WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
oblong, pointed leaflets (pinnate), and ending in a short straight point, and no tendrils; the 
half-arrow-shaped stipules broad and slightly toothed. 
Rare. Mountain pastures, thickets, and woods, mostly in Wales and the North. May — June. 
Perennial. 
Wood Vetch. (Vicia sylvatica, Linn.) — Another similar species to the Tufted Vetch 
(Vicia Cracca), with larger flowers, f inch long, white tinged with lilac, 6-18 in loose, i -sided 
long-stalked clusters (racemes) ; the pod i inch long, broad, ending in a long point, 4-6-seeded ; 
the stems 2-4 feet long, climbing ; the leaves divided to the midrib into 6-10 pairs of oval, 
abruptly-pointed (mucronate) leaflets, and ending in a branched tendril ; the stipules crescent- 
shaped, and deeply toothed at the base. 
Not common. Mountains, woods, and thickets. June — August. Perennial. 
Bush Vetch. (Vicia sepium, Linn.) — Flowers few, inch long, pale purple, 2-6 in 
short, one-sided, very shortly-stalked clusters (racemes) ; the calyx hairy, half as long as the standard 
petal, teeth unequal, the 3 lower longer and pointed, the 2 upper shorter and pointing upwards ; 
the style with a tuft of hairs on the outer side under the stigma ; pod long, without hairs 
(glabrous), oblong, pointed, slightly flattened, seeds few. [As described in the genus Vicia.] 
Stem 1-2 feet high, weak, climbing or trailing; the leaves divided to the midrib into 5-8 pairs 
of oval or egg-shaped (ovate) leaflets, abruptly pointed (mucronate), and terminating in a 
branched tendril. [ Plate 37. 
Common. Hedges, woods, waysides. May — August. Perennial. 
^Common Vetch. (Vicia sativa, Linn.) — Not a native, but a common escape, as it 
is largely cultivated for fodder. Flowers 1 inch long, with a lilac standard and deep purple wings, 
solitary or in pairs, stalkless (sessile) ; the calyx hairy with 5 equal teeth ; the pods without hairs 
(glabrous), 1-2 inches long, narrow, with many seeds. [As described in the genus Vicia.] 
Stem 2-3 feet high, nearly erect or climbing ; the leaves divided to the midrib into 4-7 pairs of 
oval, abruptly pointed (mucronate) leaflets, and terminating in a branched tendril ; the stipules 
half arrow-shaped, toothed at the base, usually with a dark mark in the centre. \Plate 36. 
A common escape. Margins of fields. April — June. Annual. 
Narrow-leaved Vetch. (Vicia angustifolia, Linn.) — A very similar species, but more 
slender, having very narrow leaflets, red flowers, and shorter pods. A true native. [ Plate 36. 
Not common. Dry places, hedges, and waysides. May — June. Annual. 
Rough Podded Yellow Vetch. (Vicia lutea, Linn.) — A very similar species to the 
Common Vetch (Vicia sativa), with flowers f-i inch long, narrow, pale yellow, solitary, stalkless 
(sessile), in the axils of the leaves ; the pods broad, terminating in a beak, black when ripe, covered 
with long hairs ; the stem shorter and prostrate ; and the leaves terminating in a single or branched 
tendril or in a short point ; the whole plant slightly hairy. 
Very rare, local. Stony banks and shingly sea-beaches in the south of England. June — August. 
Annual. 
*Smooth-podded Vetch. (Vicia laevigata, Sm.) — A species very similar to the Rough- 
podded Yellow Vetch (Vicia lutea), differing in having pale blue or whitish flowers, and in being 
altogether smaller and without hairs. 
Very rare. Formerly found at Weymouth on the seashore. June — August. Perennial. 
*Hairy Flowered Vetch. (Vicia hybrida, Linn.) — Another species very similar to the 
Rough-podded Yellow Vetch (Vicia lutea), but with the large yellow flowers frequently veined with 
purple, and the standard always hairy, the stems stouter, and the leaflets broader. 
Very rare. Formerly found in Somerset. June — August. Annual. 
