WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Widespread but local in the South, rare elsewhere. Habitat includes: unimproved chalk grassland (native), grassy banks, roadside verges, railway banks, tracks, wasteland, bare ground, base of walls, fences (especially tennis court type where their tendrils can climb up). Flowers: May to August. Perennial. Other names include: Common Sainfoin. Other names include: Cock's-head. One subspecies: Onobrychis viciifolia ssp. collina. It is classified as native, but the limits of its native distribution have been obscured by aliens. Agricultural variants were introduced in the 17th century and widely cultivated for fodder until the 19th century. The species is increasing as a constituent of wild-flower mixtures and as a contaminant of grass-seed.