Kidney Vetch, woundwort or Ladies Fingers is scientifically known as Anthyllis vulneraria. It is an extremely bright flowering plant and often clothes fields where it’s yellow-orange colour can be seen.
It is a plant of open grassland, dunes and sea cliffs, usually calcareous. Erect to procumbent, with paired heads of flowers. Kidney vetch flowers vary from very pale yellow through to orange and occasionally crimson but most plants are a typical mid yellow. Flowering occurs from June to September.The calyces are densely white and hairy. It is found throughout Europe, North Africa and Central Asia.
Kidney vetch is found on free draining calcareous soils on chalk and limestone grasslands, rocky outcrops and near the sea on shingle and sand dunes. About five sub species occur in the British Isles, three of which are native and the other two are recent introductions. The native population appears relatively stable.
Kidney vetch provides food for a number of beetle and moth larvae but, most importantly, is the sole food plant for the caterpillars of the small blue butterfly.
Extracts of the plant are often used traditionally for wound healing, treating grazes, abrasions and cuts. When taken internally, it is said to have mild laxative effects which is ideal for treating constipation.
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