Tufted vetch (Vicia cracca)
- This is the commonest coastal vetch and grows on the bund and the Cowbar grassland in large patches. It flowers between June and August.
- It is happy growing in rough grassy places and on roadside verges.
- The curled flowers are purple and violet and grow on one side of the stem.
- It is a member of the pea and clover family and can grow happily in many different soils and environments.
- As a legume, it is able to make its own nitrates. This makes it useful as a soil-fertilising plant and is also often used as livestock fodder.
- It is also known as ‘Cow-vetch’, ‘Cat-peas’ or ‘Bird -vetch’.
- Vetch is said to symbolise fidelity.
- The plants attracts a wide range of insect life such as bees, butterflies and ladybirds. Tufted Vetch is also an important food plant for breeding butterflies such as the Wood White and Short-tailed blue all of which, will lay their eggs on the plant.
