Kidney Vetch -Yellow Western Isles Wildflowers

Kidney Vetch - Yellow Wild Flowers Seen All Over The Western Isles
These wildflowers show their heads May through to September. Rounded heads of yellow-orange flowers, although occasionally the pink, white and red species also are to be seen. THey are frequently seen near to the coast, on the dunes or on the sandy itself. KIdney vetch likes the same type of soil as the machair's here on the islands so you can often see it in the grassy machair as well. It is a plant that easily spreads. The kidney vetch grows up to 6-0cm in height.

Flowers

The flower head is crowded with many small flowers each with a woolly calyx. The flowers can vary from very pale yellow through to orange. You will often see that some of the clustered Flowerheads are burnt out and almost dead - whilst those next to it may be new ones with the vibrant yellow, orange colours.

Nectar For Insects
The Flowerheads provide food for butterfly larvae. These wildflowers give nectar and pollen for bees and beetles. It is the sole food plant for the caterpillars of the small blue butterfly, which is why this plant is really important.

Seeds
The seeds of the lovely yellow wildflower are very tiny and the seedpod just carries the one seed

Leaves - Stem
The kidney vetch has a fragile stem and long narrow leaves.

Latin Name
The latter part of its name Vulneraria means "wound healer"

Common Names
It has been christened with many common names such as Ladies' Fingers, Lamb's Toes, Kidney Vetch, Staunchwort, Butter Fingers, Fingers and Thumbs, Double Pincushion, Lamb’s Foot,

Woundwort. Its common name is derived from the fact that it could also cure kidney diseases due to its’ kidney shaped flowers.

Uses
The properties in the kidney vetch have been used in the past to produce medicines and creams to reduce swelling. A warm tea like infusion has also been used to wash wounds and also even as a means of preventing and keeping vomiting at bay. THe medicinal part of the plant is the flower