Common birds-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

Collins, 136; Readers Digest, 119

This cheery perennial flowers from May to September in hayfields and grassy banks on our downland.  The flowers are a bright yellow often tinged with orange or red.  It is very abundant in the hayfields of Bodsham.  It is also known as ‘Ladies Shoes and Stockings’ and ‘Crow-Toes’.  The name Bird’s-Foot reflects the similarity of its pods (see below) to a bird’s claw.  The plant is one of the staple diets for the Green Hairstreak and Dingy Skipper butterflies.

See also: http://www.maes.umn.edu/maespubs/vartrial/pdfpubs/1999bird.pdf

An example below of a yellow only flower