Plant species

horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa

Fabaceae

Species information

Description

A legume with pinnately compound leaves and yellow pea-shaped flowers in small clusters. A low legume of dry calcareous grasslands; the later segmented pods curve into characteristic horseshoe-like sections.

Plant traits

Growth form

legume

Life cycle

perennial

Height

10–30 cm

Typical season

123456789101112

Active growth

Flowering

Fruiting

Timing varies with site and year.

Habitat conditions

Habitat

dry grasslands · rocky habitats

Light

full sun

Moisture

dry

Soil

base-rich

Substrate

calcareous

Pollination

insect pollination

Status

native

Interesting facts

Its jointed seedpod curves into a chain of horseshoe-shaped sections, reflected in the genus name Hippocrepis.

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