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kidney vetch
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kidney vetch
kidney vetch Kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria).

kidney vetch

plant
Also known as: Anthyllis vulneraria, ladies’ fingers
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History

kidney vetch, (Anthyllis vulneraria), perennial herb of the pea family (Fabaceae), found in meadows, alpine pastures, and dry places of Europe and northern Africa. It was formerly used as a remedy for kidney disorders but is now frequently cultivated in rock gardens.

Kidney vetch is a low hairy plant that grows to a height of 15–40 cm (6–16 inches). The plant has narrow compound leaves about 1.4–3.8 cm (0.5–1.5 inches) long and yellow-white flowers with wooly bases borne in dense round clusters. The fruit is a small legume.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.