I had only seen this plant once before and even then there was only one plant with a few flowers. This site was occupied many Vicia bithynica plants scrambling over a hillside by the sea. As well as the flower colours: standard purple with white wings and keel, this plant has distinctive toothed stipules (leaf-like structures at the bottom of the leaf stalk or petiole) which are clear in the RHS photograph.

Vicia bithynica is found mostly in the south of England with no one area having a high concentration of sites. It is rare in Wales, Scotland and Ireland and dotted sparsely in northern England.

Upgang Ravine near Whitby 11th June 2005

Added on 9th August 2005, updated 25th August 2008, updated 22nd February 2012