LATHYRUS LAXIFLORUS

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Orobus laxiflorus.

Meaning:- Lathyrus (Gr) The ancient name for chickling pea.

Laxiflorus (L) Loosely flowered; wide flowered.

General description:- Perennial herb with long, scrambling,

Stem:-

1) up to 150 cm, unwinged forming large, loose mats.

Leaves:-

1) With a single pair of elliptical, obtuse leaflets and a branched tendril.

2) Leaflets, 20-40 x 10-20 mm.

3) Stipules, 10-30 x 8-15 mm, lanceolate to ovate-orbicular, sagittate or semi-

sagittate.

Flowers:-

1) Conspicuously large, in lax, 1-4-flowered racemes.

2) Calyx-teeth, subequal, pubescent, 2-3 times as long as the tube.

3) Corolla, 15-20 mm, blue-violet.

a) standard, 25-30 x 30-35 mm, pinkish-purple, rarely with paler margins.

b) wings and keel crimson to dark purple,

Fruit:-

1) Legume, 30-40 x 3-5 mm, brown, pubescent.

2) Seeds, c. 6, 12-18, smooth, hilum 1/10-1/6 of the circumference.

Key features:-

1) Leaflets, 1 pair, about as long as the stipules, elliptical.

2) Calyx-teeth, 2-3 times as long as tube.

3) Legume, 3-5 mm wide.

4) Stipules, ovate, ± sagittate.

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Habitat:- Deciduous and coniferous woodland. (50-)300-1400(-1700) m.

Distribution:- Throughout mainland Greece and Peloponnisos, reported from

Lefkas and Kerkira. - S Italy, Balkans, Anatolia, Caucasus and N Iran. On Crete

somewhat scattered, mainly in the western areas, with a couple of locations in the

east, not common.

Flowering time:- End of Apr to mid-July.

Photos by:- Courtesy of Wiki-Commons