ONOBRYCHIS SPHACIOTICA

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

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

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

Dioscorides for a legume eaten by asses).

Sphaciotica (Gr) Damaged-looking, of gangrened appearance.

General description:- Bushy perennial herb, somewhat woody at base, with

several simple or sparingly branched.

Stems:-

1) 30-60 cm, forming bushes up to 1 m wide.

Leaves:-

1) Leaflets, of the lower leaves 12-16 pairs, up to 30 x 5 mm, oblong-elliptical or

broadly linear, sparsely sericeous beneath.

Flowers:-

1) Peduncles, long, straight.

2) Racemes, 15-30-flowered, broadly cylindrical at anthesis, much elongating in

fruit.

2) Calyx, sparsely villous; teeth linear-lanceolate, 2-3 times as long as the tube.

3) Corolla, c. 15 mm, bright purplish-pink

a) standard entire or truncate, ± equalling the keel.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, c. 10 mm, sericeous-pubescent, with the hairs at least 0·5 mm,

sides toothed; margin with 8-10 teeth, 1-3 mm.

Key features:-

1) Standard, entire or truncate.

2) Legume margin, with 8-10 teeth; teeth not more than 3 mm.

3) Leaflets, 12-16 pairs.

Habitat:- Crevices of limestone cliffs, very open woodland of Cupressus

sempervirens. 1400-1750 m.

Distribution:- Endemic W. Crete (Lefka Ori). Rare.

Flowering time:- Late May to early June.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Vulnerable (V) according to IUCN

1997

Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981