SULLA SPINOSISSIMA

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE

Homotypic Synonyms:- Spiny sainfoin

Synonyms:- Echinolobium spinosissimum, Hedysarum spinosissimum.

Meaning:- Sulla. Unknown, but possibly for Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix a Roman

general and dictator.

Spinosissima (L) Most spiny.

General description:- Low to short, sprawling to suberect, somewhat hairy annual

Stems:-

1) 5-30 cm. usually branched from the base, decumbent to ascending, appressed-

pubescent

Leaves:-

1) Imparipinnate, leaflets, 4-9 pairs, 4-12 mm, oblong to narrowly obovate,

subglabrous above, appressed-pubescent beneath.

Flowers:-

1) Peduncles, c. twice as long as the subtending leaf.

2) Racemes, few-flowered.

3) Calyx, 4-6 mm, sparsely pubescent, teeth as long as or longer than the tube.

4) Corolla, 7-12 mm, pink, or wings and keel nearly white with pink tips.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, compressed, with (1-)2-4 suborbicular segments, short-pubescent and

densely covered with short uncinate spines both on the margin and sides.

Key features:-

1) Corolla, 8-11 mm, 1½-2 times as long as the calyx.

2) Racemes, 2-l0-flowered.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Gravelly coastal habitats, loamy hills, dry open shrubby vegetation and

degraded scrubland vegetation, field margins, sometimes gregarious on road

embankments. 0-750 m.

Distribution:- Widespread throughout the Mediterranean region. Fairly widespread

in the central and eastern area of Crete.

Flowering time:- Mar to early May.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton