SECURIGERA GLOBOSA

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE

Common Names:- Cretan crown-vetch

Homotypic Synonyms:- Coronilla globosa

Meaning:- Securigera (L) Axe-like, reference to some organ, possibly the fruit.

Globosa (L) Spherical, globe-shaped.

General description:- Rhizomatous perennial, bushy, somewhat woody below.

Stems:-

1) 20-60 cm. procumbent to ascending.

Leaves:-

1) Leaflets, 7-12 pairs of leaflets, 15-30 x 5-13 mm; oblong or elliptical, margins

scarious.

2) Stipules, 1-6 mm, free, membranous.

Flowers:-

1) Peduncles, relatively short.

2) Umbel, 15-40-flowered. globose, 20-30 mm diam.

3) Corolla, 9-11mm, white, generally with a dark purple tip to the keel and purplish

veins on the standard.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, almost straight 30-70 mm; segments 2-5, 9-10 mm, oblong, 4-angled.

Key features:-

1) Legume segments, 2-5, 9-10 mm.

2) Heads, globose, (5-)10- to 40 flowered.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Crevices of limestone cliffs in gorges, often in semi-shade. 100-800 m.

with Asperula rigida, Galium fruticosum, Petromarula pinnata, etc.

Distribution:- Cretan endemic. Scattered across Crete but not common.

Flowering time:- Apr-June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton