11.) FABACEAE - Pea family - Pages

11.) FABACEAE - Pea family

FABACEAE - Pea family

WISTERIA Nutt.

Wisteria sinensis (Sims) DC. (Chinese Wisteria) / General Very Rare Recorded for the first time in the Bristol region in 2022 at Westbury Wildlife Park by D. Peters where it scrambles amongst the canopy of an Ash tree in a patch of secondary woodland in what was once an orchard. Also found trailing out of a stone wall on Redland Road in 2023 by D. Peters as well. Chinese Wisteria was brought over to Britain in 1816 and still remains very popular and a quintessential plant to train along the sides of houses and pergolas. The similar but much larger species Wisteria floribunda (Japanese Wisteria) is also widely grown, particularly at grand estates.

ROBINIA L.

Robinia pseudoacacia L. (False-acacia) / General Uncommon Widely found planted in Parks and other public green spaces; mainly around Bristol. A native of Eastern North America. This species frequently sends up suckers which start off viciously-spined as a means of protection from grazing animals; loosing them once out of reach in the same way that Holly. In addition to this the leaves and bark are also toxic.

PHASEOLUS L.

Phaseolus vulgaris L. (French Bean) General Very Rare Commonly grown on small scale in gardens, allotments and nurseries and less frequently as a mass crop but very rarely escaping. Only two records exist: from Winterbourne Down on the 6th of May 1955 by ? and also recorded at Hotwells? in 1980s? by C.M. Lovatt? [BSBI record]. Lack of records for such a widely cultivated plant suggests recorders may be ignoring it.

GLYCINE Willd.

Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Soyabean) General Extinct Formerly occurred as a regular casual at Avonmouth Docks where it was first noted in 1923 by C.I. Sandwith and continued to persist here until 1930.

GALEGA L.

Galega officinalis L. (Goat's-rue) - General Very Rare A very rare casual found on waste ground and disturbed sites, mainly from around Bristol. At some locations it may persist if disturbance continues. First recorded in our region in 1916 at Brislington by M. Cobbe; then at Avonmouth Docks in 1923 by C.I. Sandwith; and Cranbrook Road, Bristol in 1925 by H.J. Gibbons.

COLUTEA L.

Colutea arborescens L. ssp. arborescens (Bladder-senna) General Very Rare A very rare casual found on waste ground and railway banks where it is probably introduced with spoil and aggregates. A native of Central Europe and the Mediterranean. First record for our region was made at Kingswood in 1932 by C.I. Sandwith.

ASTRAGALUS L.

Astragalus danicus Retz. (Purple Milk-vetch) 1888 - Grassland Extinct Recorded for the first time in our region at Brown's Folly on the 31st of October 1989. No records have been made since but it could potentially still occur at this site. It used to also exist just north of the region at Dursley "about half a mile east of Breakheart Hill" (White, 1912) where it was discovered during a meeting held by the Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society on the 10th of July, 1888 by Mr. J.E. Bagnall. Purple Milk-vetch is a plant of short well-drained calcareous grassland and could perhaps be discovered in other suitable locations nearby to the two mentioned.
Astragalus glycyphyllos L. (Wild Liquorice) - General Very Rare Formerly widespread but now only known to be extant in a few spots in grassland and scrubby places at Horseshoe Bend, Shirehampton where it's long been known.
Astragalus odoratus Lam. (Lesser Milk-vetch) 1963 General Extinct Recorded once from Bath in 1963 by ? [BSBI record]
Astragalus boeticus L. (Yellow Milk-vetch) - Glos. Fl. General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; discovered twice as an adventive in our region: St. Philip's Marsh in 1915 by T.H. Green & C.I. Sandwith and at Redland in 1932 by H.J. Gibbons.
Astragalus stella L. (Star-fruited Milk-vetch) General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean region; once recorded from Bedminster in 1930 by C.I. Sandwith - a first and only record for the British Isles.

CARAGANA Lam.

Caragana arborescens Lam. (Siberian Pea-tree) - 1 record from 2009 on NBN (noted only as Caragana). General Very Rare [Get rid]

ONOBRYCHIS Mill.

Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. (Sainfoin) / Grassland Scarce A scarce plant of road verges and calcareous grassland. Not thought to be native in our area. Has a long seed-life and sometimes appears after major soil disturbance such as roadworks where such plants are probably the product of former cultivation for fodder and it is now often used in seed mixes.
Onobrychis squarrosa Viv. (Squarrose Sainfoin?, Rough Sainfoin?) - Glos. Fl. General Extinct An alien from the Middle East; once found at Bristol in 1937 by C.I. Sandwith. A first and only record for the British Isles.
Onobrychis crista-galli (L.) Lam. ssp. crista-galli (cockscomb sainfoin) General Extinct An alien from North Africa & the Middle East. Once recorded from Ashton Gate in 1937 by C.I. Sandwith?. A first and only record for the British Isles.

[needs checking - might be the same record as the last species. I can’t find any mention of it in Sandwith’s Bristol Botany]

ANTHYLLIS L.

Anthyllis vulneraria L. (Kidney Vetch) / Grassland Uncommon Scattered and well distributed but rather localised and restricted to exposed open sites on well-drained calcareous soils such as limestone grassland, hill pastures, old quarries, rocky banks, railway cuttings and occasionally brownfield sites. It appears to have declined since 2000. The name Kidney Vetch derives from the past belief that it could be used to treat kidney problems (which probably arose from the seeds resemblance to kidneys) along with other troubled organs, relieve swelling and heal wounds. Vulneraria means 'wound healer' - giving it its other name Woundwort. Another name more commonly used in the past is Lady's Fingers due to what (with some imagination) looks like yellow fingers peeping out of the tips of fingerless woolly gloves. It is an important food plant to a number of locally rare and scarce species of Lepidoptera, including the Small Blue Butterfly (Cupido minimus) and Six-belted Clearwing (Bembecia ichneumoniformis).
ssp. vulneraria var. vulneraria / Grassland Uncommon The nominal taxon of which the vast majority of our Kidney Vetch belongs to.
ssp. polyphylla (DC.) Nyman. General Extinct - 1 BSBI record from Bath and 2 more just outside the region at Shipham according to NBN A non-native from central and eastern Europe. Recorded once from Bath in 1960s by ? [BSBI record]. Also recorded just outside the region's border at Shipham, North Somerset in 1922 by H.S. Thompson and again the following year. This taxon may be overlooked and is probably used in some 'wildflower' seed-mixes. It differs from the typical plant in being larger and appearing more leafy and having spreading hairs near the base (all lying flat in ssp. vulneraria). The flowers are also usually a paler yellow and the calyx is usually not red-tipped.
ssp. corbierei (C.E. Salmon & Travis) Cullen (Placen Felen) Grassland Very Rare - a single record from 1910 found just East of Nailsea by Herbert William Pugsley NBN / An extraordinary find with an interesting story: In 2020 and 2021 Bristol Botanic Garden held a free seed-giveaway to its members. In both years D. Peters opted for Kidney Vetch amongst a selection of other plants. Seeds grown from the first packet came out as typical-looking Kidney Vetch but the second batch was very different - the young plants being distinctly hairy from the start. It wasn't until the following year upon maturity that they were determined to be the nationally rare ssp. corbierei. Not long after D. Peters bumped into L. Houston and N. Wray (the curator of the botanic garden) in the Gully, Avon Gorge and took the opportunity to ask where the seeds would have been sourced from. It turned out that all wildflower seed had been collected by L. Houston herself from the Avon Gorge of which the Kidney Vetch was collected from just outside the Gully in the temporary goat enclosure and therefore exists in the wild. It is certainly very rare but may be overlooked and populations of Kidney Vetch should be examined more closely. It differs markedly from the typical plant in having spreading hairs all along the stem & leaf undersides (lying flat in ssp. vulneraria), the leaves appear slightly more succulent and the calyx is not red-tipped. Additionally the flowers and seeds measure to be slightly smaller. Some regard it as merely part of the natural variation of ssp. vulneraria and Stace comments it's possibly better downgraded to a variety of it. Seeds collected and grown on from the originals came true to form i.e. exhibited the same characters of ssp. corbierei. Further research of this plant uncovered a record made in 1910 just East of Nailsea by H.W. Pugsley.
ssp. carpatica (Pant.) Nyman var. pseudovulneraria (Sagorski) Cullen General Extinct - 1 record from 1888 according to NBN A non-native from Central Europe. Discovered at Worle Hill, Weston-Super-Mare in 1888 by ? - a first and only record for our region but one that should be looked out for. Its stand out features are a sparsely hairy stem with hairs lying flat, upper stem-leaves with the terminal leaflet distinctly larger than the smaller lateral leaflets - which are fewer in number than ssp. vulneraria (up to 4, sometimes none), and has paler flowers. The specimen is preserved in the Natural History Museum, London? herbarium. It was also recorded just outside the region (as var. tricolor) on a limestone slope near Shipham-on-Mendip in 1932 by H.S. Thompson.

[NBN says record from a preserved specimen - find out where? Natural History Museum, London?]

ssp. lapponica (Hyl.) Jalas General Extinct - 1 BSBI record from Bath (probably a mistake for ssp. carpatica? - check!) A single record from Bath, made in the 1960s by ?. [BSBI record]

[Needs checking as it's supposedly a plant of mountainous areas in the North. It's probably a mistake for ssp. carpatica]

LOTUS L.

Lotus tenuis Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd. (L. glaber Mill.) (Narrow-leaved Bird's-foot Trefoil) - Grassland Rare A rare but sometimes locally plentiful species of the coastline and around sea walls in the North of the region; occuring in old grassland on clay soils, railway banks and the sides of motorways inland. Lost from a number of locations since 2000 and historically existed in a number of localities around the Avon Gorge.
Lotus corniculatus L. (ssp. corniculatus) (Common Bird's-foot Trefoil) / Grassland Common Common in a range of species-rich grassy places including hay meadows, pastures, roadsides, banks and old lawns throughout the region but markedly absent from the Levels and Moors in North Somerset. Many common names exist for this plant but the most widely known is probably Eggs and Bacon (refering to the mixed yellow and orange to red clusters of flowers it often produces - the yellow being the eggs and the orange being the bacon) and Grannies Toenails! Other names from a culmination of local historical texts include: Fingers and Thumbs, Fingers and Toes, Devil's Fingers, Devil's Claws, Crow-toes, Butter and Eggs, Shoes and Stockings, Hen and Chickens, Bird's-eye, Pea Thatches, and confusingly Wild Thyme. It is an important food plant for the Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus).
var. corniculatus Grassland Common The native plant with the same status and distribution as the species. Very variable. In the past two additional varieties were distinguished in our area - var. villosus (with erect hairy stems and leaves) and var. crassifolius (a coastal plant with hairy, ovate fleshy leaves, prostrate leafy stems and a thick root) but they are no longer accepted today.
var. sativus Hyl. / Grassland Scarce A non-native from the continent which is now unfortunately widely sown and irresponsibly used in seed mixes; often becoming established on roadsides, newly created meadows and biodiversity ofset areas of new developments. It differs from the native variety in being much more robust and upright, with larger leaflets and flowers which are usually all yellow (not mixed with orange or red) and if turned over, reveals light-coloured keels. Additionally the stems are sometimes hollow (solid in native plants).
Lotus pedunculatus Cav. (ssp. pedunculatus) (Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil) / Wetland Frequent Usually occurs in at least seasonally wet places such as springs, bogs, marshes, wet meadows, banks of rivers, ditches & rhynes and besides ponds & lakes but can occasionally exist in drier situations as a survivor of filled in ponds and former boggy sites. An example of this was encountered in 2022 by D. Peters where it was found growing completely out of place on the edges of grass banks in the centre of a roundabout underpass, beneath the M32 near Eastville Park, Bristol. The site is close to the river Frome and it seems likely that the creation of the grass banks using excavations from the underpass would have brought up long dormant seeds with it.
Lotus maritimus L. (Tetragonolobus maritimus (L.) Roth) (Dragon's-teeth) Grassland Very Rare Very rare. A native of central & southern Europe; long naturalised in grassland at one main site near Marshfield where it was first noted in 1924 by Rev. E. Ellman and still present here in 2012.
Lotus hirsutus L. (Hairy Canary Clover) General Very Rare - 3 records. 1 from Weston-super-Mare 2004 NBN and 2 more on BSBI. Discovered new to the region in 2004 by P. Green when a single bush was found self-sown at the base of wall in Weston-super Mare. Later recorded also at Bristol in 2010s by ? and at Chipping Sodbury in 2010s by ? [BSBI records].

[As Dorycnium hirsutum (L.) Ser.) on DB]

ORNITHOPUS L.

Ornithopus compressus L. (Yellow Serradella) 1904 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean region. "Of casual occurrence on a waste-heap near Twerton, 1897; S. T. Dunn. And at St. Philip's Marsh, Bristol 1902-4." (White, 1912).
Ornithopus sativus Brot. (ssp. sativus) (Serradella) 1909 General Extinct A native of North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. Observed on a "railway bank near Brentry," in July, 1909 by I.M. Roper. (White, 1912).
Ornithopus perpusillus L. (Bird's-foot) / Grassland Very Rare Very rare on dry bare ground with thin soil overlaying Milstone Grit and Pennant Sandstone. Now only known from two spots on Trooper's Hill, Bristol and a tiny patch just about surviving on Rodway Hill in South Gloucestershire and a few localities in North Somerset. A single plant was recorded as a casual on bare soil on the edge of a rubbish heap by the Old Quarry Stables [Reynards Equestrian Centre] near West End, Nailsea in 2016 by C.M. Lovatt. Formerly occurred more widely in the area to the East of Bristol, running down to Keynsham. Historically also existed at Brandon Hill where the first mention for our region is given "in a list of plants published in Shiercliff's Bristol and Hotwells Guide for 1789" (White, 1912); Clifton Down near the Observatory above the Great Fault; Kingsweston; Uphill and in a few locations East of Clevedon at Naish, Wraxall; Court Hill and Strawberry Hill. The plant is so-named because of the seed pods which resemble bird's feet.

[add Winterbourne Down seen last 2008, Kitchens; Parkway 2009, R.J. Higgins; Humpty Tumps, Keynsham 2009, H.J. Crouch]

[Stoke Bishop, 2013, Richard Bland (irecord) - needs checking but could be correct; Narroways 2013, David Wilcox (irecord) - suspicious; Dolebury Warren, 2014, Mrs Jane Martin - check]

CORONILLA L.

Coronilla scorpioides (L.) W.D.J. Koch (Annual Scorpion-vetch) 1978 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean. First recorded at St. Philip's Marsh in 1916 by M. Cobbe then at Ashton Gate in 1917 by C.I. Sandwith; Cranbrook Road, Bristol in 1925 by H.J. Gibbons; and Bedminster in 1930 by C.I. Sandwith.

