Yellow-vetch

Yellow-vetch - Vicia lutea

Alternative names
Yellow Vetch
Description

A low prostrate tufted plant, often densely hairy though not always so. Tendrils branched or unbranched. Leaflets 3 to 10 pairs linear to oblong. Flowers pale yellow, even whitish tinged with purple 20 to 35 mm solitary or 2 or 3 together. Seed pod usually hairy.

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)

Annual plant.  Calyx-teeth unequal, with the lower ones longer than upper, and longer than the tube.

Recording advice

Records need to be confirmed by the County Recorder, from a specimen or series of photos showing key characteristics

Habitat

Rough grassy habitats near or along the coast, stabilised shingle, sand dunes, cliff tops etc.

When to see it

June to September.

Life History

Perennial.

UK Status

Quite rare nationally, most records coming from the south coast of England.

VC55 Status

Rare in our area - a record from 1980 was the only one from our area prior to 17th July 2008. Not recorded in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

No additional images available for this species.

All NatureSpot records

Photo of the association

Megourella tribulis

The aphid Megourella tribulis is usually associated with vetch plants. This small aphid is mainly black with a blue-grey bloom on part of its body