TETRAGONOLOBUS PURPUREUS

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE

Common Names:- Asparagus pea

Homotypic Synonyms: Lotus tetragonolobus

Meaning:- Tetragonolobus (L) Quadrangular-pod.

Purpureus (L) Reddish-purple.

General description:- Annual, sparsely patent-pilose throughout, usually

branched from the base.

Stems:-

1) (5-)10-30 cm. procumbent to ascending.

Leaves:-

1) 3-foliolate; leaflets, up to 40 x 25 mm, obovate to rhombic.

2) Stipules, herbaceous, ovate, much smaller than the leaflets.

Flowers:-

1) Solitary or occasionally paired, short-pedicellate.

2) Calyx teeth, lanceolate, 1.5-2 times as long as the tube.

3) Corolla, 15-20 mm.

a) standard, scarlet.

b) wings and keel, dark red to blackish, wings, sometimes with a yellow spot.

4) Style, not membranous-winged at the tip.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, 30-60 x 6-8 mm, glabrous, with 4 conspicuous, undulate wings, 2-4 mm

wide.

Key features:-

1) Peduncles, shorter than or equalling the leaves.

2) Calyx-teeth, 1.5-2 times as long as the tube.

3) Corolla, pink, red or purple.

4) Legume, with 4 wings, at least 2 mm wide.

5) Style, not membranous-winged at the tip.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Meadows, seasonally damp spots in olive groves, field margins and

wasteground. 0-500(-900) m.

Distribution:- Mediterranean region, eastwards to SW Anatolia and Cyprus.

Widespread on Crete.

Flowering time:- Mid-Mar to early June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton