lathyrism. The chemical diaminoproprionic acid in the seeds causes paralysis, spinal cord damage, aortic aneurysm, due to poisoning of mitochondria causing cell death. Occurs where food crops are contaminated by Lathyrus plants or where it is eaten as a 'famine food' when no other food is available. It is the Orobus sylvaticus purpureus vernus of Bauhin (1671) and Orobus sylvaticus angustifolius of Parkinson (1640) - who records that country folk had no uses for it.
Oakeley, Dr. Henry F. (2013). Wellcome Library notes. link

Toxic
Professor Anthony Dayan, 2022

Geographical distribution

  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Baltic States
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Belarus
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Central European Russia
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Germany
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Poland
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Switzerland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Denmark
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Norway
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Sweden
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Czech Republic
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Portugal
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

Lathyrus vernus (L.) Bernh.

Family: FABACEAE
Genus: Lathyrus
Species: vernus (L.) Bernh.
Common names: Bitter Vetch; Spring Vetch
Distribution summary: Eurasia
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Habitat: Woodland, forest margins, ravines
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Plants of the World (C)
Flowering months: March
Reason for growing: Medicinal, toxic


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