ONONIS VISCOSA subsp. SIEBERI

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

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Ononis sieberi

Meaning:- Ononis (Gr) A classical name used by the Greek physician

Dioscorides.

Viscosa (L) Sticky, viscid.

Sieberi (L) For the botanist Franz Wilhelm Sieber (1785-1844).

General description:- Erect annual.

Stems:-

1) 10-80 cm, whole plant rather densely glandular- and eglanular-pilose usually

erect or ascending, usually spiny.

Leaves:-

1) Middle cauline, 3-foliolate, middle leaflets smaller and narrower.

Flowers:-

1) Primary branches of the inflorescence equalling or shorter than the leaves, with

or without arista.

2) Corolla, somewhat exceeding the calyx, often flushed red.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, 12-18 mm. only slightly long than the calyx.

2) Seeds, numerous, 1-1.5 mm, yellow-brown, tuberculate.

Key features:-

1) Seeds, 1-1.5 mm, yellow-brown, tuberculate.

3) Legume, 12-18 mm. only slightly long than the calyx.

4) Corolla, somewhat exceeding the calyx, often flushed red.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Sandy coastal habitats, fallow fields, olive groves, open coniferous

woodland. 0-800.

Distribution:- Coastal areas of W Greece, - Mediterranean region and SW Asia..

Somewhat limited distribution on Crete mainly around coastal areas.

Flowering time:- Apr-May.

Photos by:- Zacharias Angourakis