Peaflower Family:-

The Peaflower Family is "a large family with highly distinctive individual flowers; of the 5 petals, the broad and often erect upper one is known as the 'standard', the two narrower side ones as the 'wings', and the two central lower ones, which enfold the 10 bundled stamens, as the 'keel'. The seeds are in pod (legume) of varying size but usually in the general pattern of a garden pea or bean. Leaves mostly alternate, but the top pair sometimes almost opposite; usually stalked and trifoliate (trefoil) or pinnate, with stipules at their base." from Collins Pocket Guide to Wild Flowers by David McClintock and R.S.R. Fitter assisted by Francis Rose - ISBN 0 00 219363 9 - Eleventh Impression 1978.

Peaflower Family plant table with its Common Name - Botanical Name. Flowering Months Range. Habitat with link to that Peaflowers Wild Flower Family Gallery:-

Common Name

Botanical Name

Flowering Months

Habitat

VETCHES AND PEAS

Vetches and Peas are climbing or clambering non-woody plants, their leaves normally pinnate with no terminal leaflet but often a single or branched tendril. Flowers solitary or in heads on stalks from the base of the leaves. Pods long and more or less flattened. The Vetches are best separated from the Peas by not having winged or angled stems and usually having more leaflets.

Bithynian Vetch

Vicia bithynica

May-June

A scrambling annual found in rough grassland on coastal undercliffs, and inland in open hedges, scrubby grassland and on railway banks. At many inland sites it was probably introduced as a contaminant of legume crops, but can be persistent along hedges and tracksides. Lowland.

Bitter Vetch

Lathyrus montanus

(Lathyrus linifolius)

April-July

A perennial herb of moist, infertile neutral and acidic soils in heathy meadows, lightly grazed pastures, grassy banks and open woodlands; also on stream banks and rock ledges in the uplands. Generally lowland, but reaching 760 m in Mid Perth.

Flower in May

Flowers in May

Foliage from Froghall in Peak District in May

Form from County Clare

Bush Vetch

Vicia sepium

April onwards, flowering late into the autumn

A climbing or scrambling perennial herb of hedge banks, waysides, wood-borders and lightly grazed grasslands. In upland areas it favours more open, ungrazed situations but it is most frequently found on neutral or basic soils. Generally lowland, but reaching 820 m in Caenlochan (Angus).

Flower from Durness on 25 June

Flowers

Foliage from Durness on 25 June

Form from Durness on 25 June

Flower from Durness on 25 June

Flowers

Juvenile Foliage

Form in June

Common Vetch

Vicia sativa

June-September

An annual of grassy and wayside places, particularly on dry and sandy sites. It was also grown as a fodder crop, and has widely escaped and become naturalised in many ruderal habitats. Lowland.

Flower in June

Flowers in North Yorkshire in June

Flowers in June

Flower in May

Flower in May

Flower Buds in June

Flowers

Flower in May

Foliage in June

Foliage in May

Everlasting Pea

(Narrow-leaved Everlasing-pea)

Lathyrus sylvestris

June-August

A scrambling perennial herb found in hedges, wood-borders, scrub, and on rough banks and sheltered sea-cliffs. It is sometimes cultivated in gardens and can occur as an escape in habitats such as roadsides and railway banks. Away from the coast it seems to prefer calcareous soils. Lowland.

Flower from Saint Margarets Bay on 5 August

Flowers

Foliage

Form from Saint Margarets Bay on 5 August

Flower from Saint Margarets Bay

Flower Buds

Flower Buds from Saint Margarets Bay on 5 August

Branched Tendril Foliage

Flower from Saint Margarets Bay on 5 August

Flower from Saint Margarets Bay

Seed Pods from Saint Margarets Bay on 5 August

Fyfield Pea

(Tuberous Vetchling), Tuberous Pea)

Lathyrus tuberosus

June-July

A scrambling perennial herb of hedgerows, rough grassland and waste places; also occasionally found in arable field margins where its tubers allow it to persist. Lowland.