[Where's the 1978 record?]

Coronilla valentina L. ssp. glauca (L.) Battand. (Shrubby Scorpion-vetch) General Very Rare Recorded for the first time in the region in 2020s by H.J. Crouch? [BSBI record]. A native of the Mediterranean.

HIPPOCREPIS L.

Hippocrepis comosa L. (Horseshoe Vetch) / Grassland Scarce A scarce plant of short, dry calcareous grassland and rocky places; locally frequent along the eastern strip of the region and sparsely scattered elsewhere. It is the sole food plant of the Chalk Hill Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus coridon). The name comes from the shape of the seed pods which vaguely resemble a chain of mini horseshoes.

SECURIGERA DC.

Securigera varia (L.) Lassen (Crown Vetch) General Very Rare A very rare alien. Most recently seen naturalised on a dilapidated floating barge outside Castle Park in 2023 by D. Peters; where it was originally introduced as part of a project to create a ballast seed garden in 2016 by University of Bristol Botanic Garden, to represent the city's history of trade - bringing with it alien species from around the world through dumped ballast. Historically more frequent when it was introduced with imported grain and railway traffic. White (1912) mentions a number of records including: "On dredgings deposited in the Black Rock Quarry, 1884-5. Small colliery heap between Kingswood and Hanham, 1885-8. Disused railway siding at Pilning, 1897-9. A large patch on a roadside bank near the Cottage Hospital at Winterbourne, 1903-10; without doubt originating from gardens above. Embankment of a new road near Ashton Gate, 1906. Refuse heap near St. Anne's, Brislington, 1906-7. By the sidings in Portishead Station-yard, 1904-8."

Originally grown along with other species as a project to create a ballast seed garden and is one of the few to remain on the now dilapidated barge.

SCORPIURUS L.

Scorpiurus muricatus L. (Caterpillar-plant) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. (as Scorpiurus subvillosus L.) A native of the Mediterranean region, was once recorded on cultivated land at Wee Lane (now Glenfrome Road), Eastville in 1911 by I.M. Roper.

VICIA L.

Vicia cracca L. (Tufted Vetch) / Grassland Frequent Common in a range of grassy habitats such as meadows, road verges, field margins, waste ground, hedgebanks, scrub and woodland edge. Extremely variable and occasionally white flowers are produced. Usually only grows to about half a metre but in 2022, D. Peters found a very impressive plant climbing amongst a Goat Willow tree, on a mini island of sediment, along the river Frome near Eastville Park which attained a height of about 2.5m!
Vicia tenuifolia Roth (ssp. tenuifolia) (Fine-leaved Vetch) General Very Rare First noted by White (1912) when it was "Conspicuous in 1911 among a collection of scrapped machinery and ironwork by the G.W.R. at Bedminster." Also recorded at Bath pre 1930s by ? [BSBI record]; St. Philip's, Bristol in 1985 by A.L.G. and most recently from Pipehouse, North Somerset in 2016 by H.J. Crouch - where several large plants appeared after soil disturbance from the creation of a border outside a new housing development.
Vicia benghalensis L. (ssp. benghalensis) (Purple Vetch, Algerian Vetch) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. - 2 records according to NBN Native to the Mediterranean. Recorded at Eastville in 1921 and at Avonmouth Docks in 1930 by C.I. Sandwith. Also found at Bradley Stoke in 2014 and 2015 by ?

[modern records from Bradley Stoke need checking]

Vicia villosa Roth (Fodder Vetch) - General Very Rare First recorded on "waste land at St. Philip's, Bristol, July, 1902" and "Clifton from barley siftings used as poultry food, June 1903." (White, 1912). And was for a time of frequent occurrence around Bristol; particularly at Avonmouth and Portishead (Sandwith, 1932) but has rarely been sighted since 2000.
ssp. villosa General Very Rare The majority of our plants come under this.
ssp. varia (Host) Corb. General Extinct - Glos. Fl. (as V. dasycarpa Tenore) Previously occurred as a "Casual at St. Philip's, Bristol, 1902-5. On corn-mill refuse in Portishead Station-yard, 1904-7. Near Bath; S. T. Dunn." (White, 1912). Additionally recorded at St. Philip's in 1916 by M. Cobbe; Brislington in 1917 by C.I. Sandwith; and Avonmouth Docks in 1928 by C.I. Sandwith & H.J. Gibbons. Fodder Vetch is very variable and a number of subspecies have been recognised; however Stace regards them as "of doubtful taxonomic value." Local historic texts recorded this taxon under the names V. varia and V. dasycarpa which differs from the ordinary plant in being much less hairy - the hairs are usually subappressed and ≤1mm (not spreading and ≥1mm), with fewer (≤20) more loosely arranged flowers (≥20 and more crowded in ssp. villosa), upper calyx lobe lanceolate to narrowly so and measuring 1-2 (2.4)mm (hair-like and 2-4mm in ssp. villosa) with all calyx lobes shorter than the tube (lower lobes equalling or longer than calyx tube in ssp. villosa) and the raceme is shorter than or equal to (not similar to or slightly longer than) the subtended leaf.

Source - Tropical Forages

Vicia monantha Retz. ssp. biflora (Desf.) Maire (Hard Vetch, Barn Vetch - Plants For A future) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. (as V. calcarata Desf.) A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at St. Philip's Marsh in 1916 by M. Cobbe, there again in 1922 by C.I. Sandith and at Avonmouth Docks in 1930 also by C.I. Sandwith.
Vicia narbonensis L. (Narbonne Vetch) 1972 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; "detected during the last few years in the company of other aliens near Bristol." (White, 1912). Found at St. Philip's Marsh in 1916 by M. Cobbe; Eastville in 1921 by C.I. Sandwith and Cranbrook Road, Bristol in 1927 by H.J. Gibbons. Also recorded at Bath pre-1969 by ? [BSBI record].
Vicia serratifolia Jacq. (French Vetch, Purple Broad Vetch - Plants For A Future) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. (as V. narbonensis L., var. serratifolia (Jacq.) Ser.) A native of the Mediterranean; recorded as an adventive at Ashton Gate in 1922 by C.I. Sandwith.
Vicia lutea L. (Yellow-vetch) 1941 General Extinct Rediscovered in our region in 2016 after an absence of 38 years, on a sea bank at Oldbury Power Station along the Severn coast near Shepperdine by ? and still present here when visited by ? [BSBI record] in 2020s. The discovery of this population in its native coastal habitat marks huge significance as all historical records from our region appear to be of casual status. For the North of our region records include: "On dredgings from the Avon and Floating Harbour deposited in the Black Rock Quarry, fine and abundant, 1883-4. Waste ground - city refuse - at St. Philip's, Bristol, 1902-5." (White, 1912); Baptist Mills, 1922, C.I. Sandwith; "Wickwar, L.A.F.C." [in 1941?] (Riddelsdell, 1948); and lastly from a market garden in Bromley Hill, Downend, Bristol, where a single plant was found in 1978 by A.L.G. And for the South of our region: "On the roadside at Midford." - Dr. Davis in Fl. Bathon; "Casual near Twerton, 1897; S. T. Dunn;" "Portishead Station-yard; one plant in 1900, others in 1902, 1904 and 1907." (White, 1912). Additionally a specimen collected in June, 1902 by E.S. Gregory is located in the Natural History Museum - labelled "near quarry behind (Leigh) fair Weston S. Mare."

[locate L.A.F.C (Little Avon Field Club) record]

[single plant, market garden, Bromley Hill, Downend, Bristol, 1978 by A.L.G - see BNS Bristol Botany in 1978]

ssp. lutea 1941 General Extinct The majority of records (including all those mentioned above) belong here.
ssp. vestita (Boiss.) Rouy (Yellow Vetch, Hairy Yellow Vetch) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. (as V. vestita Boiss.) A native of the Mediterranean; discovered on Cranbrook Road, Bristol in 1927 by H.J. Gibbons (recorded as V. vestita). Plants of V. lutea with flowers white-turning mauve were formerly attributed to var. caerulea which is no longer accepted. They are best placed here and have been recorded on two occasions: once at St. Philip's Marsh in 1919 by M. Cobbe and also at Ashton Gate in 1924 by C.I. Sandwith.
Vicia grandiflora Scop. (Large Yellow Vetch) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. - 2 records according to NBN A native of Central & South East Europe and the Middle East; recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1934 by C.I. Sandwith?
Vicia pannonica Crantz (Hungarian Vetch) 1978 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; formerly occurred as a rare grain alien (see below for details).
ssp. pannonica General Extinct The nominal plant with pale yellow flowers; "detected during the last few years in the company of other aliens near Bristol." (White, 1912); Ashton Gate in 1922 by C.I. Sandwith and Avonmouth Docks in 1932 by H.J. Gibbons.
ssp. striata (M. Bieb.) Nyman General Extinct Recorded at Brislington in 1916 by I.M. Roper. It differs from the typical plant in having purplish flowers and the calyx teeth are longer than, not shorter than the tube.

[image of the two exists here]

[2-3-sessilibus axillaribus pendulis oblongis villosis, calycinis dentibus aristatis tubo longioribus Hab. in segetibus et cultis circa monspelium. Floret ineunte aestate. V. nissoliana, Gou. herb. 51. non Lin. V. pannonica, Willd. sp. 3. p. 1108 excl. syn. Vicioides striata, Moench. meth. 137? Species in autoribus valdi intricata etiamsi caracteribus distinctissima. Differt a V. nissoliana Lin. floribus sessilinus necus pedunculatis, magnis nec minimus; a V. pannonica Jacq. floribus violaceis nec flavescentibus, calycis dentibus tubo longioribus nec brevioribus; a vicioide uncinata Moench. leguminibus villosis; a V. striata ejusdem autoris dente calycis inferiore allis subaequali nec longissimo et proportione partium corollae; a. V. hybrida floribus ternis nec solitariis, purpureis nec flavis; ergo nova omnino videtur.]

translated:

[2-3-sessile axillary pendulous oblong villous, calyces with pointed teeth longer tube Hab. in the crops and crops around Monspelium. It blooms in early summer. V. nissoliana, Gou. herb 51. not Lin. V. pannonica, Willd. sp. 3. p. 1108 excl. syn. Vicioides striata, Moench. meth. 137? The species in the authors of the forest is complicated even if the characters are very distinct. It differs from V. nissoliana Lin. with pedicled sessile flowers, large and not the smallest; from V. pannonica Jacq. with flowers violet and not yellow, the calyx with teeth longer than shorter than the tube; by the vicious hook of Moench. hairy vegetables; from V. striata of the same author, the tooth of the lower calyx is subequal to the wings, nor is it the longest and in proportion to the parts of the corolla; a. V. hybrida with triple or solitary flowers, purple or yellow; therefore it seems entirely new.]

Vicia hyrcanica Fisch. et Mey. (Hyrcania Vetch?, Hyrcanian Vetch?) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. - 2 records according to NBN A native of the Caucasus; "detected during the last few years in the company of other aliens near Bristol." (White, 1912). Found also at Ashton Gate in 1940 by C.I. Sandwith?
Vicia hybrida L. (Hairy Yellow-vetch) 1919 General Extinct Native to the Mediterranean region. Formerly "an occasional casual on cultivated and waste ground near Bristol, springing from imported seed and grain." "Casual in a field of mowing grass on the Leigh Court estate, 1888! J. H. Fryer. Waste ground, St. Philips, Bristol, 1902. Portishead Station sidings, 1904." (White, 1912). Last recorded from St. Anne's, Brislington in 1919 by C.I. Sandwith.
Vicia lathyroides L. (Spring Vetch) - Coasts Very Rare Very rare on sandy turf or short open vegetation by the coast. Now only known on south-facing slopes of Sand Point and on the dune system at Sand Bay. A colony which was found at Sand Bay existing on remnant dunes behind housing in 1993 and 1994 by M.A.R.K. & C.K. has not been sighted since. Long known in the vicinity where it is first mentioned in St. Brody's Flora of Weston-super-Mare (1856) at "Kewstoke, in sandy fields" and was "Plentiful on Kewstoke sands, whence first reported to me in 1880 by the late Rev. W. H. Painter." (White, 1912). Historically said to have occurred also at St. Vincent's Rocks, Avon Gorge (mentioned in Camden's 'Britannia', Gough's ed. 1789). Reported near "Old Passage, June, 1867; Herb. St. Brody." and "Steep Holm, 1883; John Storrie." (White, 1912).
Vicia sativa L. (Common Vetch) - Grassland Common Common in rough grassland, field margins, banks, road verges and waste places. (See subspecies for details).
ssp. nigra (L.) Ehrh. Grassland Scarce A constituent of dry neutral to acidic grassy places, old quarries and sandy ground by the coast. Scattered and localised throughout the region. The map does not show an accurate depiction of its distribution due to inconsistant recording of Vicia sativa at subspecies level; however there are more pre 2000 records made by reputable botanists than there have been since, suggesting it has declined. This is our only native member of V. sativa; distinguished from the others in being a more slender and delicate plant with heterophyllous leaves (the leaflets of upper leaves are distinctly narrower than those of lower leaves), concolorous (same colour all over) bright pinkish-purple flowers with brown to black pods which are smooth and hairless. Formerly distinguished as a separate species, this combined with ssp. segetalis is the V. angustifolia of local historical texts of which var. bobartii - "a prostrate variety, with small flowers and all the upper leaves very narrowly linear," can be refered specifically to ssp. nigra. White (1912) states it as "frequent on dry sandy soil, such as that about the pennant quarries of the neighbourhood." Plants with white flowers occur rarely.
ssp. segetalis (Thuill.) Gaudin (Common Vetch) / General Common The commonest subspecies to be found in our area; making up the majority of our V. sativa constituency with the same habitat range and distribution as the species. Many more records have been made of this subspecies in recent years due to greater awareness but it is still greatly under-recorded.
ssp. sativa (Common Vetch) General Rare A rare casual of field margins, roadsides and other disturbed places. Formerly much cultivated as a fodder crop and most records are probably relics of such activity. A white-flowered form was once noted along a railway siding between Shirehampton and Avonmouth in 1914 by C.I. Sandwith.
ssp. macrocarpa (Moris) Arcang. (Large-seeded Vetch - GBIF) (Common Vetch, Fatch) General Extinct - "Waste near Horfield, Gibbons in W. E. C., 1922-3, 210." - Glos. Fl. (as V. sativa L. var. macrocarpa Moris.) A native of the Mediterranean; once found on an allotment in Horfield in 1922 by H.J. Gibbons and determined by H.S. Thompson.
Vicia sepium L. (Bush Vetch) / Woodland Common The most frequent and widely occurring vetch in the region but has a preference for damp, semi-shaded locations such as hedgebanks, tracksides, road verges, open woodland, scrub and field margins. Plants with pure white flowers occur rarely. White (1912) mentions "It is a beautiful form. We have it at Frampton Cotterell" and "In Somerset it grows by the canal at Combe Hay; and in larger quantity on a moist mossy bank on Burledge Hill above North Widcombe, between Stowey and Nine Elms. Lane at Weston near Bath, 1895; D. Fry."
Vicia melanops Sibth. & Sm. (Black-eyed Vetch) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. - 1 record according to NBN A native of the Mediterranean; "detected during the last few years in the company of other aliens near Bristol." (White, 1912). Recorded at St. Philip's Marsh in 1916 by M. Cobbe and at Ashton Gate in 1939 by C.I. Sandwith ?.
Vicia faba L. (Broad Bean) - General Rare Widely cultivated but a rare casual in retrospect of this - found on allotments, tips, waste places and occasionally arable fields as a crop relic (though rarely grown on scale in our area). A record of interesting note was made in 1941 by C.I. Sandwith when 'a little crop of fodder beans' germinated in the cracks of Bristol Bridge in the city centre! Fodder / Field or Horse Bean (as it may sometimes be known) is taxonomically the same but differs in being more robust and winter-hardy and produces much smaller beans. It is often grown as a green manure or left to mature and dry to be used in animal feeds. Broad Bean originates from the Middle East and has been cultivated there for over eight thousand years. Evidence of first spread to western Europe has been put to around 3000 years ago after the discovery of Iron Age seed deposits at Glastonbury, North Somerset.
Vicia bithynica (L.) L. (Bithynian Vetch) - Grassland Very Rare A very rare and often ellusive vetch of scrubby road verges, rough grassland, hedgebanks and railway banks. Long known at some sites such as Shirehampton - where it was first noted by T.B. Flower in 1841 and between Stoke Gifford and Winterbourne where Mr. C. Bucknall "got it on the high bank of a sunken lane." "It grows on both banks of the lane in very moderate quantity, but owing to the quite unnecessary chopping and trimming lately undertaken by rural road-men the vetch has no chance of spreading, and but little of maintaining itself." Unfortunately nothing's changed! Regular roadside mowing regimes continue to threaten it. Also formerly occurred as a casual "near the corn-mill by Portishead Station ! 1900; Mrs. Gregory. Still there, covering a large space, in June 1907 and in 1909." (White, 1912). St. Philip's Marsh in 1916 by M. Cobbe and Ashton Gate in 1922 by C.I. Sandwith. White (1912) mentions a narrow-leaved form (var. angustifolia) with very acute linear leaves occurring occasionally but it is just a part of natural variation and is no longer accepted.
Vicia peregrina L. ssp. peregrina (Wandering Vetch - GBIF, Slender-leaved Vetch - MaltaWildPlants.com, Broad-pod Vetch, Broad-podded Vetch, Rambling Vetch - Pl@ntNet) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. - 1 record according to NBN A native of the Mediterranean; recorded as a casual on Cranbrook Road, Bristol in 1927 by H.J. Gibbons and at Ashton Gate in 1939 by C.I. Sandwith?.
Vicia orobus DC. (Wood Bitter-vetch) 1859 Grassland Extinct (modern records just outside the region on BSBI DB) Long extinct. Was recorded at "Emborough Ponds near Old Down, Bath, 1859; T. B. Flower." (White, 1912). This species still occurs just outside the region near Charterhouse.
Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd. (Ervil, Bitter Vetch) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. A native of southern Europe and the Middle East. Recorded as an alien at Bristol (Riddelsdell, 1948).

