Scrambling plant with 10-40 blue violet flowers in a one sided cluster. Leaves pinnate with 6-10 pairs of leaflets and branched tendrils at leaf tip.

Distribution
Common throughout UK apart from the Scottish Highlands.

Did you know?
Local names include Cat-peas, Cow-vetch and Fingers-and-thumbs (the pods end in a nail or claw).

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