HIPPOCREPIS CILIATA

Including Hippocrepis cyclocarpa

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Hippocrepis ambigua Hippocrepis annua

Hippocrepis ciliata var. dicarpa Hippocrepis dicarpa.

Meaning:- Hippo (Gr) Horse (inferring coarseness or inferiority).

Crepis (Gr) A name used by Theophrastus for a shoe or enclosing wall

= Horseshoe (the shape of the fruit).

Ciliata (L) Fringed with hairs.

General description:- Sparsely appressed-pubescent annual.

Stems:-

1) 10-30 cm. solitary or few, slender, erect or ascending.

Leaves:-

1) Imparipinnate:

a) leaflets 3-6(-7) pairs, 5-15 x 0·5-3 mm, linear or oblong.

2) Petiole, with a distinct gland-like dot in the angle between the stipule.

Flowers:-

1) 1-6, in pedunculate, axillary umbels.

2) Pedicels, hairy.

3) Corolla, yellow,

a) standard blade, distinctly set off from the claw.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, 15-25 x 2·5-4 mm, curved so that the sinuses open on the concave

edge.

a) segments, with orbicular sinuses and with long papillae on the seed-

protuberance.

Key features:-

1) Fruit, slightly curved to a semi-circular, flat part between the seed-bearing

segments narrow.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Sandy and gravelly coastal habitats, open dry shrubby vegetation, fallow

fields. 0-500(-800) m.

Distribution:- Most of the Mediterranean area, but rare in Anatolia and lacking from

Syria to Egypt. Scattered distribution across Crete, but fairly common.

Flowering time:- Late-Mar to early June.

Photos by:- Willem Hurkmans

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HIPPOCREPIS CYCLOCARPA Back to Top

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Cyclocarpa (Gr) Round seeded, having a round seed.

Resembling Hippocrepis ciliata, but differering in the following characters;-

1) Calyx teeth, fringed with hairs.

2) Petal claws, shorter.

3) Fruit, curved into a full circle or in 1.5 coils, strongly flattened and broadened

between the seeds;

a) seed-bearing segment, with a deep notch

Habitat:- As for Hippocrepis ciliata

Distribution:- Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia. Rare on Crete, confined to the

far east of the island.

Flowering time:- As for Hippocrepis ciliata

Photos by:- None available