[Locate record]

Vicia lens (L.) Coss. & Germ. ssp. lens (Lentil) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. (as Lens culinaris Medik. (L. esculenta Moench)) A native of the Mediterranean; recorded on a rubbish tip at Bristol in 1919 by I.M. Roper.
Vicia lentoides (Ten.) Coss. & Germ. ssp. lens (Black Lentil?) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. (as Lens nigricans (M. Bieb.) Godr.) A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at Eastville tips in 1917 by I.M. Roper. A first and only record for the British Isles.
Vicia palaestina Boiss. (Palestine Vetch - iNaturalist, Flowers in Israel) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. - 2 records according to NBN A native of the Caucasus; recorded at Ashton Gate in 1937 by C.I. Sandwith?. A first and only record for the British Isles.
Vicia linearifolia Hook. & Arn. (Narrow-leaved Vetch?) A native of temperate South America; recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1930 by C.I. Sandwith (as V. hookeri). A first and only record for the British Isles.

ERVILIA Link

Ervilia sylvatica (L.) Schur (Stace) (var. sylvatica) (Vicia sylvatica L.) (Wood Vetch) - Woodland Rare Well distributed but scattered and very local along woodland rides and clearings, amongst scrub and along the edges of cliffs; absent from much of the North of the region. Now much rarer than it used to be. White (1912) mentions it occurring "below Leigh Woods along half a mile of the Avon river-bank" - a sight which could only be dreamt of today. The earliest records (both locally and to Britain were made "In a wood nigh Bathe" (Johnson, 1634) and "In Smoak Hall Wood, by the Bathe" (Merrett, 1666).
Ervilia hirsuta (L.) Opiz (Vicia hirsuta (L.) Gray) (Hairy Tare) / Grassland Frequent Widespread and locally frequent in rough grassy places, hay meadows, roadside verges, field margins, tracksides and sometimes old stone walls and old manure heaps - where the seeds inevitably end up after being consumed by cattle.

ERVUM L.

Ervum gracile DC. (Vicia parviflora Cav.) (Slender Tare) Grassland Extinct Formerly occurred in grassy places but was always rare. Seen only once in our area since 2000 - from near Rangeworthy in 2004 by R. Edmondson. Though not seen since it could be rediscovered one day in the region. The first local and British record was made by Babington in 1839 on "Barrow Hill, between Twerton and Englishcombe." (White, 1912).
Ervum tetraspermum L. (Vicia tetrasperma (L.) Schreb.) (Smooth Tare) / Grassland Uncommon Well distributed but noticably absent from much of the South of the region. Occurs in similar locations to Hairy Tare (and often grows with it) but much less common. It likes disturbed sites such as hay meadows and road verges.

LATHYRUS L.

Lathyrus clymenum L. (Spanish Vetchling) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. A native of the Mediterranean region; recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1930 by C.I. Sandwith.
Lathyrus linifolius (Reichard) Bässler (Bitter-vetch) - Grassland Rare Formerly widespread but now rare and very localised. White (1912) classes it as common. Occurs in species-rich grassland, hedgebanks, scrub and open woods on neutral to acidic soils. It has greatly declined in recent years and appears to have almost vanished from the North of the region with most modern records concentrated in the South. The decline is likely predominantely down to habitat destruction and inappropriate management. Historically this plant seems to be more associated with woodland and scrub where seasonal practices such as coppicing and localised clearance took place. Many of our woodlands close to populous areas have become so trampled that the ground is now bare in all but the most inaccessible places whilst in others they have become too dark and enclosed. Should traditional management be re-initiated in sites where it once occurred it may return to a more abbundant state.
var. montanus (Bernh.) Bässler - Woodland Rare The nominal plant with the same status and distribution as the species. In addition to the next taxon, White (1912) mentions a form with unusually broad leaflets present by "the Bradley Brook between Hambrook and Winterbourne."
var. linifolius - Woodland Very Rare [1 record on DB (as var. tenuifolius)] This plant with linear-acuminate leaves and narrow stipules has been recorded most recently on Felton Common, North Somerset in 2006 by M. Webster Historically known as var. tenuifolius where records include: "well marked in the 'Green Valley,' Clifton Down; on a wooded slope towards the Sea Wall; and in Cook's Folly Wood. Noted on Clifton Down by Flower in 1850" (White, 1912) and "Near Clifton, Miss Bell in Hb. Watson. Wickwar; Coalpit Heath, Roper." (Riddelsdell, 1948).
Lathyrus pratensis L. (Meadow Vetchling) / Grassland Common Common throughout the region in grassy places such as hay meadows, pastures, road verges, railway banks, hedgebanks, track-sides, field margins, open scrub and woodland rides. Also sometimes known as Meadow Pea and Lady's Slipper. Though common, it is nowhere near as abundant as it once was in the wider countryside - where many fields once species-rich have since been turned to monocultures of Perennial Rye-grass and little else.
Lathyrus aphaca L. (Yellow Vetchling) Grassland Very Rare A very rare native Vetchling in our region; occurring on hedgebanks, lane-sides and marginal ground. Only recorded a few times since 2000; formerly occurred more frequently as a casual on rubbish tips and in cornfields.

[some records need checking - probably mistakes for Meadow Vetchling]

Lathyrus ochrus (L.) DC. (Winged Vetchling) 1922 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean region and former grain alien. "About a dozen plants near the mill in Portishead Station-yard, 1909; derived from seed thrown out with screenings of imported grain." (White, 1912). Also recorded at St. Philip's Marsh in 1916 by M. Cobbe and both at Bedminster and Avonmouth Docks in 1922 by C.I. Sandwith.
Lathyrus sylvestris L. (Narrow-leaved Everlasting Pea) / Woodland Uncommon Uncommon but locally abundant in scrub, hedgerows, woodland edge, ditch-sides and along railways. It has an intriguing distribution; predominantly occurring to the West of Bristol in a region which was historically prone to coastal flooding and has a peculiar association to be found near water inland even if the habitat is in no way aquatic. As our largest and heaviest-seeded native member of the vetch tribe (Fabeae), It would appear that it cannot naturally travel very far away from moving water sources. Their tough outer casing is certainly built for such means of transportation - the process of which no doubt aids in its germination. As gardeners who grow peas of various sorts will know, it is often recomended to soak the seeds in water overnight to soften the outer casing for easier germination. In light of this it seems likely that despite significant changes in land use, populations today have managed to hang on and its distribution is probably not that much different from what it would have been centuries ago.

has probably remained much the same

Lathyrus grandiflorus Sm. (Two-flowered Everlasting Pea) / General Very Rare A very rare garden escape; occasionally naturalising in marginal areas near habitation. Recorded only twice in recent years - at Tockington in 2010s by ? [BSBI record] and most recently a plant was found growing on the supporting stone work of a raised front garden entrance on Cheltenham Road in 2023 by D. Peters. Older records include: Bath in 1950s by ? [BSBI record]; Durdham Down in 1984 by I.F. Green - where it was found naturalised amongst scrub; West Harptree in 1986 by R.M. Payne, creeping over a hedge on the site of an old cottage; and Troopers Hill in 1987 by R.D. Randall.
Lathyrus latifolius L. (ssp. latifolius) (Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea) / General Uncommon A frequent introduction, often becoming well established on railway banks, road verges and hedgebanks and can become invasive. It is particularly prolific along the railway cuttings at Narroways, Bristol.
Lathyrus tuberosus L. (Tuberous Pea) General Very Rare A very rare introduction, seen only once since 2000 - near Chew Stoke in 2020s by ? [BSBI record]. Formerly occurred more widely. White (1912) mentions a number of historical records: "A small patch - two square feet - grew among grass close to the towing path by the Avon, about 100 yards above the railway bridge below Sneyd Park. First noticed there in July, 1891 by Miss Ellen Woods"..."Near Chelvey away from any dwellinghouse or garden, very sparingly in 1893 ! Cecil H. Sp. Perceval"..."In plenty on a hedgebank at West Town, 1896; C. Bucknall. This did not last. On an embankment of the G.W.R. west of Keynsham Station, 1907; Geo. Withers. [last recorded at this location in 1987 by J. Aldridge]"..."Amongst brambles in the overgrown hedge of an old pasture on Wick-house Farm, south of the high road from Bristol to Bath; quite an out-of-the-way spot where it may have thriven a long while. Discovered in 1901, growing up to five or six feet, by a lady who conducted Mr D. Fry to the place; and it was flourishing in 1904-6-7, but not maturing any seed." Additionally discovered on a disused railway in Hallen by M. Bowen in 1936. Also known as Earth-nut Pea. It's name comes from the tuberous nodules produced on the roots.
Lathyrus annuus L. (Fodder Pea) 1913 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; first "observed on city rubbish, or on corn-mill refuse near the Docks." (White, 1912). Also observed at St Anne's, Bristol in 1913 by I.W. Evans and Avonmouth Docks in 1930 by C.I. Sandwith.
Lathyrus odoratus L. (Sweet Pea) General Very Rare - 4 records + 2 more on BSBI Widely cultivated but rarely seen escaping. A native of southern Italy.
Lathyrus hirsutus L. (Hairy Vetchling) 1940 General Extinct A native of Central Europe and the Mediterranean; formerly a rare alien casual. "In July, 1902 Miss Martin of Bath sent me a specimen found by her in a field (old quarry ground) near English-combe; and in September, 1903 she gave me another from the same place. A small colonywhich existed several years between Bath and Limpley Stoke has been destroyed; Mrs. Dent Young. An example in Herb. St. Brody is labelled 'Reported from Bristol, 1854.'" (White 1912). Also found on rubbish by the Avon at Brislington in 1912 by J.W. White and Eastville tip in 1916 by C.I. Sandwith & T.H. Green.
Lathyrus sativus L. (Indian Pea) 1913 General Extinct A native of Bulgaria and Yugoslavia (but named for its widespread cultivation in India), recorded from St Anne's, Bristol in 1913 by I.W. Evans; Eastville tips in 1917 by I.M. Roper and Avonmouth Docks in 1928 by C.I. Sandwith.
Lathyrus hierosolymitanus Boiss. (Jerusalem Vetchling - Flora of Israel and adjacent areas, Flowers in Israel) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. - 1 record according to NBN A native of North Africa and Caucasus; recorded at St. Philip's Marsh in 1916 by M. Cobbe and at Ashton Gate in 1937 by C.I. Sandwith?.
Lathyrus cicera L. (Red Vetchling) 1922 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; first "observed on city rubbish, or on corn-mill refuse near the Docks (White, 1912)." Also found at Bedminster in 1922 and Avonmouth Docks in 1930 by C.I. Sandwith.
Lathyrus inconspicuus L. (Inconspicuous Vetchling?, Inconspicuous Pea - GBIF, Wikipedia, Solitary-Flowered Pea - Pl@ntNet) 1940 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean and the Middle East; recorded at Ashton Gate in 1922 by C.I. Sandwith and there again in 1940 by ?.
Lathyrus nissolia L. (Grass Vetchling) / Grassland Uncommon Uncommon but sometimes locally plentiful; occurring in grassland, railway banks, road verges, track-sides and old quarries; mainly around Bristol. Noticeably absent from much of the East and south-western portion of the region.
Lathyrus oleraceus Lam. (Pisum sativum L.) (Garden Pea) 1979 General Very Rare Commonly cultivated on a small scale in gardens and allotments but rarely escapes. Occasionally occurs as a grain alien.
var. oleraceus General Very Rare [formerly as var. sativum] The nominal form and the usual pea grown for food. Much more widely grown than var. arvense in our area and rarely escapes.
var. arvense (L.) Poir. (Field Pea) General Very Rare Cultivated for fodder and sometimes human consumption. It produces much smaller pods than the pea grown for food - var. oleraceus and occasionally occurs as a bird-seed alien.

