The Pea Family
(Leguminosae)
Family Description
From the Pea Family, you can now explore:
Members of the Pea Family grow as herbs, shrubs or even trees. They all have 5 petals, which are all different from each other.
They have a large upper petal. The two petals on the side are like wings and the lower two are joined together to form a cavern, which encloses the male and female reproductive parts.
Their fruits are pods, which usually split along their lengths. Many pods of pea-family plants (such as vetches) burst open when the sun dries them.
Bird's-foot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
This is a very pretty little flower and has been given over 70 different names over the years. Some of the names, such as "Birds Claws", "Cats Claws" and "Fingers and Thumbs" are due to the pods, which turn black and end in a claw.
Other names such as "Rabbit's Ears", "Bacon and Eggs" and "Tom Thumb" are due to the flowers.
Common in dry grassy habitats, heath-lands and road verges.
Sometimes found along the coast.
The orange-yellow flowers grow in clusters.
It has a woody base.
The leaflets are rounded.
The flowers are pollinated by bumble bees.
The fruit pod is long and thin and, when ripe, splits sideways, to expose its pea-like seeds, in an explosive seed-dispersal.
Seasonal
It flowers from June to September.
Geographical
It is widespread in Britain.
Bird's Foot Trefoil had evil associations, because the long black pods reminded people of evil devil's, cats and crows claws.
There are an incredible 16,000 species in the Pea Family. They are the third largest family of flowering plants, beaten only by the Compositae and the Orchidae.
European Gorse (Furze)
Ulex europaeus
Gorses are very spiny evergreen shrubs. They have small scale-like leaves.
The flowers and seed-pods use small explosions to reproduce.
People used gorse to fuel fires for baking, making bricks and cooking.
Neutral or slightly acid soils.
Grassland and edges of heaths, woodland margins.
Special features
After fire, gorse plants are normally able to sprout again from the base.
They have yellow flowers growing amongst the spines.
Reproduction
European Gorse is pollinated mostly by bumble bees.
The flowers explode when visited by insects and the pollinating insect is showered with pollen.
The fruit pod explodes when ripe. In dry, sunny weather, the gorse seed pods suddenly open and the seeds explode out, with a noticeable popping noise. The seeds are thrown quite a distance from the plant.
The seeds are poisonous.
Seasonal Distribution
It flowers throughout the year, but particularly in late winter and spring.
Geographical
Found throughout most of the British Isles.
Bumble bees - the main pollinator of gorse, used to be known as humble bees.
White Clover
Trifolium repens
White Clover is famous for its 3 leaflets.
Grassy habitats, meadows, pastures, lawns and grassy banks.
Can grow on a wide variety of soils, but prefers well-drained, fertile, calcareous soils.
The flowers are white, pale pink, or occasionally red, and grow together in dense globose heads.
Three leaflets grow out of each leaf stem.
The leaves are bright green and usually have a light or a dark crescent shape in the middle.
White Clover has stems which creep along the ground.
The flowers are sweetly scented to attract insects.
Insects, often bees, fly from flower-head to flower-head transferring pollen, thus allowing fertilisation.
The pods are tiny and difficult to see.
Seasonal
Flowers appear from June to September.
Geographic
White Clover can be found throughout Britain, and is often abundant.
Usually, White Clover (and its close relation, Red Clover) has three leaflets on each leaf stem. If you find a four-leafed clover - it is supposed to bring you good luck!
Not a lucky four-leafed variety (above)
The leaf of the Clover is often associated with Guinness and Ireland.