Flower

Flowers in Kent

Form in Kent

Foliage in Kent

Seed Pods

Garden Everlasting Pea

(Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea)

Lathyrus latifolius

July-September

An attractive perennial herb, which has escaped from gardens and is now well-naturalised, scrambling on rough banks, sea-cliffs, railway banks and waste ground. It grows in similar habitats to L. sylvestris and is sometimes confused with it. Generally lowland, but reaching 340 m at Sparklow (Derbys.).

Flower from Borstal in Kent

Flowers from Borstal

Form from Borstal

Flower from Borstal

Form from Borstal

Foliage with Branched Tendril from Borstal

Goat's -rue

Galega officinalis

July-September

A perennial herb of waste places, gravel pits, roadsides, railway banks and rubbish tips. Lowland.

Flower from Burham in August

Flowers

Foliage from Robertsbridge in Kent in October

Form from Strood in Kent on 21 July

Flower from Cuxton in Kent

Flowers from Cuxton on 27 July

Juvenile Foliage

Juvenile Seed Pods

Flower from Burham

Flowers from Burham

Flowers from Strood on 21 July

Foliage from Strood on 21 July

Grass Vetchling

Lathyrus nissolia

May-July

An inconspicuous annual of open, often disturbed, habitats on chalk and heavy calcareous clay soils. It is found on grassy banks, verges, railway banks, woodland rides, and coastal grassland and shingle. Lowland.

Flower

Flowers from Joydens Wood on 28 May

Flower

Flower

Seed Pods

Flower Buds

Flower Buds

Foliage from Joydens Wood on 28 May

Form from Joydens Wood on 28 May

Seed Pods

Hairy Pea

(Hairy Vetchling)

Lathyrus hirsutus

June-August

A scrambling annual, found on grassy banks and waste ground as a garden escape or bird-seed or grain contaminant. Populations can persist, as in a few areas around London, but are usually casual. Lowland.

Hairy Tare

Vicia hirsuta

May onwards

A scrambling annual of rough and disturbed ground, including road and railway banks, scrubby grassland, hedgerows, sheltered sea-cliffs and consolidated shingle beaches; also along the edges of arable fields, and on rubbish tips and waste ground. 0-335 m (Dartmoor, S. Devon).

Flower

Flowers from Borough Green on 27 July

Foliage

Flower Buds

Foliage

Flower Buds

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Lesser Tufted Vetch

(Fodder Vetch)

Vicia villosa

June-August

A scrambling annual, usually derived from grain, bird-seed or wool shoddy imports, and occurring as a casual on waste ground, tips and in arable fields. It sometimes survives for a few years on grassy banks. Lowland.

Marsh Pea

Lathyrus palustris

June-July

A perennial herb of base-rich fens, reed-beds and fen-meadows; also, rarely, on marshy ground by rivers. Lowland.

Meadow Pea

(Yellow Meadow Vetchling, Meadow Vetcling)

Lathyrus pratensis

June onwards

A rhizomatous perennial herb of moderately fertile soils on roadside and railway banks, hedges, unimproved pastures, hay meadows and other grassy habitats. Seed production is not abundant, and vegetative propagation from the rhizome is an important mechanism of reproduction, particularly in disturbed sites. Generally lowland, reaching 450 m in Co. Durham, and with an exceptional record at 845 m on Great Dun Fell (Westmorland).

Flower in September

Flower Bud

Seed Pod

Form

Flower in September

Flowers from North Yorkshire in June

Foliage

Form

Narrow-leaved Vetch

(Same as Common Vetch above)

Vicia angustifolia

(Vicia sativa)

May-July

An annual of grassy and wayside places, particularly on dry and sandy sites. It was also grown as a fodder crop, and has widely escaped and become naturalised in many ruderal habitats. Lowland.

Flower from East Kent in June

Foliage

Flower

Foliage

Form

Sea Pea

Lathyrus japonicus

(Lathyrus japonicus var. maritimus)

June-August

A long-lived perennial herb, forming large and conspicuous patches on shingle beaches, or rarely, in smaller quantities on blown sand. Lowland.