CICER L.

Cicer arietinum L. ssp. arietinum (Chick Pea) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. - 1 record according to NBN A native of the Middle East; recorded at St. Philip's Marsh and Brislington in 1916 by M. Cobbe, Eastville in 1918 by I.M. Roper, Avonmouth Docks in 1924 by C.I. Sandwith and there again in 1978 by A.L. Grenfell. This is the eating chick pea.

ONONIS L.

Ononis repens L. (Ononis spinosa L. ssp. procurrens (Wallr.) Briq.) (Common Restharrow) / Grassland Uncommon Widespread but now very local on well-drained calcareous and neutral soils, including species-rich grassland, railway banks, road verges and sand dunes. Much rarer than formerly; indicating the general loss of good quality habitat. Additional names listed in local historical texts include: Creeping Restharrow, Trailing Restharrow, Dumb-cammock and Kemmick. White (1912) mentions a "spinosus form" (not to be confused with Spiny Restharrow O. spinosus) which "has been noted on Ursleigh Hill and about the adjoining upland pastures and lanesides towards Publow and Queen Charlton; and at Winterhead on Mendip [just outside the region]." It still occurs. The name Restharrow originates from the fact that their tough roots were prone to preventing the plough, or harrow from cutting through the soil.
ssp. repens / Grassland Uncommon The nominal plant which is the dominant form; referring to records away from the coast. Plants with pure white flowers occur rarely and have been recorded "at North Stoke; L. W. Rogers. And at Newton St. Loe; G. Morse." (White, 1912).
ssp. maritima (Dumort.) Asch. & Graebn. Coasts Very Rare Listed under the name var. horrida in the older local texts. In the words of White (1912) a “prostrate, clammy, glandular-villose variety, growing on coast rocks and sand-hills.” It differs from the nominal plant in being smaller, more densely hairy and having flowers which measure "7-12mm (not 12-20)" Stace (2021). Historical records include: “Severn sea-bank below the Tunnel...Downs on the coast near Walton, and on the ridge above Weston-in-Gordano; Miss Livett...Uphill, on limestone, very scarce; Rev. E. S. Marshall in Journ. Bot. 1907. The year following, Mr. Marshall reported that this variety was much more abundant at the S. end of the Uphill Rocks."
Ononis repens x O. spinosa = O. x pseudohircina Schur (Hybrid Restharrow) Grassland Very Rare In the BNS Proceedings for Bristol Botany in 1923 (and under Ononis spinosa in Riddelsdell, 1948), N. Sandwith & C.G. Trapnell report on finding "several procumbent, spineless and extremely viscid plants near the Severn Tunnel pumping station. Examination of stamens showed them to be mainly abortive, and no fruit could be found." They attribute the find to O. repens var. mitis which is now considered to be synonymous with O. arvensis - a plant from the continent which does not occur in Britain. It seems highly suggestive that this was the hybrid - which is probably overlooked and should be sought for where populations of the two parents meet. Another possible incidence is mentioned in Riddelsdell (1948) of an interesting "form with small grey-blue flowers, approaching the continental var. violacea (Peterm.) Wohlf., which differs in having tiny flowers with a very short standard, was found as an isolated bush at...Ingleston Common by Mrs B. Welch in August 1939. Some flowers were sent to Kew and compared with the R.H.S. Colour Chart, matching the palest tint of "Aster Violet." The bush was healthy and thriving in 1940, but mature pods have not yet been found. Nearby there is plenty of typical O. spinosa with larger, rosy pink flowers, but this little bush has selected a spot apart, and, although unusual, is apparently nameless (C. I. Sandwith)." Despite the unusual flower colour, the lack of pods suggests it may have been an odd variation of the hybrid. Both species have occurred relatively recently at Inglestone Common.
Ononis spinosa L. (Ononis spinosa L. ssp. spinosa) (Spiny Restharrow) / Grassland Uncommon Scattered and localised in species-rich grassy places, old pastures, verges, banks and railway cuttings; preferring heavy clay soils. As with O. repens, it has declined markedly since 2000. Upright Restharrow, Upright Prickly Restharrow and Cammock are alternative names used in local historical texts. The latter (also used for O. repens) is an old English name of unknown origin but can be traced back to Saxon times. The earliest local and British record was made by L'Obel (1570) - "Ononis aut Anonis Asinaria...Spinosa varietas...occurrit in pratis maritimus et udis Angliae praesertim ad Bristoiam et prope Londinum." [Ononis or Anonis Asinaria...a spiny variety...occurs in the maritime and wet meadows of England, especially at Bristol and near London.]

MELILOTUS Mill.

Melilotus altissimus Thuill. (Tall Melilot) / General Frequent The only frequent Melilot in the region; found in a range of disturbed grassy places such as road verges, railway lines, field margins, track sides, fallow fields etc. As with all Melilots, it has a long 'seed-bank' and often appears out of the blue after major soil disturbance such as road works, but is the only one that is really able to persist and compete against other vegetation. In some locations such as at Stoke Park, Bristol it behaves almost as a traditional meadow plant.
Melilotus albus Medik. (White Melilot) - General Rare A rare species that is found as a casual of disturbed ground such as road verges. Concentrated around the Avonmouth and Portishead Docks where it persists. Considerably fewer post-2000 records.
Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall. (Ribbed Melilot) / General Rare A rare casual / colonist of recently disturbed sites such as roadside verges, tracks and field margins; sometimes occurring as a birdseed alien. Confusingly the name Melilotus officinalis was used for the much more common species Tall Melilot - M. altissimus in older local floras (today's M. officinalis was M. arvensis back then). To add to this confusion, Tall Melilot is also frequently called Common Melilot. The name would account for that it is still probably over-recorded today, partly for this nomenclatural confusion that 'officinalis' must be the commoner one but also due to their great similarity in general appearance. M. officinalis differs from M. altissimus in having flowers with the keel shorter than the adjacent wings (not equalling them) and having smaller, normally 1-seeded fruits which are hairless and turn brown when ripe (not mainly 2-seeded, hairy and ripening black).
Melilotus indicus (L.) All. (Small Melilot) General Very Rare A very rare casual; only recorded a handful of times since 2000: - Hotwells in 2005 by ?; Shirehampton in 2000s by ?; Bishopsworth? in 2010s by ? and most recently found at St. Philip's Marsh? in 2010s by ? [BSBI records]. Formerly occurred much more regularly as a grain alien about docks, rubbish tips, arable fields and roadsides. Among the historic records, an interesting plant with larger leaves and a laxer inflorescence 1.5 - 2 x longer than the subtended leaves was found near Bristol in 1927 by G.C. Druce and named var. exaltata but it is no longer an accepted taxon.
Melilotus sulcatus Desf. (Furrowed Melilot) 1930 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at Bedminster in 1930 by C.I. Sandwith; Ashton Gate in 1939 by C.I. Sandwith and Avonmouth Docks in the 1980s by ? [BSBI record].
Melilotus siculus (Turra) Steud. (Sicilian Melilot - NBN, Pl@ntNet, Southern Melilot - MaltaWildPlants.com) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. (as M. siculus Jackson.) - 1 record from Ashton Gate, 1937 according to NBN [as Melilotus messanensis on DB] A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1932 by H.J. Gibbons and at Ashton Gate in 1937 by ?.

TRIGONELLA L.

Trigonella procumbens (Besser) Rchb. (Trailing Fenugreek - GBIF) 1932 General Extinct A native of Eastern Europe; formerly a grain alien and simply listed as frequent in Sandwith (1932) - where she mentions some of White's records for T. caerulea may really belong here. The only precise record is of a specimen collected at Ashton Gate in 1922. It differs from T. caerulea "in its solid stems, narrower leaflets, more elongated racemes and fruit gradually (not abruptly) narrowed into beak." (Stace, 2021).
Trigonella caerulea (L.) Ser. (Blue Fenugreek) 1978 General Extinct An native of the Eastern Mediterranean and formerly a rare but regular casual. White (1912) lists a number of records: "Old Lias quarry between Twerton and Englishcombe, 1897; S. T. Dunn in Journ. Bot. Still there in 1902!...Abundant on rubbish in St. Philip's Marsh, Bristol; yearly 1900 to 1909. Watercress Farm, Baptist Mills, 1911! I. W. Evans...Embankment of a new road at Ashton Gate, 1906. Rubbish-tip at St. Anne's, Brislington! 1906; Miss Brooks. Wraxall; Miss Agnes Fry. Plentiful in some seasons on corn-mill refuse in Portishead Station-yard, 1904-9" and found here again in 1912 by C.I. Sandwith; Ashton Gate in 1939 by C.I. Sandwith and a single plant on a tip at Entry Hill, Bath in 1978 by D. Green and determined by E.J. Clement.

[last record - Bristol Botany in 1978 and BSBI].

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Fenugreek) 1921 General Extinct A native of the Middle East; formerly occurred as a rare alien around the tips and working yards of Bristol. First recorded at Brislington in 1912 by I.W. Evans and subsequently in 1917 by the same recorder (as T. gladiata - Sandwith, 1932); St. Philip's Marsh in 1916 by M. Cobbe; Ashton Gate in 1921 by C.I. Sandwith; Wee Lane [now Glenfrome Road] in 1927 by C.I. Sandwith; Eastville in 1920 by I.M. Roper and Avonmouth Docks in 1936 by C.I. Sandwith.
Trigonella caelesyriaca Boiss. (Syrian Fenugreek - Flora of Israel and adjacent areas) 1930 General Extinct A native of the Middle East; found as an adventive at Avonmouth Docks in 1928 and Bedminster in 1930 by C.I. Sandwith.
Trigonella glabra Thunb. ssp. uncata (Boiss. & Noë) Lassen (Egyptian Fenugreek) General Extinct - 1 record from Avonmouth, 1958 according to NBN A native of the Middle East; found at Avonmouth Docks in 1958 by C.I. & N.Y. Sandwith. Mentioned in Bristol Botany in 1958 as T. hamosa - "The pods are less strongly falcate than in the typical form, and the specimens could perhaps be referred to T. uncata".
Trigonella laciniata L. (Cutleaf Fenugreek) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. [can't find record - delete]

MEDICAGO L.

Medicago polyceratia (L.) Sauvages ex Trautv. (Many-toothed Medick?, Toothed-leaved Medick?, Serrate-leaved Medick?, Serrated Medick?) General Extinct - 1 record according to NBN - Glos. Fl. (as Trigonella polycerata L.) [as Trigonella polyceratia on DB] A native of the Mediterranean; formerly occurring as a casual "at St. Philip's, Bristol, July, 1902. And at Portishead Dock, 1905-7." (White, 1912); tip at Portishead South in 1914 by C.I. Sandwith; St. Philip's Marsh in 1916 by M. Cobbe and Ashton Gate in 1922 by C.I. Sandwith.
Medicago monspeliaca (L.) Trautv. (Trigonella monspeliaca L.) (Hairy Medick, Star-fruited Fenugreek) 1922 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; found at Bedminster in 1922 by C.I. Sandwith.
Medicago lupulina L. (Black Medick) / Grassland Common Common in a variety of short or open grassy places, including banks, roadside verges, hay meadows, well-grazed pastures etc. Also known as Nonsuch, it is very variable in appearance and a number of forms exist both native and introduced (often as a result of its long-term wide use in green manure and fodder crops). White (1912) mentions two of these: var. willdenowiana which has "the fruit covered with stout, jointed, glandular hairs;" occurring in "a large field of Sainfoin between Winterbourne village and the church, 1910...In the Station-yard at Portishead, Oct. 1900. Near the sea, Uphill ! Mrs. Gregory" and "Heron's Green, Compton Martin, C. E. Salmon." (Marshall, 1914). And var. scabra with "simple, non-glandular hairs on the fruit" from a "Field of sown fodder at Winterbourne." Also mentioned is a "curious plant with loose clusters of flowers, long pedicels, and falcate pods, occurred on a shingly beach by the Severn in 1902. This was considered by Mr. Arthur Bennett to be a sport or monstrosity." The name Medicago is derived from a Latin translation of the Greek name Mēdikḗ or 'Median' (a region now known as the country Iran), because the widely cultivated plant which the genus was based off - Lucern or Alfalfa (M. sativa ssp. sativa) - was believed to have been introduced from there during ancient times and not because of its proclaimed medicinal properties; though Black Medick and the genus in general is said to have antibacterial qualities and may be an effective mild laxative.
Medicago sativa L. (Medick) Grassland Uncommon Most records mapped at the species level refer to ssp. sativa but see subspecies for details.
ssp. falcata (L.) Arcang. (M. falcata L. ssp. falcata) (Sickle Medick) - Grassland Very Rare A very rare casual of disturbed and derelict ground; occasionally becoming well-established. Only recently known from Lamplighters Marsh where it was first recorded in 1986 by D. Lawrence & R.J. Higgins and last seen here in 1991 by M.A.R.K. & C. Kitchen. Otherwise recorded at Bath in 2003 by E.McDouall and Cadbury Heath in 2008 by G. Moor. Formerly much more frequent as a grain alien of shipping ports and working yards. Historical records include: "Under St. Vincent's Rocks; Stephens Cat. 1835. Plentiful at 'Holly Gess' between Hanham and Warmley, 1880 to 1890; or until the ground was enclosed. On waste ground at St. Philip's Marsh, Bristol, 1895; S. T. Dunn. And continuing there until 1906. Bank of the Avon at Saltford, 1900, flood-borne? D. Fry. Newton St. Loe; G. Morse. Portishead Station-yard, on corn-mill refuse, 1900-8 ! Mrs. Gregory and Miss Peck. Weston-super-Mare;...Up-hill; Dr. St. Brody. Bathampton; T. F. Inman." (White, 1912). A form with narrower leaves was found at St. Philip's Marsh in 1913 by C.I. Sandwith; Bedminster in 1918 by M. Cobbe and Avonmouth Docks in 1923 by C.I. Sandwith and were named var. tenuifoliolata (Sandwith, 1932) [No such name exists on IPNI - investigate! Might be referable to M. prostrata]; Hanham in 1940 by ?; St. Philip's Marsh in the 1970s? by ?; Bishopsworth in the 1980s [BSBI records]; and Saltford in 1982 by ?.

