ORNITHOPUS PINNATUS

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Artrolobium pinnatum, Scorpiurus pinnatus.

Meaning:- Ornithopus (Gr) Bird-foot, (the disposition of the fruits)

Pinnatus (L) Set in two opposite ranks, winged, feathered, pinnate.

General description:- Slender, appressed-pubescent or subglabrous annual.

Stems:-

1) 5-25 cm. branched from the base.

Leaves:-

1) Imparipinnate with 3-7 pairs of oblanceolate leaflets.

Flowers:-

1) Peduncle, slender, somewhat shorter than the subtending leaf.

2) Flowers, in 1-4-flowered heads, ebracteate or with a small, scarious bract.

3) Corolla, 6-8 mm, yellow.

4) Calyx teeth, triangular, much shorter than the cylindrical tube.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, 20-35 mm, curved, terete, not contracted between the segments,

segments (6-)8-12, cylindrical, beak short, not more than 5 mm.

Key features:-

1) Leaflets, 3-7 pairs.

2) Flower head, ebracteate or with a small, scarious bract

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Seasonally flooded coastal habitats, open coniferous woodland, by

streams and damp spots in fallow flelds, 0-400 m.

Distribution:- Coastal areas of W Greece, lacking in the interior. - SW Europe and

Medlterranean region, extending to W Anatolia and W Syria. Rare on Crete

currently know from only two locations.

Flowering time:- March to May

Photos by:- A.N. Other