Scientific Classifications explained    Amphibians
  » Amphibians
Amphibians
  » Ants

  » Aphids

  » Bees

  » Beetles

  » Birds

  » Bugs

  » Butterflies

  » Caterpillars

  » Damselflies

  » Dragonflies

  » Earwigs

  » Flies

  » Frog/Leafhoppers

  » Fungi

  » Galls

  » Grasshoppers

  » Harvestmen

  » Hoverflies

  » Lacewings

  » Ladybirds

  » Leaf Mines

  » Lichens

  » Mammals

  » Millipedes

  » Mosses

  » Moths

  » Sawflies

  » Slugs

  » Snails

  » Spiders

  » Trees

  » Wasps

  » Wild Flowers

  » Woodlice

UK Nature  > Wild Flowers  > Blue & Purple Wild Flowers  > Vicia cracca




Scientific Name:   Vicia cracca
Common Name:   Tufted Vetch

Vicia cracca, more commonly known as Tufted Vetch, Cat-peas, Cow-vetch and Fingers-and-thumbs (the pods end in a nail or claw). It is a scrambling plant with 10-40 blue violet flowers in a one sided cluster. Leaves are pinnate with 6-10 pairs of leaflets and branched tendrils at leaf tip.

Found in grassy places, bushes, meadows and hedgerows, it is common throughout UK apart from the Scottish Highlands. Flowers June to August. A member of the pea family (legumes), Common Vetch is able to make its own nitrates. This makes it useful as a soil-fertilising plant and is also often used as livestock fodder.










https://www.uknature.co.uk is a website dedicated to showing the immense diversity of UK nature and wildlife. Our vast range of habitats, from lowland arable to snow covered mountains, from storm-ravaged coastlines to peaceful inland freshwater lakes and rivers, from dry, sandy heaths to deciduous and coniferous forests, all these habitats contribute to the abundance of UK nature. We have wild birds in huge numbers either residing or visiting our shores (597 recorded species as at July 2013) and we must also not forget the humble back garden with its grass lawns, flower beds filled with nectar rich flowers, shrubs and trees, all designed to attract huge numbers of insects such as bees, moths, butterflies and hoverflies; and finally the small ponds which provide safe havens for frogs, toads, newts and even slow worms and grass snakes. www.uknature.co.uk is the showcase for my personal passion, photographing uknature in all its glory. I sincerely hope you all enjoy the fruits of my labours.


This site and all images contained therein is © Jeremy Lee 2004 - 2021. All Rights Reserved. Site design by Jeremy Lee. Site development & IT Support by Stuart Lee.