Anthyllis vulneraria - Kidney Vetch - (Fabaceae)

This generally low-growing member of the pea family (Fabaceae) has unusual flower heads; they are in two parts. One side will be coming into bloom while the other has semi-ripened seeds. Kidney vetch can be found on abandoned farmland, waysides and bare, stony ground as well as in coastal sand dune systems.

Kidney vetch

The colours of this wildflower vary quite a lot, from yellow through orange to red. In Northern Europe kidney vetch blooms between April and September. It is also a common plant in Southern Europe and throughout the Mediterranean region, where the pink-flowered form is more often seen. Plants seen in Slovenia are generally a paler, lemon yellow than the ones we have seen elsewhere.

The specimen above was growing on coastal cliffs in Pembrokeshire in July, while the one below was photographed in the Algarve in April.

Anthyllis vulneraria - Kidney Vetch