This plant, in spite of its German and Latin name, is not found in Germany but is typical of the Pannonian Basin of central Europe and foothills of the Southern and Eastern Alps.

The flowers are tiny but the plant forms low clumps that may cover large areas of ground, making them a prominent feature when in full flower.

This perennial is found in southern Scandinavia, dry grasslands of central Europe and mountainous areas of southern Europe.

Upright stems covered with short woolly hairs grow from a basal rosette of leaves, usually branching to produce 2 compact whitish or cream-coloured flowering heads.

When the flower head is fully in bloom it appears as a neat spiky ball 15 - 20mm in diameter. Older flower heads become elongated with the fading flowers at the base turning reddish brown. Each small flower has a narrow pointed shape and is carried on a short stalk, 1mm long.

Pollinating insects are various species of bee as well as butterflies and moths.

Usually each flower produces a pod containing a single seed only.

The trifoliate leaves are distinct in shape, lanceolate with elongated points, finely serrated margins with short spines.

This is a type of clover, perennial with a sprawling growth , growing upwards to keep pace with that of surrounding grasses, occasionally reaching a length of 50 cms supporting itself on neighbouring plants although it can also survive close grazing, mowing and trampling.

It is used in agriculture as a forage plant, grown for pasture, hay, and silage.

A double flowered variety is grown as an ornamental plant. The plant is an important nectar source for many insects and is also used as a larval food plant by many species of butterfly.

The name ‘Bird’s-foot’ refers to the clawed appearance of the seed pods.

This plant is native to the southern Mediterranean region and Central Europe. In Germany and Austria it is rare and protected.

It is a herbaceous perennial plant with prostrate growth, stems spreading outwards from the base forming clumps, turning upward at tips. (see !W! button below). In spring, the pale yellow, single flowers catch the sunlight at ground level with their relatively large standard petals (approx. 2cm long). The stems and leaves are slightly hairy and grey-green in colour and grow close to the ground.

The seed pods grow to about 4-5cm long and possess 4 distinct wing-like ribs. When ripe, the pod splits long ways and the numerous seeds are ejected.

This is a perennial plant with a vertical root up to 4m deep that regenerates from dormant buds at ground level after the winter. As with many members of the pea family (see description at top of page), the roots possess nodules of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in a symbiotic relationship, of advantage to both plant and bacteria. This has the effect of enriching the soil and Sainfoin can be planted as a soil-improving crop. It is also a valuable food plant for cattle, especially so as it contains chemicals (condensed tannins) in high concentration that destroy or discourage nematode parasites, providing a natural alternative to drugs.

Sainfoin is a rich provider of nectar and pollen which a relatively large variety of insects, including different species of bees, can make use of thus making a valuable contribution to biodiversity in the natural environment.

This is a short-lived perennial plant, and, like many members of this family, has root nodules containing bacteria known as rhizobia,that have the ability to take nitrogen gas 'N2' out of the air and convert it to a form of nitrogen that is usable to the host plant. This is a mutually advantageous relationship known as symbiosis and contributes to soil enrichment. It has deep roots that can reach down as far as 2 meters and it spreads by means of a branching network of underground stems or rhizomes.

The flowers produce nectar at the base of their flower tubes so only long-tongued bees and butterflies can normally reach it. Nectar robbers with shorter tongues sometimes bite holes in the flower tubes and reach the nectar that way.

Each tiny flower in the dense inflorescence produces a seed pod between 1.5 and 4mm long containing 1-2 seeds that remain capable of germination for at least 14 years, sometimes much longer.

Red Clover is an important fodder crop as well as a rich supplier of nectar for honey bees and butterflies.

This is a tough, spreading, low-growing legume with deep roots that possess nodules of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These improve the soil as well as benefiting the plant itself. The whole plant is toxic, especially the seeds.

From the second year of growth onwards, the plant produces showy clusters of pinkish-white flowers throughout the summer and upright pods, 2-8cm long that break up into sections, each containing a single seed.

This is a deeply rooted, perennial plant that climbs and supports itself by clinging to neighbouring vegetation with the help of coiling tendrils, sometimes strangling and suffocating smaller plants.

It is widely used as a forage plant for cattle and has a soil improving quality on account of the nitrogen fixing bacteria on its roots (see family description at top of page).

Each flower produces a seed pod, about 2cm long, which turns dark brown when ripe and dry, bursting open to shoot out the small black round seeds, sometimes as far as 1-2 meters.

Birds are especially fond of the seeds but also eat the foliage, (hence the common name Bird Vetch).

This has distinctive deep purple, clover-type flower heads that lengthen as they develop. They are arranged singly on strong, flower stems growing upwards. The plant is a perennial and overwinters as rhizomes, stems spread laterally forming large clumps of bright flowers.

The leaves are typical of vetches with long central veins and up to 16 pairs of oppositely arranged leaflets (see !L! button below) but without tendrils.

This is a perennial, weak-stemmed, trailing and climbing plant that can reach stem lengths of up to a meter. It can reproduce vegetatively from its spreading root system as well as from seed.

The extensive roots develop tubers that reach a maximum 'hazelnut' size after 2-3 years. These tasty and nutritious tubers were planted in fields and harvested in the past but the low productivity has caused their loss of popularity.

The flowers resemble sweet peas and have a scent and stunning colour that makes them highly visible. After pollination, brown pods develop, each containing up to 6 pea-like seeds.