Our plants are struggling with the lack of rain, but meadow vetchling is still bringing a splash of yellow cheer as it scrambles amongst the plants on Eastrip Lane. A welcome nectar pit stop as well for the common carder bee in photo The leaves are distinctive for finding it even without the flowers, with each leaf having a single pair of narrow leaflets and a tendril for climbing. A native member of the Pea family, it is already showing its typical green pea pods, turning to black when ripe.
Don’t be tempted to forage its ”peas” for your tea though. Hippocrates, as long ago as 46 B.C. recognised that a neurological paralysis he was seeing in Greece was caused by consumption of Lathyrus seeds. The main culprit is another, more toxic member of the Lathyrus genus. The Grass Pea (L. Sativa) is drought tolerant and high in protein, so Lathyrism persists especially in Ethiopia where Grass pea porridge becomes a staple food in times of drought and hardship
The species name 'pratensis' means 'meadow plant’ and common names include meadow pea, also “fingers and thumbs” though I don’t know why.
Meadow vetchling, birdsfoot trefoil and tufted vetch are essential food plants for caterpillars of the lovely Wood White butterfly which has sadly almost disappeared from Wiltshire. It uses chemoreceptors on its feet to identify the plants it needs for egg laying. How cool is that! The butterfly requires the coppiced woodlands of the past, creating space and light for its food plants to thrive.