categoryZClimbers Climbers List 
categoryZDeciduous Deciduous List 

MEADOW VETCHLING

Lathyrus pratensis

Pea Family [Fabaceae]

month8may month8jun month8june month8jul month8july month8aug

category
category8Climbers
category
category8Deciduous
status
statusZnative
flower
flower8yellow
inner
inner8black
morph
morph8zygo
petals
petalsZ5
stem
stem8square
stem
stem8ribbed

7th Aug 2007, Leeds & L/pool Canal, Burscough Bridge, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
A complete tangle of Meadow Vetchling either growing up through a hedge or being the hedge itself.


7th Aug 2007, Leeds & L/pool Canal, Burscough Bridge, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
The leaves are always in single pairs, never pinnate. Hoists itself up by its own bootstraps (with the aid of numerous tendrils).


13th July 2011, Blackleach Country Pk, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
A sinle stem, isolated from the tangle. Leaves in single pairs, flowers deep yellow


24th July 2011, Blackleach Country Pk, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
Tendrils emerge at the meeting of some leaf-pairs. Flowers number 5 to 12 in a short spike.


4th June 2008, East Lancs Rd, Moorside, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
Un-opened flowers. Sepal teeth long, hairy.


17th Aug 2007, Cromford Canal, Derbyshire. Photo: © RWD
Opened flowers, the banner, the largest of the five petals, may have several blackish stripes. Flowers on shortish hairy stalks.


4th June 2008, East Lancs Rd, Moorside, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
The two smaller wings cup the keel, hiding it fairly effectively.


13th July 2011, Blackleach Country Pk, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
Flowers come off the stem alternately.


24th July 2011, Blackleach Country Pk, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
A tendril, which may be branched, comes off the junction of the leaf-pairs which themselves come off the main stem by a longish stalk.


13th July 2011, Blackleach Country Pk, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
Two stemless leaves with auricles emerge where leaf-stalk meets stem. Stems square and ridged.


29th Aug 2007, Greet Bridge, Forest of Bowland. Photo: © RWD
The tendrils of Meadow Vetchling entwine either other parts of itself or other plants. Sometimes the entwining is bifilar wound when no end is free to engage. The result is often a tangled mass, everything interlocked.


Some similarities to : some Vetches but they have pinnate leaves, rather than the single pairs of Meadow Vetch.

Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Features : The presence of tendrils with single leaflets in pairs, rather than a pinnate arrangement together with the two leaf-like auricled stipules on leaflets attached to the main stems. Has square stems.

Meadow Vetchling is by far the most commonly found yellow flower of the Pea Family which has tendrils. It can clamber up to 1.5m by way of its tendrils, but is often only 1/3rd that height. The seed pods are similar to pea pods, but black.


USE BY BUTTERFLIES
LAYS EGGS ON CATERPILLAR CHRYSALIS BUTTERFLY
Wood White
Cryptic Wood White



  Lathyrus pratensis  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Fabaceae  

Distribution
 family8Pea family8Fabaceae
 BSBI maps
genus8Lathyrus
Lathyrus
(Peas)

MEADOW VETCHLING

Lathyrus pratensis

Pea Family [Fabaceae]

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