A small spiny shrub which can grow up to 1 metre tall but is often smaller. The flowers are yellow and are in short spikes, They are quite large (up to 1cm) with the keel petals longer than the standard. The leaves are pointed ovals. It has long, but weak spines.

Records from this species should be confirmed by a County Recorder for botany.  It is on the VC55 Rare Plant Register, and therefore a specimen should not be taken.  Take detailed field photos and submit to NatureSpot as soon as possible; and if you think you have found it in a new location, inform the County Recorder as soon you can. (RPR)

Found in the lowlands on relatively humid grass heaths and around the drier fringes of bogs. In upland areas it occurs in heathy, damp, unimproved pastures.

Found in the lowlands on relatively humid grass heaths and around the drier fringes of bogs. In upland areas it occurs in heathy, damp, unimproved pastures.

Perennial.

Local in Britain with most records from Scotland, Wales and the New Forest area.

Very rare in Leicestershire and Rutland, with a small but stable population found in only one site.

It is listed on the current VC55 Rare Plant Register (Hall and Woodward 2022) as Locally Rare (i.e. present in less than 3 sites)