SPECIES DESCRIPTION
TRIGONELLA GLADIATA
Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE/Subgen. TRIGONELLA
Common Names:- None
Homotypic Synonyms:- Medicago gladiata, Telis gladiata, Xiphostylis
prostratus.
Meaning:- Trigonella (L) Triangle, the perianth seen from the front.
Gladiata (L) Sword-like.
General description:- Ascending to erect annual, sparingly branched from the
base.
Stems:-
1) 5-25 cm, somewhat patent-pilose.
Leaves:-
1) Leaflets, oblanceolate to nanowly obtriangular, dentate at the apex.
2) Stipules, small, free part triangular, acute, herbaceous.
Flowers:-
1) Flowers, sessile in the leaf axils, solitary or occasionally paired.
2) Pedicels, c. 0·5 mm.
3) Calyx tube, c. 3 mm, narrowly campanulate.
a) teeth, subequal, linear-lanceolate, equalling the tube pubescent with subpatent
hairs.
4) Corolla, 7-9 mm, cream, often with lilac stripes on the back of the standard.
Fruit:-
1) Legume, 15-40 x 3-7 mm. (excluding the beak). erect or patent, seed-bearing
part broadly linear, compressed, c. 30 x 5 mm, ± hirsute, slightly curved,
tapering to a straight beak.
a) beak, 15-25 mm.
3) Seeds, 2-6. c. 3·5 mm, ovoid, tuberculate.
Key features:-
1) Leaflets. 5-12 x 3-8 mm.
2) Corolla. 8-9 mm.
3) Legume. straight; (excluding beak) 15-40 mm.
a) beak 15-25 mm.
4) Seeds, ovoid, tuberculate.
Habitat:- Rocky slopes with dry open shrubby vegetation, mixed scrub and dry
grassland, olive groves, vineyards, field margins, 0-1100 m.
Distribution:- Scattered throughout Greece. - Mediterranean area and through
Anatolia to Caucasia. Fairly rare on Crete, currently known only from afew location
in the south-west
Flowering time:- Late March to early June.
Photo by:- A. N. Other
