Meadow Vetchling
Latin: Lathyrus pratensis
Irish: Peasairín buí
This native species is a close relative of sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) and can be found in many of the hedgerows and areas of unmown grass around the course (such as on the headlands of the large practice area).
It is a straggling, slightly downy plant with narrow spear-shaped leaves that occur in pairs with branched or unbranched tendrils that allow the plant to climb up and be supported by neighbouring plants, etc.. Striking bright yellow flowers (12-15mm long), not unlike the flowers that you see on gorse, appear in June.
This is a principal larval foodplant of the Wood White Butterfly (Leptidea reali). Although not used now, this species was grown as a forage crop in the past .
