Family: legumes (Fabaceae)
Blooming time: April–May
Size: 20–30 cm
Habitat: deciduous and mixed forests and shrub-covered slopes
The unbranched and wingless stem of spring vetchling (Lathyrus vernus) is leafy with pinnate leaves that end in a short, delicate spine. Leaves usually consist of two to three pairs of egg-shaped leaflets that toward the top gradually narrow to a point, hence they are said to be long-pointed. The more or less glossy leaflets are 3–7 cm long and 1–3 cm wide. The inflorescences of spring vetchling consist of three to eight brightly colored flowers, which are 1–1.5 cm long. Initially a scarlet-red banner with purple wings (the lateral banner petals of the legume flower) later it darkens to blue, at the end it turns blue-green. The mature pods (fruits) are hairless.
Spring vetchling is a delicate plant that grows on moist soils, preferring calcareous substrates. It thrives in beech, oak and hornbeam forests across almost all of Slovenia.