[was the 2008 record only G. Moor or the Kitchens as well?]

[maybe only mention most recent records and the var. tenuifoliolata]

nothossp. varia (Martyn) Arcang. (Sand Lucerne) / - Glos. Fl. General Very Rare The hybrid between the two subspecies. Recently a plant looking similar to M. sativa ssp. sativa (but much less fertile and having fruits with fewer coils), was recorded as a birdseed alien at the base of a street tree at the Eastville end of Muller Road in 2024 by D. Peters. First mentioned in our region by White (1912 [as M. media]) where it was found "near the Portishead Dock. It does not appear to produce any good pods". Also recorded from St. Philip's Marsh in 1916 by M. Cobbe and again in 1917 by G.C. Druce; East Bristol in 1930s by ?; and South Bristol in 1970s by ? [BSBI records]. Due to its ability to backcross to either parent (creating great variability) and potential to be introduced as hybrid seed, it may possibly be overlooked for one or the other.
ssp. sativa (Lucerne) / Grassland Uncommon Widely scattered throughout the region as a casual or naturalised crop relic on banks, roadsides, field margins and allotments. It was introduced to Britain in the mid 16th-century by William Turner (1562) where he describes it under the name "Medic Fother or Horned Clover...A very excellent herbe, because when it is ones sowen it dureth for the space of 10 yeres...it may be well mowen four times every yere, and in some yeres six times...it fatteth every lene beaste, and heleth every sick beaste". Today it is one of the most widely grown crops in the world.
Medicago noeana Boiss. (Noeana Medick?) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. - 1 record according to NBN A native of the Middle East; recorded at Ashton Gate in 1937 by C.I. Sandwith? A first and only record for the British Isles.
Medicago truncatula Gaertn. (Strong-spined Medick) General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; recorded as an adventive at St. Philip's Marsh in 1919 by M. Cobbe and at Avonmouth in 1984 by A.L.G. and J.H.S.
Medicago laciniata (L.) Mill. (Tattered Medick) 1897 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at ? in 1897 by ?.

[can't find record]

Medicago minima (L.) Bartal. (Bur Medick) 1941 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; occurred as a "Casual on refuse in St. Philip's Marsh, Sept. 1895; C. Bucknall. (White, 1912);" at Ashton Gate in 1941 by R. Gurney?; and at Clevedon in 2006 by T. Pike.

Dr. H. O. Stephens, in his Catalogue (1835), records this as found on St. Vincent's Rocks and Brandon Hill. A specimen from the former place, bearing his name but without date, is in the herbarium of the Bristol Naturalists Society; and I have seen two others, dated June, 1857...In July, 1883, I found one plant in the Black Rock Quarry on dredgings from the bed of the Avon, and that may possibly have sprung from old seed of a St. Vincent's Rock plant.

H.O. Stephens found this on Brandon Hill in 1881

J.W. White found it in Black Rock Quarry (between Portishead and Clevedon) in 1883

and R. Gurney found it in 'Bristol' in 1941

Medicago doliata Carmign. (Medicago aculeata Willd.) (Straight-spined Medick - MaltaWildPlants.com, Keg Medic - GBIF, Mourned Medick?) 1907 General Extinct - (Medicago turbinata Willd. (MaltaWildPlants.com) - Glos. Fl.) A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at ? in 1907 by ?.

[can’t find record]

Medicago scutellata (L.) Mill. (Snail Medick) 1897 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at "St. Philip's in 1904." (White, 1912).
Medicago rigidula Desr. (Tifton Bur-clover, Trifton Medick - GO BOTANY) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. - 1 record according to NBN A native of the Mediterranean; recorded as a "Casual in St. Philip's Marsh, 1902." (White, 1912).
Medicago orbicularis (L.) Bartal. (Button Medick, Blackdisk Medick, Button Clover, Round-fruited Medick) 1904 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at St. Philip's Marsh in 1916 by T.H. Green and again in 1922 by C.I. Sandwith and at Ashton Gate in 1941 also by C.I. Sandwith?.

[where's the 1904 record?]

Medicago tornata (L.) Mill. (Hairy Medick - MaltaWildPlants.com) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. (as M. obscura Retz., var. spinulosa Guss.) A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at St. Philip's Marsh in 1915-16 by C.I. Sandwith.
Medicago polymorpha L. (Toothed Medick) - Coasts Rare Very rare and sporadic in appearance but has a long history in the Avon Gorge area and Weston-super-Mare where it is most likely native; elsewhere a casual or colonist. This species was recorded in the past as M. denticulata and M. hispida and a number of forms are mentioned in local texts: var. denticulata - the nominal plant; var. apiculata - "Casual near Twerton, 1897; S. T. Dunn...Several plants on waste ground at Portishead, Oct. 1900; no doubt an introduction" (White, 1912); St. Philip's Marsh in 1916 by M. Cobbe; Eastville in 1918, Avonmouth Docks in 1926 and Kingswood in 1932 by C.I. Sandwith; var. lappacea - recorded at Ashton Gate in 1917 by C.I. Sandwith; var. gracillima - recorded at Kingswood in 1932 by C.I. Sandwith; and var. tuberculata - recorded at Ashton Gate in 1917 and Avonmouth Docks in 1926 by C.I. Sandwith. (Sandwith, 1932) but they are rarely recognised today.
Medicago arabica (L.) Huds. (Spotted Medick) / Grassland Frequent Widespread and frequent in grassland, roadside verges, tracksides, lawns and by the coast. More or less confined to the coast and along river systems inland but has become less noticeably so, though is still more or less absent from the south-central and north-eastern portion of the region.
Medicago intertexta (L.) Mill. (Hedgehog Medick, Calvary Medick) - Glos. Fl. (as M. ciliaris Krocker) General Extinct - 1 record according to NBN A native of the Mediterranean region; recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1932 by C.I. Sandwith.
Medicago arborea L. (Tree Medick) / Coasts Very Rare A single large bush grows in the cleft of a cliff above the beach on the South side of Wain's Hill, Clevedon. It was first discovered in 1973 by I.F. Gravestock and H.R.H. Lance where it was confirmed by Kew. At the time it was the only known site for it in Britain and how it got there remains a mystery. Possibly it's the result of extreme guerilla gardening or perhaps a seed washed up from dumped ballast by a passing cargo ship.

TRIFOLIUM L.

Section LOTOIDEA Crantz

Trifolium ornithopodioides L. (Bird's-foot Clover) - Grassland Very Rare Very rare in short barren turf and rocky slopes. Only seen recently along the coast at Sand Point where it's been long known since its discovery in 1890 by Rev. T. Allin and more recently discovered at a new site at Severn Beach in 2009 by J.P. Martin; occurring on the old tip near the outfall pipe. Also found at Oldbury Court Estate in 2021 by R.J. Higgins. Historically recorded from a number of other sites [under the names Trigonella purpurascens, T. ornithopodioides and Falcatula ornithopodioides and was given the alternative common name of Bird's-foot Fenugreek by Riddelsdell (1948)] including: St. Vincent's Rocks, Observatory Hill, Brandon Hill, Shirehampton, Siston Common, Frenchay Common, Hanham Green, Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon. Trifoliums have a long-lasting seed bank and it's entirely possible that this species could return to any of the mentioned sites should the right conditions come to light and the correct management be put in place.

where it is mentioned nearby at Frenchay Common by White (1912) occurring "in several spots where sandstone rock reaches the surface."

Trifolium repens L. (ssp. repens) (White Clover) / Grassland Very Common Common throughout the region in short grassy or sparsely vegetated places; especially lawns and pastures. It is also commonly sown by farmers to fix nitrogen. Plants with pink flowers - the "rose-pink or purplish variety, rubescens...was found some years ago at Clevedon by Mr. W. E. Green." (White, 1912). Occasionally mutant proliferous forms occur; particularly in wet seasons. "This has heads of foliaceous petals, or sometimes green umbels with long pedicels." (White, 1912). Another strange form with multiple flower heads, one above the other like a totem pole and with a single leaflet amongst the flowers on top was found at Ashton Court in 2021 by D. Peters. Alternative names include: Dutch Cover and Honey-suck - a name local to Bristol (White, 1912).
Trifolium nigrescens Viv. (ssp. nigrescens) (Small White Clover) 1916 - sect. Lotoidea General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; recorded as an adventive at Portishead in 1916 by M.A.G. Livett.
Trifolium isthmocarpum Brot. (Southern Clover?) - Glos. Fl. General Extinct A native of the western Mediterranean; recorded at Baptist Mills, Bristol in 1920 by C.I. Sandwith and persisted for a short time afterwards.
Trifolium hybridum L. (Alsike Clover) / Grassland Uncommon Scattered throughout the region. Widely sown for fodder in the past from where it has become a widely established colonist on roadsides, field margins, spoil heaps, tips and derelict sites. More recently it is used in amenity seed mixes. Occasionally it produces viviparous or proliferous forms in the same way as T. repens. "Abundant with foliaceous sepals on the waste ground by Avonmouth Docks in 1910." (White, 1912).
ssp. hybridum / Grassland Uncommon The nominant cultivated plant (with more robust upright growth and hollow stems) and to where most records of the species belong.
ssp. elegans (Savi) Asch. & Graebn. General Extinct Differs in having solid (not hollow), less erect stems and smaller racemes (<2cm across) (Stace, 2021) and is thought to be the wild progenitor. It has only been encountered a few times historically in our region. "Mrs. Gregory had it by the Uphill Ferry in 1895; and Miss Livett reports it from Winscombe and Nailsea." (White, 1912). Listed as occasional by Sandwith (1932), indicating that at the time it was more prevalent than necessary to give precise records.
Trifolium angulatum Waldst. & Kit. (Angled Clover - GBIF) 1918 - sect. Lotoidea General Extinct Native to East Central & South East Europe and the Caucasus; recorded at Ashton Gate in 1918 by M. Cobbe - apparently a first and only record for the British Isles.
Trifolium glomeratum L. (Clustered Clover) - Coasts Very Rare Recorded for the first time in our region as a casual on Wee Lane [now Glenfrome Road], Eastville in 1922 by C.I. Sandwith and after a lengthly gap was found at Avonmouth Docks in 1986 by A.L. Grenfell & J.H. Scott; then discovered at Weston-super-Mare in 1998 by P.R. Green, growing in very short grass on a sandy playing field where it is considered to be native and is very elusive but persists - it being most recently recorded in 2025 by S. Shuttleworth.

[2025 record in Nature in Avon 2025, p. 193]

Trifolium suffocatum L. (Suffocated Clover) - Coasts Very Rare Very rare on sandy turf, rocky slopes and outcrops. Discovered "sparingly on the strand" at Weston-super-Mare by T.B. Flower in the late 1830s [this book's predecessor - the Flora of the Bristol Region incorrectly states 1892 as the year of discovery. This was in fact the date (on the 9th of March to be precise) that Flower told White about the find - recounting "that, being at the time a very young botanist, he sent the specimens away to some botanical authority for confirmation and did not keep any for himself." (White, 1912). He would have been around 76 at the time of relaying this] but the site was destroyed and built on shortly afterwards, making White's next statement on what he names the "Dense-flowered Trefoil" and its length of absence even more exceptional. "I confidently expect it to be rediscovered some day on the shores of N. Somerset." He was right! After more than 140 years, in 1983 R. FitzGerald rediscovered it on the lawns along the sea front and in a nearby sandy playing field. In 1998 during a Somerset Rare Plants Group meeting it was discovered in Ellenborough Park and there was further excitement in 2007 when 3 plants of this nationally scarce clover were discovered further up the coast on Sand Point by P.D. Sell; and in 2015 it was found further down the coast towards Uphill by P. Bowier. At both Weston-super-Mare and Sand Point its population varies considerably from year to year. In most years only a few plants may be encountered but in others it can range from being entirely absent to consisting of 100s. It is so named because the flowers look congested.

Section VESICARIA Crantz

Trifolium spumosum L. (Mediterranean Clover) 1907 General Extinct As the name suggests; native to the Mediterranean. It was recorded at St. Philip's Marsh in 1916 by M. Cobbe and found in 1982 by C.M. Lovatt on the roof of the protective gallery above the Portway under the Clifton Suspension Bridge - which was recklessly sown upon its creation in the 1960s.

[Clive's record is in BNS Feb 2020. Where's the 1907 record?]

Trifolium fragiferum L. ssp. fragiferum (Strawberry Clover) - General Uncommon Locally frequent at intervals along the coastline in upper saltmarsh and coastal grassland; particularly from Severn Beach northwards, and becoming more localised on heavy soil inland in unimproved pastures, tracks, verges and woodland rides. Much less common now than in the past due to significant changes in land management. Also called: Strawberry-headed Trefoil and so named for the fruiting heads' vague resemblance to strawberries.
Trifolium resupinatum L. (var. resupinatum) (Reversed Clover) 1928 / General Very Rare Very rare alien casual. Only recorded recently in 2023 by D. Peters at two sites: along a strip of verge on Henbury Road, appearing on bare ground after a hedge was grubbed out and replaced with a fence. A number of plants appeared, one of which was unusually white-flowered. The other was at Blaise Castle Estate along with many other items of interest, following disturbance after the filming of a TV series 'The Winter King' - on the site of a medieval fortified encampment set. The first local and British record was made by Mr. Drummond "during the summer of 1830 in the marshes about two miles below Shirehampton." (White, 1912). During the first half of the 20th century this species became a fairly regular casual. Sandwith (1932) simply states "Frequent in the area as a grain alien. Other records (as further quoted by White) include: "Casual near Twerton; S.T. Dunn...1897...Sparingly on rubbish in St. Philip's Marsh, July, 1902. One plant seen there in 1904; and several in 1905-7. Casual at Conham...1903; C. Wall. By the side of a new road from Filton to Stoke Gifford...1907; C. Wall. In 1904 Mr. Wall drew my attention to the appearance on Clifton Down of nine or ten patches amid the turf along a roadside; and I found another at a considerable distance from any path. The range was half a mile or more, from the Upper Belgrave Road to near the edge of the Great Quarry. This curious invasion was, I suppose, due to the scattering of undigested seeds from horse-droppings. The next summer only a very small quantity was observed...Two patches, two years in succession, in a grass field at Knowle...1906-7; Miss Edmonds. On the site of old iron works in Ashton Vale, 1907. Portishead Station-yard, 1904. Three plants there in 1906; and four in 1907. Two in 1909. On waste ground attached to Holcombe Brewery...1907; Mrs. Coleman...Watercress Farm, Baptist Mills (fowl run), 1911...Miss Roper." Additionally found at Avonmouth Docks in 1953 by ?; and Freshford in the 1950s by ? [BSBI record]. Alternatively named the Reverse-flowered Trefoil by White (1912). It is so called because the flowers appear to be flipped upside-down.
Trifolium tomentosum L. (Woolly Clover) - Coasts Very Rare A native of the Mediterranean; found established at Weston-super-Mare on the lawns along the seafront in 1980 by A.J. Barraclough (confirmed by A.L. Grenfell) and still persists here. This was incorrectly stated in this book's predecessor - the Flora of the Bristol Region as a first record for the region but it was actually first recorded in a chicken-run on Wee Lane [now Glenfrome Road], Eastville in 1922 and 1927 by C.I. Sandwith.

