Dorycnium pentaphyllum

Dorycnium pentaphyllum
Plants of Dorycnium pentaphyllum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Genus:	Dorycnium
Species:	D. pentaphyllum
Binomial name
Dorycnium pentaphyllum Scop.
Synonyms
Dorycnium hispanicum Samp. Dorycnium suffruticosum Vill.

Dorycnium pentaphyllum, common name: Prostrate Canary Clover, is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the genus Dorycnium of the Fabaceae family. The specific Latin name pentaphyllum derives from the greek pénte meaning five and phýllon meaning leaf, referred to the shape of the leaves.

Description

Dorycnium pentaphyllum reaches on average 10–70 centimetres (3.9–28 in) of height. The stems and the branches are woody. The leaves are composed by five segments and are hairy on both sides. Flowers are small and white, in terminal umbels of 5-20 flowers on a short stalk. The flowering period extends from May through July. The fruits are ovoid reddish-brown legumes {convert|3|-|6|mm}} long containing one or two seeds.

Gallery

Plant of Dorycnium pentaphyllum

Flowers of Dorycnium pentaphyllum

Flowers of Dorycnium pentaphyllum

Distribution

Dorycnium pentaphyllum has a Mediterranean distribution.

Habitat

These plants prefer semi-arid hills, sunny and dry pastures and Mediterranean environment and tolerates all soil types. They can be found at an altitude of 0–1,300 metres (0–4,300 ft).

Subspecies

• Dorycnium pentaphyllum subsp. herbaceum (Vill.) Rouy
• Dorycnium pentaphyllum subsp. suffruticosum (Vill.) Rouy
• Dorycnium pentaphyllum subsp. pentaphyllum

References

• Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia - Edagricole – 1982

External links

• Biolib
• Dorycnium pentaphyllum
• Dorycnium pentaphyllum