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Description: Growing to approximately 40cm tall in some cases, but often much lower to the ground, the Bird's Foot Trefoil is a member of the Pea family. It has 5-lobed leaves; the 3 upper leaves having short stalks, but the lower pair are stalkless, and therefore looks trifoliate. The deep-yellow flowers are found in stalked clusters with the corolla up to 1.5cm long and often reddish-tinged, especially in bud - giving rise to one of this plant's common names of Bacon and Eggs. Other well-used common names are Baby's Slippers and Bird's Foot Clover. The fruits are about 2cm in length, smooth and straight, dark brown in colour and give the impression of bird's feet. Calyx teeth are erect in bud.
Flowering Season: May to October.
Habitat: Dry grassland, hay meadows, edges of footpaths, cliffs, open woods and even cultivated lawns.
Distribution: Common throughout the UK.
Similar Species: Greater Bird's Foot Trefoil and Small Scorpion Vetch. |
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