Meadow vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis, Sp. Pl.: 733 (1753))

Family: Fabaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 733 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Lathyrus

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe to Mongolia and Himalaya, Morocco, Ethiopia, Yemen

Description

Meadow vetchling, known botanically as Lathyrus pratensis, is a perennial plant recognized for its vibrant yellow flowers and delicate, vining stems. Originating from a broad geographical range, this plant thrives in regions stretching from Europe to Mongolia and the Himalayas, and can also be found in North African countries like Morocco and Ethiopia, as well as in Yemen. Its extensive distribution is a testament to its adaptability and resilience in various climates and soil conditions.

Belonging to the Fabaceae family, meadow vetchling exemplifies many of the characteristics typical of legumes. One of its distinctive features is its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil through a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria. This process not only enriches the soil, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers, but also enhances the plant’s growth and supports surrounding plant communities.

Characterized by its sprawling habit, meadow vetchling often forms intricate networks of climbing stems that can reach significant lengths. These stems bear compound leaves, usually pinnate with several pairs of leaflets, ending in tendrils which allow the plant to latch onto surrounding vegetation for support. The bright yellow flowers, typically blooming from late spring through summer, are arranged in loose clusters. These flowers are not only visually appealing but also attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, thus playing an important role in local ecosystems.

In addition to its ecological benefits, meadow vetchling has been historically utilized in agriculture. It is often cultivated as forage for livestock due to its high nutritional value and palatability. Furthermore, its ability to improve soil health makes it a valuable component in crop rotation and sustainable farming practices.

Meadow vetchling’s wide-ranging presence and beneficial properties underscore its importance. Whether appreciated for its ornamental beauty, ecological contributions, or agricultural value, Lathyrus pratensis is undoubtedly a noteworthy species within the Fabaceae family.

Common Names

Dan: gul fladbælg
Eng: meadow pea, meadow peavine, meadow vetchling, meadow-pea, yellow vetchling, common vetchling
Deu: wiesen-platterbse, wiesenplatterbse, wiesen platterbse
Fra: gesse des prés
Cat: guixó de prat
Nob: gulflatbelg
Nno: gulskolm
Swe: gulvial, niittynätkelmä, ängsvial
Fin: niittynätkelmä
Nld: veldlathyrus
Sme: niitosáhpal
Ita: cicerchia dei prati
Por: ervilhaca-do-campo
Cym: ffacbysen y weirglodd, pupys y waun, ydbys y borfa, ydbysen y waun, ytbys y ddôl, ytbysen y ddôl, ytbysen y waun
Hye: kibana no renri so
En: Meadow vetchling, Meadow-pea, Meadow pea, Meadow Peavine, Yellow Vetchling, Common vetchling, Kibana no Renri so
Ar: جلبان مرجي
Hy: Տափոլոռ մարգագետնային, Kibana no Renri so
Az: Çəmən güllücəsi
Be: Чына лугавая
Bg: Ливадно секирче
Ca: Guixó de prat
Zh: 牧地山黧豆
Cs: Hrachor luční
Da: Gul Fladbælg
Nl: Veldlathyrus, Veld-Lathyrus
Et: Aas-seahernes
Fi: Niittynätkelmä
Fr: Gesse des prés
Ka: Მდელოს მატკვარცანა
De: Wiesen-Platterbse, Wiesenplatterbse, Wiesen Platterbse, Gelbe-Kichern
Hu: Réti lednek
Is: Fuglaertur
Ga: Peasairín buí
It: Cicerchia de’ prati, Erba-galletta, Cicerchia dei Prati, Erba Galletta
Lv: Pļavas dedestiņa
Lt: Pievinis pelėžirnis
Se: Niitosáhpal
No: Gulflatbelg, Gulskolm
Nb: Gulflatbelg
Nn: Gulskolm
Os: Хъæдургæрдæг
Fa: خلر زرد
Pl: Groszek żółty
Pt: Ervilhaca-do-Campo, Ervilha Do Prado
Pt-br: Ervilhaca-do-campo
Ru: Чина луговая
Sk: Hrachor lúčny
Es: Travniški grahor, Almorta De Los Prados
Sv: Gulvial, Niittynätkelmä, Ängsvial
Uk: Чина лучна
Cy: Ytbysen y ddôl, Ffacbysen y Weirglodd, Pupys y Waun, Ydbys y Borfa, Ydbysen y Waun, Ytbys y Ddôl, Ytbysen y Waun

Synonyms

• Orobus pratensis ((L.) Stokes)
• Lathyrus sepium (Scop.)
• Lathyrus pratensis subsp. velutinus ((DC.) Soják)
• Lathyrus pratensis f. pallidiflorus (H.Lindb. ex Hiitonen)
• Lathyrus pratensis var. hirsutus (Lej.)
• Lathyrus pratensis subsp. lusseri ((Heer ex W.D.J.Koch) Soják)
• Lathyrus pratensis f. sepium ((Scop.) Bolzon)
• Lathyrus pratensis var. subalpinus (Rouy)
• Lathyrus pratensis var. tomentosus (Wahlb.)
• Lathyrus pratensis var. montanus (Lecoq & Lamotte)
• Lathyrus cashmericus (Royle ex Baker)
• Lathyrus pratensis subsp. hallersteinii (Nyman)
• Lathyrus velutinus ((DC.) Landolt)
• Pisum pratense ((L.) E.H.L.Krause)
• Lathyrus denudatus (Gilib.)
• Lathyrus pratensis var. velutinus (DC.)
• Lathyrus lusseri (Heer ex W.D.J.Koch)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Altay (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• Chita (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Føroyar (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iceland (native)
• India (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Irkutsk (introduced)
• Khabarovsk (introduced)
• Kuril Is. (introduced)
• Magadan (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Sakhalin (introduced)
• Tuva (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Yakutskiya (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Jun 30, 2021 by Rebecca Clayton-Harding (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 12, 2018 by Jos Bontemps (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2020 by Bénédicte OUDART (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 11, 2017 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 13, 2019 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Aug 8, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 8, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 8, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 11, 2017 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken May 8, 2020 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 11, 2017 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2020 by Bénédicte OUDART (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2020 by Bénédicte OUDART (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2020 by Bénédicte OUDART (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken May 8, 2020 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 8, 2020 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 21, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 1, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 24, 2022 by David Hocken (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Aug 20, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 20, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 12, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2012 by Nadine Castel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 20, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 25, 2020 by Alan Littlefield (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 27, 2021 by Easger (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 27, 2021 by Easger (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 9, 2009 by Tela Botanica − Claire SUTTER (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 15, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Bertrand BUI (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5356701)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:501954-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Lathyrus pratensis L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Vine, Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 6

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Bloom months: [‘may’, ‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’]

Soil nutriments: 5