LATHYRUS SAXATILIS

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Menkenia saxatilis, Orobus saxatilis, Vicia saxatilis.

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

Saxatilis (L) Living in rocky places, of the rocks.

General description:- Slender, suberect annual

Stem:-

1) 10-40 cm, not winged. usually branched from the base, pilose below,

subglabrous above.

Leaves:-

1) Without tendrils.

2) Leaflets, 1-3 pairs, those of the lower leaves 3-8 x 1·5-3 mm, obcordate, with 3

teeth at the apex, those of the upper leaves 7-20 x 0·5-2 mm, linear.

3) Stipules, 2-3 x 0·5 mm, linear, semi-hastate the lobe often irregularly toothed.

Flowers:-

1) Solitary, peduncles, 2-10 mm, articulated near the middle or apex.

2) Calyx-teeth, triangular, slightly shorter than the tube.

3) Corolla, 6-9 mm, pale blue or yellowish.

a) standard, often flushed purple.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, 15-30 x 5-7 mm, brown, glabrous.

2) Seeds, 3-8, smooth, hilum 1/12 of the circumference.

Key features:-

1) All leaves without a tendril.

2) Flowers, solitary, with peduncles 2-10 mm.

3) Calyx-teeth, ± equal.

4) Pubescent.

5) Leaflets, of upper leaves 7-20 mm.

6) Legume, 5-7 mm wide, glabrous.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky slopes with open dry shrubby vegetation and open coniferous

woodland, generally over limestone 0-600 m.

Distribution:- Throughout Greece. - Mediterranean area and SW Asia to Cyprus

and C Anatolia, Fairly well spread on Crete mainly around coastal regions.

Flowering time:- Mar-May.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis and Steve Lenton