LATHYRUS GORGONI

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

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

Gorgoni (Gr) Wild, of wild appearance.

General description:- Medium to tall, clambering, glabrous annual.

Stem:-

1) 40-150 cm, winged.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate, compound pinnate, with 2 narrow and linear leaflets forming "V", like

blades of grass, from 5-15cm length, glabous, with a central tendril much

branched.

2) Stipules, 2 long, less than 1,5 mm across, extremely sharp and herbaceous.

Flowers:-

1) Racemes, solitary.

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

3) Corolla, 15-25 mm, light gingery-orange, often red-veined.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, 30-80 x 7-12 mm, pale brown, dorsal suture with 3 low keels.

2) Seeds, 7-8, smooth.

Key features:-

1) Corolla, 15-25 mm.

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

3) Seeds, smooth.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Roadsides, hedges and ruderal habitats. 0-1000 m.

Distribution:- Central and east Mediterranean area; SW. Asia eastwards to N Iraq.

Very rare on Crete, known only from the far northeast.

Flowering time:- Apr-May.

Photos by:- Dr. Armin Jagel