LOTUS PARVIFLORUS

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE/Sect. LOTUS

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Dorycnium parviflorum

Meaning:- Lotus (Gr) The ancient name for various leguminous plants.

Parviflorus (L) Small-flowered.

General description:- Villous annual.

Stems:-

1) Up to 40 cm.

Leaves:-

1) Leaflets, 7-15 x 2·5-7 mm, obovate to oblong-lanceolate.

Flower:-

1) 3- to 7-flowered.

2) Peduncles, longer than the leaves; becoming recurved in fruit.

3) Calyx-teeth, 3-4 times as long as the tube.

4) Corolla, 5-10 mm, yellow.

a) keel, with a right-angle on the lower edge and a long beak.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, 4-6 x c. 1·5 mm, not or only slightly longer than the calyx.

2) Valves, not contorting on dehiscence.

Key features:-

1) Corolla, not more than 18 mm.

2) Standard, not or only slightly exceeding the keel.

3) Calyx-teeth, at least 3 times as long as the tube.

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Habitat:- Damp places in dry open shrubby vegetation, grassy patches in gorges,

on non-calcareous substrates, 0-450 m.

Distribution:- Mainly in the W & C Mediterranean region, including NW Africa.

Flowering time:- April to early June.

Photos by:- Christopher Cheiladakis & A. N. Other