Section CHRONOSEMIUM Ser.

Trifolium aureum Pollich (Large Trefoil, Golden Clover) - Glos. Fl. (as T. agrarium L.) General Extinct - 2 records according to NBN A native of the Mediterranean; recorded (as T. agrarium) on a railway siding between Shirehampton and Avonmouth in 1918 by C.I. Sandwith; at Ashton Gate in 1933 by C.I. Sandwith?; south-west of Bristol in 1940s by ? [BSBI record]; and at Middle Hill Common, Weston-in-Gordano in 1999 by B. Dixon.
Trifolium campestre Schreb. (ssp. campestre) (Hop Trefoil) / Grassland Uncommon Locally frequent on dry calcareous grassland, limestone heaths, railway cuttings, roadside verges, old quarries and occasionally derelict sites. It appears to have declined quite significantly in recent times. It may possibly also be over-recorded for Black Medick by less practiced botanists. Known in the past as T. procumbens. White (1912) mentions var. majus. "A strong erect plant of 18 inches or more, with large flower heads which do not turn brown as they wither...on waste ground by Avonmouth Docks, July, 1910." It was also encountered in a Cornfield at Almondsbury by Sandwith (Riddelsdell, 1948). Despite its clear-cut differences it is rarely recognised today.
Trifolium dubium Sibth. (Lesser Trefoil) / Grassland Common A common species of short grassy places such as lawns, roadside verges, dunes, gravel, bare ground and sometimes on the tops of old walls. It is often one of the first plants to colonise derelict sites.
Trifolium micranthum Viv. (Slender Trefoil) - Grassland Scarce A scarce plant; scattered and localised across the region in short dry or moist species-rich grassland, pastures, commons and lawns. This species was known as T. filiforme or Least Yellow Trefoil in the past.

Section TRIFOLIUM

Trifolium pratense L. (ssp. pratense) (Red Clover) / Grassland Common Common in species-rich or unimproved grassy places but certainly no longer as abundant as what it once was due to changes in agricultural practices at the wider level and urbanisation at the local level, where populations become isolated; clinging onto any remaining strip of land not to rich or covered in concrete such as verges and garden lawns - where local losses continue thanks to the absurd modern desire for driveways and artificial grass! When present en masse, Red Clover contributes greatly to the subtle but very distinctive smell of meadows. White-flowered plants are rare. They "have been noticed on banks of the Port and Pier Railway; at Dundry; and at Clevedon." (White, 1912) and one was recorded most recently near the Old Bristol Zoo in 2023 by D. Peters.
var. pratense Grassland Common The native and nominal plant, making up the majority of records. A strange plant, found at Oxleaze near Hambrook in 1906 by I.M. Roper with the "head stalked, [and the] calyx teeth longer than the corolla" (White, 1912), was attributed to var. parviflorum but the taxon is no longer accepted. Another - mentioned in Sandwith (1932) as var. americanum, was found as a casual at Avonmouth Docks in 1923. It is described as being native to Central Europe and East Mediterranean and so named because it was introduced into America. Again it is no longer accepted.
var. sativum Schreb. (Cultivated as green manure / fodder) General Scarce An agricultural variant, sown for fodder and recklessly used in 'wildflower' seed mixes - from where it escapes and becomes naturalised on marginal ground such as field margins, roadsides and derelict sites. It is much more robust and upright than the native plant and often has hollow stems.
Trifolium medium L. (Zigzag Clover) /- General Uncommon Scattered over the region in species-rich grassland, verges, woodland rides, hedgebanks, field margins and railway banks. Much less frequent than previously; having been lost from many of its strongholds; particularly in the North of the region but appears to be doing ok around Blagdon and Chew Valley lake - where modern records are concentrated. It may also be subject to over-recording through misidentification with the much more common Red Clover - T. pratense.
Trifolium vesiculosum Savi (Arrowleaf Clover) 1914 - sect. Trifolium General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; found on a tip at south Portishead in 1914 by C.I. Sandwith - a first and only record for the British Isles.
Trifolium ochroleucon Huds. (ssp. ochroleucon) (Sulphur Clover) 1897 General Extinct Not native in our area. It was recorded as an alien in 1897 at ? by ?; and at Bristol near the River Avon in 1932 by G.C. Druce.

[cannot locate record - mentioned in extinct list, Flora of the Bristol Region]

Trifolium pannonicum Jacq. ssp. pannonicum (Hungarian Clover) General Extinct - 1 record from 1999 at Avonmouth according to NBN A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1999 by ?

[record possibly a mistake]

Trifolium stellatum L. (var. stellatum) (Starry Clover) 1791 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at ? in 1791 by ?.

[cannot locate record - mentioned in extinct list, Flora of the Bristol Region]

Trifolium purpureum Lois. var. purpureum (Purple Clover) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at Baptist Mills in 1926 by C.I. Sandwith.

[there's also a record from 2014 which is almost certainly a mistake - check]

Trifolium incarnatum L. ssp. incarnatum (Crimson Clover) / General Very Rare A rare casual; occasionally encountered on newly disturbed ground such as recent road work sites. It is often used in green manure mixes and occasionally occurs as a bird-seed alien. Recorded at Bath in 2019 by ?; at Westbury Wildlife Park in 2021, on a road verge on Henbury Road and at Blaise Castle in 2023 by D. Peters. Historic records include: "Roadside waste at Sea Mills, 1898. Westbury-on-Trym; W. E. Green. Near Charlton, by a brick-yard. Colliery heap, Warmley. Quarry rubble at Conham. Field at Frenchay; H. J. Wadlow. Ashton Gate, by the Portishead railway. Two plants by the roadside on Bedminster Down, 1901. On a bank rising above the ploughed land at Backwell, 1903. Roadside under the Court Hill, Clevedon, 1897. West of Clutton Station, under a rubble wall. Weston-super-Mare; T. F. Perkins...Naturalised in several places at Bath; Rev. L. Blomefield." (White, 1912). It was also found on Clifton Downs in 1914 by C.I. Sandwith not long after the Royal Flower Show and appeared for a few years after; Midsomer Norton in 1984 by H. McCallum.

[There are other records on BSBI]

Trifolium striatum L. (Knotted Clover) - Grassland Scarce A rare plant found thinly scattered over the region in short dry species-rich grassland, rocky outcrops and sandy areas by the coast. It has declined noticeably since 2000.
Trifolium scabrum L. (Rough Clover) / Grassland Rare A rare plant found in much the same habitats as the last species but much less common and more confined to the coast. It too is shown to have declined in recent times.
Trifolium cherleri L. (Southern Clover, Cherler's Clover, Cupped Clover) (1897) - sect. Trifolium General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; recorded in 1897 at ? by ?.

[cannot locate record - mentioned in extinct list, Flora of the Bristol Region]

Trifolium diffusum Ehrh. (Diffuse Clover) 1922 - sect. Trifolium General Extinct - 1 record from 1922 at Ashton Gate according to NBN A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at Ashton Gate in 1922 by C.I. Sandwith and on Wee Lane [now Glenfrome Road], Eastville in 1924 by H.J. Gibbons and C.I. Sandwith.
Trifolium lappaceum L. (var. lappaceum) (Bur Clover, Burdock Clover) 1978 - sect. Trifolium General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; first recorded at St. Philip's Marsh in 1915 and 1916 by G.C. Druce; it then occurred in chicken-runs on Wee Lane [now Glenfrome Road], Eastville and Baptist Mills from 1922-27, C.I. Sandwith; at Avonmouth Docks in 1938 by C.I. Sandwith?; and a single plant was found at Bedminster Down Tip, Bristol in 1978 by A.L. Grenfell & C.M. Lovatt and determined by E.J. Clement. There's also an unattributed record for North Somerset at ST56, during the period 1970-1986.

[last record - Bristol Botany in 1978]

Trifolium arvense L. (Hare's-foot Clover) / Coasts Rare Very rare and only persistent on dry sandy parts of the coast at Sand Bay and Weston-super-Mare towards Uphill; occurring elsewhere as a casual. It was much much more frequent in the past on sandstone in the Avon valley. The earliest local record was made at Weston-super-Mare in 1726 by Johann Jacob Dillenius.

"Lagopus perpusillus supinus perelegans maritimus Lobelii."

"The Avon valley plant is, I believe, the var. strictius." (White, 1912)

var. strictius [strictior] was found at Avonmouth Docks by I.W. Evans in 1931

Hanham; Avonmouth, W.E.C., 1915-6 (Riddelsdell, 1948)

Trifolium angustifolium L. (Narrow-leaved Clover, Narrow Clover, Narrowleaf Crimson Clover) 1918 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at Ashton Gate in 1918 by M. Cobbe and at Baptist Mills in 1927 by C.I. Sandwith.
Trifolium squamosum L. (Sea Clover) - Coasts Rare A rare strictly coastal plant of upper saltmarsh and sea walls where it may be locally plentiful; particularly North of Oldbury-on-Severn. Population numbers vary greatly from year to year but it does appear to have declined.
Trifolium squarrosum L. ssp. squarrosum (Squarrose Clover - MaltaWildPlants.com, Rough Clover?, Scaly Clover?) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. (as T. albidum Retz.) - 1 record according to NBN A native of the Mediterranean; recorded (as T. albidum) at a chicken-run on Wee Lane [now Glenfrome Road], Eastville in 1922 by C.I. Sandwith.

[also a record from 1955 at Uphill - an error for T. squamosum?]

Trifolium alexandrinum L. (Egyptian Clover) 1897 General Extinct A native of Egypt and the Middle East; recorded at ? in 1897 by ?.

[cannot locate record - mentioned in extinct list, Flora of the Bristol Region]

Trifolium constantinopolitanum Ser. (Constantinople Clover) General Extinct - Glos. Fl. A native of South West Asia; recorded at St. Philip's Marsh in 1919 by M. Cobbe.
Trifolium echinatum M. Bieb. (var. echinatum) (Hedgehog Clover) 1930 General Extinct A native of South East Europe and South West Asia. "It occurred on a fowl-run at Baptist Mills, G., 1911 ! Miss Roper" [as T. supinum] (White, 1912) and was recorded there again in 1926 by C.I. Sandwith.

Section TRICHOCEPHALUM W.D.J. Koch

Trifolium subterraneum L. var. subterraneum (Subterranean Clover) / Grassland Very Rare A very rare clover of dry open well-drained grassland. Recorded from only 6 sites in recent times: in a field at Cleeve; sloping field above Weston-in-Gordano; sandstone pasture at Keynsham; Oldbury Court Estate; Tortworth; Cromhall and Combe Down [BSBI records]. Historically it has been recorded from: St. Vincent's Rocks; Observatory Hill; Brandon Hill; Kingsweston Down; Frenchay Common; Mangotsfield; Rodway Hill; Siston Common; Hanham; pasture between Thornbury and Aust; Stone, South Gloucestershire; Flax Bourton and Failand; Church Hill; and on a Hill above Walton-in-Gordano.

LUPINUS L.

Lupinus arboreus Sims (Tree Lupin) General Extinct This Californian native was formerly naturalised on derelict ground between Norton Malreward and Whitchurch - discovered here in 1988 by R.A. Janes. It also used to occur along the A37 near Hursley Hill and was last recorded here in 1999 by J.P. Martin.
Lupinus arboreus x L. polyphyllus = L. x regalis Bergmans (Russell Lupin) General Extinct Formerly a very rare introduction or garden escape. First recorded in our region from the Hanging Hill Wood area (South-west Bristol towards Yanley) in 1984 by A.L. Grenfell, N. Malcolm & J.H. Scott; at Hursley Hill in 1985 by R.D. Martin; from the Rockingham area, near Avonmouth in 1988 by D. Lawrence & R.J. Higgins; and last seen at Stoney Littleton in 2000 by H.J. Crouch.
Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. ssp. polyphyllus (Garden Lupin) General Very Rare - BSBI record Was recorded east of the region near Ashwicke (ST77V) in the 1980s by S.H. Bishop and recently during a BNS meeting at Dundry Hill (two plants) in 2025 by D. Peters.
Lupinus albus L. ssp. albus (White Lupin) General Extinct - 1 BSBI record Was recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1984 by A.L. Grenfell.
Lupinus angustifolius L. (Narrow-leaved Lupin) General Extinct Was recorded as a casual at Ashton Gate in 1937 by C.I. Sandwith?; Avonmouth Docks in 1984 by A.L. Grenfell & J.H. Scott; close by at Royal Edward Dock? in 1985 by A.L. Grenfell; and for the last time at Avonmouth Docks in 1987 by A.L. Grenfell & C.G. Hanson.

LABURNUM Fabr.

Laburnum anagyroides Medik. (Laburnum) / General Scarce Widely grown; particularly around Bristol in gardens and public green spaces and sometimes self-seeds onto pavements and in hedges, woodland and derelict sites.

ARGYROCYTISUS (Maire) Frodin & Heywood ex Raynaud

Argyrocytisus battandieri (Maire) Raynaud (Pineapple Broom) (As Cytisus battandieri on DB) General Very Rare A native of Morocco; recorded as a garden escape at Yate in 2013 by P. Sturgess.

CYTISUS Desf.

Cytisus multiflorus x C. oromediterraneus = C. x praecox Bean (Warminster Broom) General Very Rare - 1 record [as Cytisus multiflorus x purgans (C. x praecox)] A rarely grown garden plant; recorded on derelict ground at Oldfield Park, Bath in 2018 by ?.

[Bath City Farm are the recorder. To do list to examine. Comment says recorded as Cytisus Ã— praecox - looks corrupted. Need to check on main db]

Cytisus striatus (Hill) Rothm. (ssp. striatus) (Hairy-fruited Broom) Has become increasingly used in public planting displays. A single mature plant was found as a planted relic beside the cycle path at Victoria Park, Bristol in 2022 by D. Peters.

[needs checking]

Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link ssp. scoparius (Broom) / General Uncommon A strict calcifuge (acid-loving plant) found scattered over the region on heaths, roadsides, dry sandy banks, scrub, woodland margins and occasionally in old hedgerows. Often only one or a few bushes will be encountered but when seen en masse the views of this species in full bloom are truly spectacular. Occasionally plants occur with red blotches on the wings of the flowers. The name of the brush originates from the use of this plant for the creation of a 'besom' (the traditional-styled brush made from a bundle of twigs tied to a pole) which has itself become another name for this plant.

