Polycomb group (PcG) protein. Plays a central role in vernalization by maintaining repressed the homeotic gene FLC, a floral repressor, after a cold treatment. PcG proteins act by forming multiprotein complexes, which are required to maintain the transcriptionally repressive state of homeotic genes throughout development. PcG proteins are not required to initiate repression, but to maintain it during later stages of development. They probably act via the methylation of histones, rendering chromatin heritably changed in its expressibility. Associates constitutively along the whole FLC locus. Probable component of a PcG complex. In plants, PcG complexes are probably composed of a member of the EZ family (CLF or MEA), FIE, and a member of the VEFS family (FIS2, VRN2 or EMF2) (By similarity). Component of the plant homeodomain / polycomb repressive complex 2 (PHD-PRC2) large complex during prolonged cold, composed of core PRC2 components (VRN2, EZA1, FIE and MSI1), and three related PHD finger proteins (VIL1, VIL2 and VIN3) that mediates histone H3 trimethylation on 'Lys-27' (H3K27me3). Binds to ALP1 (PubMed:26642436). Weakly expressed. Expressed both during, and in the absence of vernalization. Belongs to the VEFS (VRN2-EMF2-FIS2-SU(Z)12) family.