ONOBRYCHIS AEQUIDENTATA

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

Common Names:- Equal-toothed Sainfoin

Homotypic Synonyms:- Hedysarum aequidentatum.

Meaning:- Onobrychis (Gr) Ass-bray (a name used by the Greek physician

Dioscorides for a legume eaten by asses).

Aequi- (L) Equally-, just as-. Dentata (L) Having teeth = teeth of equal

length. (referring to the length of the teeth on the cockscomb seed pod).

General description:- Pubescent annual.

Stems:-

1) Up to 40 cm, erect to sprawling.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate, leaflets 5-8 pairs, 4-25 x 2-5 mm, elliptical to linear.

Flowers:-

1) Peduncles, longer than the leaves, racemes lax, especially in fruit.

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

3) Corolla, 10-13 mm, reddish-purple.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, 6-12 mm, sides toothed, margin with 4-7 broadly triangular teeth 2-5

mm.

Key features:-

1) Corolla, 10-14 mm.

2) Legume, with broadly triangular teeth on the margin.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Sandy coastal habitats, field margins, olive groves, dry open shrubby

vegetation, open coniferous woodland. 0-700(-1200) m.

Distribution:- Widespread in the Mediterranean region and SW Asia. Widespread

on Crete.

Flowering time:- Late Mar to early June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton