Common kidney vetch

Description Kidney Vetch – Anthyllis vulneraria

The kidney vetch is a very variable, persistent plant. The plant reaches a height of 5 – 80 cm.

The alternate leaves are mostly pinnate. The basal leaves of plants in higher altitudes are often simple. The terminal leaflet is clearly larger than the lateral leaves.

The flowers are grouped into compact, heady inflorescences, which are enclosed at the base by high leaves. The flower corollas, up to 19 mm long, are very differently coloured, from pale yellow to deep yellow to orange and almost reddish. The calyx is slightly puffy after flowering and smoky grey to pale white in colour. The calyx and crown are sometimes redtipped.

The kidney vetch exists in several different subspecies, which differ in height, number of leaves and colour.

Occurrence of  Kidney Vetch

The kidney vetch can be found in nutrient-poor and dryThe dry matter refers to that portion of the cheese that remains after removal of the water contained. The more water is removed from the cheese, the lower its dry matter and vice versa. » More info locations. For example, in semi-dry and dry grasslands as well as forests or raw soils.

Effect of Genuine Kidney Vetch

The term kidney vetch refers to its formerly popular use as a remedy for wounds in folk medicine.

The effect, however, is questionable, the application possibly goes back to the theory of signatures. That means, the characteristics of the plant like the redAerobic cheese ripening means cheese ripening with oxygen. » More info spots in the flower area were reinterpreted to a diseaseTo kill off any germs present in the milk, it is briefly heated and then immediately cooled again. » More info pattern, in this case wounds.

The kidney vetch is considered a good fodder plant, but is only slightly cut-tolerant (two cuts) and resistant to grazing. Fertilization also leads to a rapid decline.