LATHYRUS NEUROLOBUS

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE

Common Name:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Lathyrus (Gr) The ancient name for chickling pea.

Neurolobus (Gr) With veined lobes.

General description:- Delicate, rhizomatous, glabrous perennial herb.

Stem:-

1) Up to 50 cm long. angled or narrowly winged.

Leaves:-

1) Lower, without tendrils, upper, with tendrils simple or slightly branched.

2) Leaflets, 1 pair, 5-12 x 1-4 mm, oblong to ovate-oblong;

3) Stipules, 2-3 mm, linear or semi-sagittate.

Flowers:-

1) Solitary or paired, short-pedunculate.

2) Calyx teeth, subequal, shorter than the tube.

3) Corolla, 6-9 mm, violet-blue with darker veins on the standard.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, broadly linear, 20-30 x 3-4 mm, brown, glabrous, with very prominent

longitudinal veins.

2) Seeds, 3-6, smooth.

Key features:-

1) Corolla, 6-9 mm, blue.

2) Calyx-teeth, not or only slightly longer than the tube.

3) Leaflets, 5-12 mm.

4) Seeds, smooth.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Semi-shaded riparian wetland with Platanus orientalis, Carex cretica,

Samolus valerandi etc.150-950 m. on schist.

Distribution:- Endemic to west Crete. Although very restricted in distribution it

is locally common and frequently collected.

Flowering time:- Apr-May.

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