Vetch?

[michael23]

photographed on edge of a disused railway line (lower kilburn,derbyshire) i believe it is a vetch but not sure which one? can anyone clarify?

http://i692.photobucket.com/albums/vv283/michael23_photo/017.jpg

[Colin Key]

Difficult one Michael (difficult group of plants!) - I would guess at a "Kidney Vetch", either Anthyllis vulneraria (Yellow Kidney Vetch, which is not always yellow!) or A. montana (Mountain Kidney Vetch).

Maybe just a dwarf "Sweet Pea"!

Colin

[michael23]

Thanks colin, the best of it is, i used to know the vetch's family quite well, but have got out of touch!

[MichaelF]

Can you get a pic of the foliage as well? Would help a lot.

[michael23]

the next time i do the walk, i shall photograph the rest of it!

[michael23]

here is the foliage of the plant.

http://i692.photobucket.com/albums/vv283/michael23_photo/003.jpg

[MichaelF]

Thanks!

Fairly certain it is Bitter-vetch Lathyrus linifolius, that matches on winged stem, 6 leaflets, no tendrils.
http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/BIS/flora.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=2915

[michael23]

thanks michael, thats a new one for me, dont recall seeing it in the past.

[john robinson]

Its definately not Anthyllis. Its what we here call Lathyrus montanus |(bitter vetch)- near enough - Several regional variations.
Can be the food plant of Wood White butterfly.
JohnR

[MichaelF]

Lathyrus montanus is a synonym of Lathyrus linifolius.

[starfly]

wonder if anyone can help me.... I was trying to doa crossword and came to the final clue,.,... 4 letters.... T _ _ E and the clue is Another name for a Vetch ..... any ideas anyone ?
thans

[MichaelF]

Tare .......

[Colin Key]

Tare .......

Well done Michael - I had a bash at Googling for the answer and came up with zilch.

Colin :beer:

[MichaelF]

Vicia spp.:
V. sativa: http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/BIS/flora.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=2903
V. parviflora: http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/BIS/flora.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=2899