Bitter-vetch

Bitter-vetch, Brackets Copse Nature Reserve, Dorset

First to appear - pink flower

Fading flowers turn blue

Pink and blue flower

Pointed seed pod and joined sepals

Under side of pointed leaf, small stipules, winged stem
Lathyrus linifolius
Bitter Vetchling
Fabaceae
April to July - this is the earliest pea-vetch to flower
It is found everywhere except for East Anglia, the east
Midlands and parts of Lincolnshire.
See the BSBI distribution map for Bitter-vetch
It grows in damp grassland and meadows, grass banks,
open woodland, stream banks and rock ledges.
The pictures shown here were taken in long grass in June.
Although colourful and allegedly common, Bitter-vetch is
easily overlooked and can be mistaken for other vetches
at first sight.
Bitter-vetch is a native, creeping, tuberous, perennial herb
growing up to 40cm.
Between 2 and 6 flowers are found on a long thin hairless
stalk.
Flowers are up to 12mm, crimson to pink at first, then
fading to a bruised-blue.
Sepals are joined and dark blue-green.
Pods are up to 4cm, cylindrical, hairless and pointed.
Leaves are made up of 2 to 4 pea-like leaflets.
Leaflets are up to 4 cm and have a small terminal point
instead of a tendril.
At their base, leaves have small narrow stipules.
The stem is winged.
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