Herbs with slender taproots. Stems 1–12, simple or branched from distal leaf axils, 5–60 cm. Leaves uniformly distributed along stem or absent in distal 1/3; stipules caducous, dark, linear, relatively small, proximal pair of leaflets sometimes bent toward stem, forming false stip­ules; basal leaves 2–8 cm, reduced to terminal leaflet or with a much larger terminal leaflet and 2–8 reduced lateral leaflets; cauline leaves 2–7, leaflet blades ovate to elliptic or oblong to linear-lanceolate, ± equal, apex acute, sometimes apiculate. Peduncles 5–16 cm. Racemes 2–5, hemispheric or globose, 2–3 cm; bracts palmately lobed, divided 1/2 their lengths, lobes acute or obtuse; prophyll 3-lobed, at midpoint or apex of peduncle; bracteoles dark, relatively small. Flowers sessile, 10–15 mm; calyx 7–10 × 3–4 mm, contracted apically, mouth oblique, lobes unequal, adaxial 2 ± coherent, off-white or gray, apex sometimes purple; corolla 12–15 mm, blades long-clawed; banner ovate, base truncate or auriculate; wings ovate, obtuse; keel obtuse or apiculate, shorter than wings, incurved, inflated laterally, often adnate to base of staminal tube; filaments thickened distally, enclosed in corolla; anthers uniform; ovary usually stalked, rarely subsessile; style glabrous; stigma terminal. Legumes brown, 3–4 mm, included in calyx, surfaces reticulate. Seeds brown or bicolored, 2.4–3.2 × 1.6–2 mm, 0.8–1.2 mm thick, smooth or tubercled, sometimes with slight lateral indentation; hilum ventral, whitish with darker border, round. 2n = 12 (Europe).

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Jul.
Habitat: Waste places, ballast, disturbed ground, dry calcareous open gravel and adjacent grassy areas, chalk cliffs, hayfields, roadsides.
Elevation: 0–200 m.

Distribution

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Introduced; Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), Ont., Ill., Mich., Wis., Europe, w Asia, introduced also in Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia.

Discussion

Reports of Anthyllis vulneraria from British Columbia (C. Rothfels 2004; J. T. Kartesz and C. A. Meacham 1999) could not be substantiated. Historical records exist for the species in the following provinces and states: Canada: Alberta, Quebec; United States: California, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.

Anthyllis vulneraria is a very polymorphic species, including about 35 subspecies that are sometimes treated as species, and intermediate forms and hybrids occur. Rarely, it was used historically in North America as a forage crop. In North America, three subspecies have been identified from herbarium records. Subspecies maritima (Schweigger) Corbierei has been found in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Ontario; it can be recognized by its sericeous stem, concolorous calyx with two straight upper lobes, and yellow corolla. Subspecies vulneraria (historically more widespread in the flora area) is distinguished by its bicolored calyx with a dark red apex and coherent two upper lobes. One sample from New York (1880) was identified as subsp. rubriflora (de Candolle) Arcangeli; it is distinguished by its calyx with a purple apex, red corolla, and hirsute stem.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.