SPARTIUM L.

Spartium junceum L. (Spanish Broom) / General Very Rare A native of the Mediterranean which is sometimes used in public planting displays. First recorded in the region on a bank at Boiling Wells, Bristol in 1991 by M.A.R.K. & C. Kitchen and still present when revisited by them in 2002. Also found at Little Pill, Littleton-upon-Severn in 2011 by M.A.R.K. & C. Kitchen; found planted and established along the M4 near IKEA in 2018? by D. Hawkins; at Bathford in 2022 by H.J. Crouch and most recently a single young plant was found self-seeded at Castle Park in 2023 by D. Peters.

[Clive named varieties on Trooper's Hill according to Rupert - find out!]

GENISTA L.

Genista monspessulana (L.) L.A.S. Johnson (Montpellier Broom) General Very Rare - 1 BSBI record A native of the Mediterranean; recorded on an old rubbish tip at Kingsweston in 1977 by E.J. Clement and one plant was found self-seeded at the base of a wall on Station Road, Shirehampton in 2025 by D. Peters.
Genista tinctoria L. ssp. tinctoria (Dyer's Greenweed) / Grassland Scarce Now a scarce plant, scattered and localised in species-rich neutral grassland, banks and verges; usually on heavy clay soils. It has shown serious decline in recent years; particularly in the North of the region but remains more stable in the South; being most concentrated between Blagdon and Chew Valley Lake. Declines are due to a great reduction of suitable habitat. Many once prime pastures have been ploughed up, 'improved' or built on and those which haven't, have often succumbed to either a lack of or too much grazing. Galls caused by the Jap’s-eye Gall Midge - Jaapiella genisticola are sometimes encountered. Also known as Woad-waxen, in the past Genista tinctoria "was used by dyers to stain woollen cloths a dull yellow. Then, the fabric being again dipped in other liquors, various shades of green were produced." (White, 1912).

An interesting extract from The Journal of a Naturalist, written by local botanist, John Leonard Knapp from Thornbury in about 1824:

"Our poorer people a few years ago used to collect it by cartloads about the month of July; and the season of woad-waxen was a little harvest to them; but it interfered greatly with our hay-making. Women could gain each about two shillings a day, clear of all expenses, by gathering it; but they complained that it was a very hard and laborious occupation, the plant being drawn up by the roots, which are strongly inter-woven in the soil. The dyer gave them eightpence for a hundredweight; but I fear the amount was greatly enhanced by the dishonest practice of watering the load, for the specious purpose of keeping it green; and the old woad-waxers tell me that, without the increase of weight which the water gave the article, they should have but little reward for their labour. Greediness here, however, as in some other cases, ruined the trade, the plant becoming so injured and stinted by repeated pullings, as to be in these parts no longer an object worth seeking for; and our farmers rather discountenance the custom, as the green-weed preserves and shelters at its roots a considerable quantity of coarse herbage, which in the winter and spring months is of great importance to the young cattle."

Genista anglica L. var. anglica (Petty Whin) Grassland Very Rare Always very rare and confined to the North East of the Region in damp acidic grassland. Only recorded recently from Yate Common (also known as Westerleigh Common). Formerly occurred at Lyde Green; Rodway Hill "sparingly under furze bushes in a few spots" (White, 1912); Siston Common; Sodbury Common; Rangeworthy; and Hawksbury Upton. It's possible it could be rediscovered at some of these former sites or potentially be brought back using conservation techniques to disturb the seed bank. It is also "included in a list of plants observed on Steep Holm, May, 1883, by Mr. John Storrie, Curator of the Cardiff Museum." White (1912) queries it as a mistake but it's not impossible as it may have been introduced by Monks in the past - who are known to have introduced a number of plants of unlikely natural status to the island. Genista anglica has a long history of cultivation for medicinal purposes such as treating ulcers, respiratory diseases and rheumatism. Other names include: Needle Whin, Needle Green-weed and Needle Furze.
Genista hispanica L. ssp. occidentalis (Spanish Gorse) General Very Rare A very rare introduction from South West Europe; sometimes naturalised on road verges and banks but more often occurring as a planted relic. First recorded at Sand Point in 1983 by A.L. Grenfell; at Hengrove, Bristol in 1987 by ?; Uphill in 1993 by D.T. Holyoak - there again in 1995 by J.P. Martin, 1998 by I.P. Green and lastly in 2000 by R.M. Stokes; then at Locksbrook, East Twerton, Bath in 1998 by I.P. & P.R. Green; Sand Point in 2011 by J.P. Martin; at Sand Bay in 2014 by D. Gibbs (probably the same plant as the last); one plant at the entrance of Silverthorne Lane Passage [a fitting name for this plant which is not only thorny but has a silvery appearance in winter] - near the Feeder Canal, St. Philip's, Bristol in 2022 and a few others on a patch of ground by Freshford Lane and Redcliffe Way roundabout in 2023 by D. Peters.

[1987 Whitchurch AFP card recorder (on to do list)

ULEX L.

Ulex europaeus L. (ssp. europaeus) (Gorse) / General Frequent Frequent throughout the region in suitable places with well-drained, mildly acidic or leached limestone soils such as hill-sides, banks, roadsides, railway cuttings, old quarries, commons, heaths and rough pastures; often amongst Bracken and scrub, woodland edge and occasionally in hedgerows. Noticably absent from the coastal lowlands. Gorse is one of the most important components; particularly in upland districts and exposed situations for the shelter and protection and food it provides to a huge range of wildlife. During flowering, the blazing sight of golden-yellow swathes across the landscape is always something to be admired. White (1912) mentions a plant with "double flowers on the railway bank opposite Sea Mills, 1889; L. W. Rogers." Other names include: Furze, Fuz, Thumbs and Fingers.
Ulex europaeus x U. gallii = U. x breoganii (Castrov. & Valdés-Berm.) Castov. & Valdés-Berm. (Common x Western Gorse) 1971 General Extinct Only once recorded in our region - in North Somerset at ST66 in 1971 but nothing more can be said. It is expected to occur elsewhere and should always be looked for wherever the parent species meet.

[Present extinct list of old flora and on BSBI]

Ulex gallii Planch. (ssp. gallii) (Western Gorse) General Uncommon In similar situations to Ulex europaeus but far less common and much more patchy in distribution.
Ulex minor Roth (Dwarf Gorse) - 1 record from 1982 near Hanham - a mistake? General Extinct Recorded at Hanham in 1982 by ?.

[Record highly suspicious. Needs checking. A mistake for U. gallii?]

CERCIS L.

Cercis siliquastrum L. (ssp. siliquastrum) (Judas-tree) / General Very Rare A native of the Mediterranean which is now widely planted in public areas; mainly around Bristol. A self-seeded sapling was found at Castle Park in 2023 by D. Peters.

ENTADA Adans.

Entada gigas L. Fawc. & Rendle (Sea Heart) General Extinct A native of Central Africa and Central America. A ripe seed was found washed up on Steep Holm in 1982 by J. Smith and verified by Kew and the find later published by T. Parsons. The species, a type of liana vine, is coastal in its native land and dropped seeds are well documented to occasionally make it to the shores of Britain; taking about a year or more to travel up the Gulf Stream from the Caribbean. It is also known as Monkey-ladder, Sea Bean, Mackay-bean and Nicker Bean.

GYMNOCLADUS Lam.

Gymnocladus dioicus (L.) K. Koch (Kentucky Coffee Tree) General Very Rare A native of North East America; recorded outside the Senate House on Woodland Road, Clifton in 2015 by R. Bland.

GLEDITSIA L.

Gleditsia triacanthos L. (Honey Locust) General Rare A native of North America which is found scattered in parks and churchyards around Bristol.

ACACIA Mill.

Acacia melanoxylon R. Br. (Australian Blackwood)? General Very Rare Two mature trees occurring at Tyntesfield, one near the house and the other near the Kitchen Garden, were recorded in 2009 and 2011 by R. Bland.

[Only recorded to genus level. I've made a guess at the most likely species but it needs to be visited.]

Species List:

