House of Commons
This is a Common Blue butterfly trying to nectar from a Common Vetch flower, both "Commons", hence the title. But neither species is especially common. The scientific name of Common Vetch is Vicia sativa. Vicio is the Latin verb to bind, because it has tiny tendrils at the end of its leaves which bind to other plants to help it climb, visible here. Sativa means cultivated, as it was originally introduced to Britain from western Asia as a fodder crop, but has now naturalised itself throughout the British Isles.
The Common Blue butterfly is still the most widespread of the "blues" in Britain, but its population has declined in recent decades. This was photographed near Dunford Bridge in the Pennines of South Yorkshire.
House of Commons
This is a Common Blue butterfly trying to nectar from a Common Vetch flower, both "Commons", hence the title. But neither species is especially common. The scientific name of Common Vetch is Vicia sativa. Vicio is the Latin verb to bind, because it has tiny tendrils at the end of its leaves which bind to other plants to help it climb, visible here. Sativa means cultivated, as it was originally introduced to Britain from western Asia as a fodder crop, but has now naturalised itself throughout the British Isles.
The Common Blue butterfly is still the most widespread of the "blues" in Britain, but its population has declined in recent decades. This was photographed near Dunford Bridge in the Pennines of South Yorkshire.