Flower from Southwold in June

Flowers from Southwold

Foliage at Deal

Foliage at Deal

Flower from Southwold

Flower from Southwold

Seed Pods at Deal

Form from East Kent on 11 July

Seed Pods at Deal in Kent

Seed Pods at Deal

Slender Tare

Vicia tenuissima

(Vicia parviflora)

May onwards

A scrambling annual of sticky calcareous clay soils which are frequently wet in winter but baked dry in summer. V. parviflora occurs in hedgerows, on tracks and verges, grassy banks, coastal cliffs and the edges of arable fields; also, less frequently, on urban waste ground, in municipal flower beds and as a casual of legume crops. Lowland.

Smooth Tare

Vicia tetrasperma

May onwards

A scrambling annual of hedgerows, scrub and wood-borders, and of rough grassland on roadsides, railway banks and coastal cliffs; also found in disturbed places, including urban waste ground and arable field margins. Lowland.

Flower from Shorne

Foliage from Shorne

Form from Shorne

Foliage from Shorne

Seed Pods from Shorne

Spring Vetch

Vicia lathyroides

April-May

An annual of sand dunes and short, summer-parched grasslands on sandy soils by the coast; also on disturbed ground, old walls, and in dry heathland on sands and gravels inland. Lowland.

Form from Littlestone on 29 April

Flower from Littlestone on 29 April

Flower from Littlestone on 29 April

Foliage from Littlestone on 29 April

Tufted Vetch

Vicia cracca

June-August

A scrambling perennial herb of hedgerows, waysides, wood-borders, scrubby grassland and river and canal banks. It also occurs in permanent pastures and hay meadows, and in marshes and tall-herb fens, but avoids permanently wet sites. Generally lowland, but reaching 550 m at Moor House, Teesdale (Westmorland).

Flower

Form in Isle of Grain in Kent

Flower in July

Flowers

Foliage in July

Form

Flower near Cuxton in Kent in Jule

Flower near Cuxton in July

Foliage in Isle of Kent

Foliage

Upright Vetch

(Wood Bitter Vetch)

Vicia orobus

May-June

A perennial herb of grassy, often slightly base-enriched habitats on banks and the edges of fields, particularly amongst stones, boulders or bushes. Usually between 200 and 300 m, but down to sea level in Sutherland, and reaching 455 m on the Wast Water screes (Cumberland).

Flower from Achhelvich in Sutherland on 20 June

Flowers on 15 June

Foliage from Achhelvich on 20 June

Flower from Achhelvich on 20 June

Flowers from Achhelvich on 20 June

Form from Achhelvich on 20 June

Flowers from Achhelvich on 20 June

Foliage of 15 June

Form on 15 June

Foliage of 15 June

Wood Vetch

Vicia sylvatica

June-August

A climbing or scrambling perennial of hedges, wood-borders and clearings, scrub, rough ungrazed grassland on cliffs, wooded gorges and also on shingle, screes and railway bank. A genetically dwarf variant (var. condensata) occurs on shingle and coastal cliffs in N. & W. Britain and Ireland. 0-675 m (Breadalbanes, Mid Perth).

Flower from Betty Hill in Sutherland on 25 June

Flowers from Betty Hill on 25 June

Form from Betty Hill on 25 June

Yellow Vetch

Vicia lutea

June-September

An annual found as a native in a variety of coastal habitats, including scrubby grassland and cliffs, and on open yet consolidated shingle. In S. Scotland it is confined to sheltered sea-cliffs. Inland it is found as a casual, or sometimes in persistent populations, on roadsides, quarries and railway banks. Lowland.

Yellow Vetchling

Lathyrus aphaca

June-August

The only persistent populations of this annual are in open grassy habitats on chalk, limestone and calcareous clay soils, especially near the coast. The species is possibly native in such habitats, but it also occurs as a casual in waste places, and as an arable weed where it may have been introduced as a contaminant of legume crops. Lowland.

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Foliage

Flower

Flower

Flower at Borstal

Foliage