Wisteria sinensis (Sims) DC. (Chinese Wisteria) /
Robinia pseudoacacia L. (False-acacia) / General
Phaseolus vulgaris L. (French Bean) - 2 records. 1 from Winterbourne Down, 6th of May 1955 NBN and another on BSBI.
Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Soyabean) General
Galega officinalis L. (Goat's-rue) - General
Colutea arborescens L. (Bladder-senna) General
Astragalus danicus Retz. (Purple Milk-vetch) 1888 - apparently exists just within the region's boarder at Brown's Folly (NBN - 31st October 1989) - Grassland
Astragalus glycyphyllos L. (Wild Liquorice) - General
Astragalus odoratus Lam. (Lesser Milk-vetch) 1963 General
Astragalus boeticus L. (Milk-Vetch - NBN) - Glos. Fl.
Caragana arborescens Lam. (Siberian Pea-tree) - 1 record from 2009 on NBN (noted only as Caragana).
Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. (Sainfoin) / Grassland
Onobrychis squarrosa Viv. (Squarrose Sainfoin?, Rough Sainfoin?) - Glos. Fl.
Onobrychis crista-galli (L.) Lam. ssp. crista-galli (cockscomb sainfoin) General Extinct - 1 record from 1937 at Ashton Gate
Anthyllis vulneraria L. (ssp. vulneraria var. vulneraria - Stace, NBN) (Kidney Vetch) / Grassland
Anthyllis vulneraria L. ssp. polyphylla (DC.) Nyman. - 1 BSBI record from Bath and 2 more just outside the region at Shipham according to NBN
Anthyllis vulneraria ssp. corbierei (Stace, NBN) (Placen Felen - NBN) - a single record from 1910 found just East of Nailsea by Herbert William Pugsley NBN /
Anthyllis vulneraria L. ssp. carpatica (Pant.) Nyman var. pseudovulneraria (Sagorski) Cullen - 1 record from 1888 according to NBN
Anthyllis vulneraria L. ssp. lapponica (Hyl.) Jalas - 1 BSBI record from Bath (probably a mistake for ssp. carpatica? - check!)
Lotus tenuis Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd. (Stace, NBN) glaber Mill. (old name) (Narrow-leaved Bird's-foot Trefoil) - Grassland
Lotus corniculatus L. (var. corniculatus - NBN) (Common Bird's-foot Trefoil) / Grassland
Lotus corniculatus var. sativus Hyl. / Grassland
Lotus pedunculatus Cav. (ssp. pedunculatus - Kew) (Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil) / Wetland
Lotus maritimus L. (Stace) Tetragonolobus maritimus (L.) Roth (NBN) (Dragon's-teeth) Grassland
Lotus hirsutus L. (Stace, Kew, GBIF) Dorycnium hirsutum (L.) Ser. (NBN) (Hairy Canary Clover) - 3 records. 1 from Weston-super-Mare 2004 NBN and 2 more on BSBI.
Ornithopus compressus L. (Yellow Serradella) 1904 General
Ornithopus sativus Brot. (Serradella) 1909 General
Ornithopus perpusillus L. (Bird's-foot) / Lotus maritimus Grassland
Coronilla scorpioides (L.) W.D.J. Koch (Annual Scorpion-vetch) 1978 General
Coronilla valentina L. ssp. glauca (L.) Battand. (Shrubby Scorpion-vetch) - 1 BSBI record
Hippocrepis comosa L. (Horseshoe Vetch) / Grassland
Securigera varia (L.) Lassen (Crown Vetch) General
Scorpiurus muricatus L. (Stace, NBN, Kew, GBIF) Scorpiurus subvillosus L. (Caterpillar-plant - Stace, NBN, GBIF) - Glos. Fl.
Vicia cracca L. (Tufted Vetch) / Grassland
Vicia tenuifolia Roth (Fine-leaved Vetch) General
Vicia benghalensis L. (ssp. benghalensis - Kew) (Purple Vetch - Stace, NBN, Algerian Vetch - GBIF) - Glos. Fl. - 2 records according to NBN
Vicia villosa Roth (ssp. villosa - Kew, GBIF) (Fodder Vetch) - General
Vicia villosa ssp. varia (Host) Corb. (Kew, GBIF) Vicia dasycarpa Tenore (Fodder Vetch - Stace, NBN, GBIF) - Glos. Fl.
Vicia monantha Retz. ssp. biflora (Desf.) Maire (Kew) Vicia calcarata Desf. (Hard Vetch, Barn Vetch - Plants For A future) - Glos. Fl.
Vicia narbonensis L. (Narbonne Vetch) 1972 General
Vicia serratifolia Jacq. (Kew) Vicia narbonensis L., var. serratifolia (Jacq.) Ser. (French Vetch, Purple Broad Vetch - Plants For A Future) - Glos. Fl.
Vicia lutea L. (ssp. lutea - Kew, GBIF) (Yellow-vetch) 1941 General
Vicia lutea ssp. vestita (Boiss.) Rouy (Kew, GBIF) Vicia vestita Boiss. (Yellow Vetch - Stace, NBN, Hairy Yellow Vetch - GBIF) - Glos. Fl. - 2 records according to NBN
Vicia grandiflora Scop. (Large Yellow Vetch - GBIF) - Glos. Fl. - 2 records according to NBN
Vicia pannonica Crantz (ssp. pannonica - Stace, NBN) (Hungarian Vetch) 1978 General
Vicia pannonica Crantz ssp. striata (M. Bieb.) Nyman (Stace, NBN) (Hungarian Vetch) General
Vicia hyrcanica Fisch. et Mey. (Hyrcania Vetch?, Hyrcanian Vetch?) - Glos. Fl. - 2 records according to NBN
Vicia hybrida L. (Hairy Yellow-vetch) 1919 General
Vicia lathyroides L. (Spring Vetch) - Coasts
Vicia sativa L. ssp. nigra (L.) Ehrh. (Common Vetch) - Grassland
Vicia sativa L. ssp. segetalis (Thuill.) Gaudin (Common Vetch) / General
Vicia sativa L. ssp. sativa (Common Vetch) General
Vicia sativa L. ssp. macrocarpa (Moris) Arcang. (Stace, Kew, GBIF) Vicia sativa L. var. macrocarpa Moris. (Large-seeded Vetch - GBIF) (Common Vetch, Fatch) - "Waste near Horfield, Gibbons in W. E. C., 1922-3, 210." - Glos. Fl.
Vicia sepium L. (Bush Vetch) / Woodland
Vicia melanops Sibth. & Sm. (Black-eyed Vetch - NBN, BGIF) - Glos. Fl. - 1 record according to NBN
Vicia faba L. (Broad Bean) - General
Vicia bithynica (L.) L. (Bithynian Vetch) - Grassland
Vicia peregrina L. (ssp. peregrina - Kew, GBIF) (Wandering Vetch - GBIF, Slender-leaved Vetch - MaltaWildPlants.com, Broad-pod Vetch, Broad-podded Vetch, Rambling Vetch - Pl@ntNet) - Glos. Fl. - 1 record according to NBN
Vicia orobus DC. (Wood Bitter-vetch) 1859 Grassland
Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd. (Ervil - NBN, Bitter Vetch - GBIF) - Glos. Fl.
Vicia lens (L.) Coss. & Germ. ssp. lens (Kew, GBIF) Lens culinaris Medik. (NBN), (L. esculenta Moench) (Lentil - Stace, NBN, GBIF) - Glos. Fl.
Vicia lentoides (Ten.) Coss. & Germ. ssp. lens (Kew, GBIF) Lens nigricans (M. Bieb.) Godr. (NBN) (Black Lentil?) - Glos. Fl.
Vicia palestina Boiss. (Palestine Vetch - iNaturalist, Flowers in Israel) - mistake - should be 'palaestina' - Glos. Fl. - 2 records according to NBN
Vicia linearifolia Hook. & Arn. (Narrow-leaved Vetch?) [as V. hookeri / V. micrantha in Sandwith, 1932]
Vicia altissima Desf. (Tall Vetch?) - Glos. Fl.
Ervilia sylvatica (L.) Schur (Stace) (var. sylvatica? - NBN) Vicia sylvatica L. (NBN) (Wood Vetch) - Woodland
Ervilia hirsuta (L.) Opiz (Stace) Vicia hirsuta (L.) Gray (NBN) (Hairy Tare) / Grassland
Ervum gracile DC. (Stace) Vicia parviflora Cav. (NBN) (Slender Tare) Grassland
Ervum tetraspermum L. (Stace) Vicia tetrasperma (L.) Schreb. (NBN) (Smooth Tare) / Grassland
Lathyrus clymenum L. (Spanish vetchling - GBIF, Wikipedia) - Glos. Fl. - 2 records according to NBN
Lathyrus linifolius (Reichard) Bässler (var. montanus (Bernh.) Bässler - Stace, var. tenuifolius (now var. linifolius)? - 1 record on NBN but not really recognised now) (Bitter-vetch) - Woodland
Lathyrus pratensis L. (Meadow Vetchling) / Grassland
Lathyrus aphaca L. (Yellow Vetchling) Grassland
Lathyrus ochrus (L.) DC. (Winged Vetchling) 1922 General
Lathyrus sylvestris L. (Narrow-leaved Everlasting Pea) / Woodland
Lathyrus grandiflorus Sm. (Two-flowered Everlasting Pea) / General
Lathyrus latifolius L. (Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea) / General
Lathyrus tuberosus L. (Tuberous Pea) General
Lathyrus annuus L. (Fodder Pea) 1913 General
Lathyrus odoratus L. (Sweet Pea) - 4 records + 2 more on BSBI
Lathyrus hirsutus L. (Hairy Vetchling) 1940 General
Lathyrus sativus L. (Indian Pea) 1913 General
Lathyrus hierosolymitanus Boiss. (Jerusalem Vetchling - Flora of Israel and adjacent areas, Flowers in Israel) - Glos. Fl. - 1 record according to NBN
Lathyrus cicera L. (Red Vetchling) 1922 General
Lathyrus inconspicuus L. (Inconspicuous Vetchling?, Inconspicuous Pea - GBIF, Wikipedia, Solitary-Flowered Pea - Pl@ntNet) 1940 General
Lathyrus nissolia L. (Grass Vetchling) / Grassland
Lathyrus oleraceus Lam. (Stace, Kew) (var. oleraceus and var. arvense (L.) Poir. (Field Pea - NBN) - Stace) Pisum sativum L. (NBN) (var. sativum and var. arvense (L.) Poiret (Field Pea - NBN) - NBN) (Garden Pea) 1979 General
Cicer arietinum L. (ssp. arietinum - Kew) (Chick Pea - NBN) - Glos. Fl. - 1 record according to NBN
Ononis repens L. (ssp. repens and ssp. maritima (Dumort.) Asch. & Graebn.- Stace, NBN) (Ononis spinosa L. ssp. procurrens (Wallr.) Briq. - Kew) (Common Restharrow) / Grassland
Ononis spinosa L. (Ononis spinosa L. ssp. spinosa - Kew) (Spiny Restharrow) / Grassland
Melilotus altissimus Thuill. (Tall Melilot) / Grassland
Melilotus albus Medik. (White Melilot) - General
Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall. (Ribbed Melilot) / General
Melilotus indicus (L.) All. (Small Melilot) General
Melilotus sulcatus Desf. (Furrowed Melilot) 1930 General
Melilotus siculus (Turra) Steud. (Kew, GBIF) Melilotus siculus Jackson. (Sicilian Melilot - NBN, Pl@ntNet, Southern Melilot - MaltaWildPlants.com) - Glos. Fl. - 1 record from Ashton Gate, 1937 according to NBN
Trigonella procumbens (Besser) Rchb. (Trailing Fenugreek - GBIF) 1932 General
Trigonella caerulea (L.) Ser. (Blue Fenugreek) 1978 General
Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Fenugreek) 1921 General
Trigonella caelesyriaca Boiss. (Syrian Fenugreek - Flora of Israel and adjacent areas) 1930 General
Trigonella glabra Thunb. ssp. uncata (Boiss. & Noë) Lassen (Egyptian Fenugreek) General - 1 record from Avonmouth, 1958 according to NBN
Trigonella laciniata L. (Cutleaf Fenugreek - GBIF) - Glos. Fl.
Medicago polyceratia (L.) Sauvages ex Trautv. (Kew, GBIF) Trigonella polycerata L. (NBN) (Many-toothed Medick?, Toothed-leaved Medick?, Serrate-leaved Medick?, Serrated Medick?) - error - should be 'polyceratia' - 1 record according to NBN - Glos. Fl.
Medicago monspeliaca (L.) Trautv. (Kew, EDIT) Trigonella monspeliaca L. (NBN) (Hairy Medick - Wikipedia, GBIF, Star-fruited Fenugreek - NBN) 1922 General
Medicago lupulina L. (Black Medick) / Grassland
Medicago sativa L. ssp. falcata (L.) Arcang. (Sickle Medick) - Grassland
Medicago sativa nothossp. varia (Martyn) Arcang. (Sand Lucerne) / - Glos. Fl.
Medicago sativa L. ssp. sativa (Lucerne) / Grassland
Medicago noeana Boiss. (Noeana Medick?) - Glos. Fl. - 1 record according to NBN
Medicago truncatula Gaertn. (Strong-spined Medick) General
Medicago laciniata (L.) Mill. (Tattered Medick) 1897 General
Medicago minima (L.) Bartal. (Bur Medick) 1941 General
Medicago doliata Carmign. (NBN, Kew, EDIT) Medicago aculeata Willd. (old name) (Straight-spined Medick - MaltaWildPlants.com, Keg Medic - GBIF, Mourned Medick?) 1907 General - (Medicago turbinata Willd. (MaltaWildPlants.com) - Glos. Fl.)
Medicago scutellata (L.) Mill. (Snail Medick) 1897 General
Medicago rigidula Desr. (Tifton Bur-clover - Kew, GBIF, Trifton Medick - GO BOTANY) - Glos. Fl. - 1 record according to NBN
Medicago orbicularis (L.) Bartal. (Button Medick - Stace, NBN, Blackdisk Medick - GBIF, Wikipedia, Button Clover, Round-fruited Medick - Wikipedia) 1904 General
Medicago tornata (L.) Mill. (Kew, GBIF) Medicago obscura Retz., var. spinulosa Guss. (Hairy Medick - MaltaWildPlants.com) - Glos. Fl.
Medicago polymorpha L. (Toothed Medick) - Coasts
Medicago arabica (L.) Huds. (Spotted Medick) / Grassland
Medicago intertexta (L.) Mill. (NBN, Kew, GBIF) Medicago ciliaris Krocker (Hedgehog Medick - NBN, Calvary Medick - GBIF) - Glos. Fl. - 1 record according to NBN
Medicago arborea L. (Tree Medick) / Coasts
Trifolium ornithopodioides L. (Bird's-foot Clover) - Grassland
Trifolium repens L. (White Clover) / Grassland
Trifolium nigrescens Viv. (ssp. nigrescens? - Kew) (Small White Clover - GBIF, Wikipedia) 1916 - sect. Lotoidea General
Trifolium isthmocarpum Brot. (Southern Clover?) - Glos. Fl.
Trifolium hybridum L. (ssp. hybridum? - Stace, NBN) (Alsike Clover) / Grassland
Trifolium angulatum Waldst. & Kit. (Angled Clover - GBIF) 1918 - sect. Lotoidea General
Trifolium glomeratum L. (Clustered Clover) - Coasts
Trifolium suffocatum L. (Suffocated Clover) - Coasts
Trifolium spumosum L. (Mediterranean Clover - GBIF) 1907 (found in 1982 by Clive Lovatt on the roof of the protective gallery above the Portway under the Clifton Suspension Bridge - BNS Feb 2020) - sect. Vesicaria (leaf-teeth without glands - yes, calyx with network of veins - yes) [sect. Paramesus (leaf-teeth with glands - no, calyx with 10 veins - no] General
Trifolium fragiferum L. (ssp. fragiferum - Stace, NBN) (Strawberry Clover) - General
Trifolium resupinatum L. (Reversed Clover) 1928 / General
Trifolium tomentosum L. (Woolly Clover) - Coasts
Trifolium aureum Pollich (Stace, NBN, Kew, GBIF) Trifolium agrarium L. (Large Trefoil - Stace, NBN, Golden Clover - GBIF) - Glos. Fl. - 2 records according to NBN
Trifolium campestre Schreb. (Hop Trefoil) / Grassland
Trifolium dubium Sibth. (Lesser Trefoil) / Grassland
Trifolium micranthum Viv. (Slender Trefoil) - Grassland
Trifolium pratense L. (ssp. pratense (Kew) var. pratense and var. sativum Schreb. (Cultivated as green manure / fodder - will occur) - Stace) (Red Clover) / Grassland
Trifolium medium L. (Zigzag Clover) /- General
Trifolium vesiculosum Savi (Arrowleaf Clover - First Nature, GBIF) 1914 - sect. Trifolium General
Trifolium ochroleucon Huds. (Sulphur Clover) 1897 General
Trifolium pannonicum Jacq. (ssp. pannonicum - Kew, GBIF) (Hungarian Clover) - 1 record from 1999 at Avonmouth according to NBN
Trifolium stellatum L. (Stary Clover) 1791 General
Trifolium purpureum Lois. (var. purpureum - Kew) (Purple Clover - NBN, GBIF) - Glos. Fl.
Trifolium incarnatum L. ssp. incarnatum (Crimson Clover) / General
Trifolium striatum L. (Knotted Clover) - Grassland
Trifolium scabrum L. (Rough Clover) / Grassland
Trifolium cherleri L. (Southern Clover, Cherler's Clover, Cupped Clover - Pl@ntNet, Wikipedia) (1897) - sect. Trifolium General
Trifolium diffusum Ehrh. (Diffuse Clover - GBIF) 1922 - sect. Trifolium General - 1 record from 1922 at Ashton Gate according to NBN
Trifolium lappaceum L. (var. lappaceum - Kew) (Bur Clover - Stace, NBN, GBIF, Burdock Clover - Wikipedia) 1978 - sect. Trifolium General
Trifolium arvense L. (Hare's-foot Clover) / Coasts
Trifolium angustifolium L. (Narrow-leaved Clover - Stace, Narrow Clover - NBN, GBIF, Narrowleaf Crimson Clover - Wikipedia) 1918 General
Trifolium squamosum L. (Sea Clover) - Coasts
Trifolium squarrosum L. ssp. squarrosum (Kew) Trifolium albidum Retz. (Squarrose Clover - MaltaWildPlants.com, Rough Clover?, Scaly Clover?) - Glos. Fl. - 1 record according to NBN
Trifolium alexandrinum L. (Egyptian Clover) 1897 General
Trifolium constantinopolitanum Ser. (Constantinople Clover - GBIF) - Glos. Fl.
Trifolium echinatum M. Bieb. (Hedgehog Clover) 1930 General
Trifolium subterraneum L. (var. subterraneum - NBN) (Subterranean Clover) / Grassland
Lupinus arboreus Sims (Tree Lupin) General
Lupinus arboreus x L. polyphyllus (Stace) = L. x regalis Bergmans (Ressell Lupin) General
Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. (ssp. polyphyllus - Kew, GBIF) (Garden Lupin) - BSBI record
Lupinus albus L. (ssp. albus - Kew, GBIF) (White Lupin) - 1 BSBI record
Lupinus angustifolius L. (Narrow-leaved Lupin) General
Laburnum anagyroides Medik. (Laburnum) / General
Argyrocytisus battandieri (Maire) Raynaud (Kew, GBIF) Cytisus battandieri Maire (NBN) (Pineapple Broom) - 1 record according to NBN
Cytisus multiflorus x (C. oromediterraneus - Kew) C. purgans = C. x praecox Bean (Warminster Broom) - 1 record according to NBN
Cytisus striatus (Hill) Rothm. (ssp. striatus) (Hairy-fruited Broom)
Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link ssp. scoparius (Broom) / General
Spartium junceum L. (Spanish Broom) / General
Genista monspessulana (L.) L.A.S. Johnson (Montpellier Broom) - 1 BSBI record
Genista tinctoria L. ssp. tinctoria (Dyer's Greenweed) / Grassland
Genista anglica L. (var. anglica - Stace, NBN) (Petty Whin) Grassland
Genista hispanica L. (ssp. occidentalis - Stace, NBN) (Spanish Gorse) General
Ulex europaeus L. (Gorse) / General
Ulex europaeus x Ulex gallii (NBN) (= U. x breoganii (Castrov. & Valdés-Berm.) Castov. & Valdés-Berm. - Stace) (Common x Western Gorse) 1971 General
Ulex gallii Planch. (Western Gorse) General
Ulex minor Roth (Dwarf Gorse) - 1 record from 1982 near Hanham - a mistake?
Cercis siliquastrum L. (Judas-tree) /
Entada gigas L. Fawc. & Rendle (Sea Heart / Nicker Bean) - 1 record from 1982 at Steep Holm according to NBN
Gymnocladus dioicus (L.) K.Koch (Kentucky Coffee Tree)
Gleditsia triacanthos L. (Honey Locust)
Acacia melanoxylon R. Br. (Australian Blackwood)? - 2 records from Tyntesfield according to NBN - only recorded to genus level - find out species!