Vicia lens aka Lentil

Vicia lens, the lentil, belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae. Sources also describe it under the name Lens culinaris. Kew gives its native range as the western Mediterranean, and Iraq to the western Himalaya. Its wild origin remains unclear in other accounts. People have grown lentils for thousands of years. The crop now grows across temperate and subtropical regions. Farmers also grow it in cooler highland parts of the tropics.

Lentils form small, bushy plants with many branches. Crop sources describe an upright annual habit. Kew gives a broader habit of scrambling annual or perennial. Garden accounts give heights near 1.5–1.6 feet [0.45–0.5 metres]. Another account gives a range of 1–2.6 feet [0.3–0.8 metres]. The flowers have both male and female parts. They can pollinate themselves while still closed. Insects also appear among the reported pollinators. The plant can set seed without another plant nearby.

Grow lentils in full sun, with warmth and shelter. They need soil that drains well, but tolerate poor ground. Sources differ on the best soil texture. Some favour sand, while another favours clay. Loam also suits the plant. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. Soil may be dry or moist. Poorer soil can help the plant produce more seed. The crop needs at least four months to grow. Seed ripening and harvest need dry weather. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 7–12. It also reports that the species tolerates frost.

The seeds are the main reason to grow lentils. Cooks use them in soups, stews, and other dishes. Ground dried seeds can enrich flour used for bread. Sources also describe eating sprouted seeds raw. Young pods can be eaten fresh or cooked like beans. Lentils provide nutritious food and have long served as a staple crop. Both plant-use sources report no known hazards. This does not establish safety for every person or animal.

Lentils fix nitrogen and can serve as green manure. Growers raise them alone or alongside other crops. Their value in cultivated beds is chiefly as food. Industry uses seed starch in textiles and printing. Dry crop remains can also provide fuel. Traditional uses include seeds for constipation and pastes for ulcers. These reports describe uses, not proof of medical benefit. Plants For A Future does not flag the species as weedy.