Relatives
Onobrychis iberica Grossh. - Georgian esparcet.
Taxonomic position.
Family Leguminosae Endl., genus Onobrychis Mill.Biology and morphology.
Perennial herb. Stems are ascending or erect, branched in upper part, slightly pubescent, 30-90 cm tall. Leaves are pinnate (6-9 pairs), leaflets are narrow, elliptical, 15-25 mm in length, 4-6 mm in width. Peduncles are 2-3 times longer than corresponding leaves. Florets are pink, 9-11 mm long, with two large, yellow patterns at the base of the flag. Pods are semicircular, 5-6mm long, with wide, serrated thorns. Blossoms in May-June; seeds ripen in August-September. Cross-pollinated. 2n=28.Distribution.
Indigenous to the Caucasus mountain region (Tbilisi region, Dagestan).Ecology.
Occurs among bushes, on mountain slopes, and in stony locations up to the middle mountain level.Utilization and economic value.
Fodder crop with good foliage. Possesses high drought-resistance; grows in poor soils. Useful in breeding programs in crosses with cultivated Onobrychis species.Literature cited:
Brezhnev D.D., Korovina O.N. 1980. Wild relatives of the cultivated plants of flora of the USSR. L.: Kolos, 376 pp. (in Russian).Flora of the USSR. 1948. Genus Onobrychis. Vol. 13. M.-L.: USSR, p. 303-304. (in Russian).
Galushko A.I. 1980. Flora of the Northern Caucasus. A field guide. Vol. 2. Rostov-na-Donu, 350 pp. (in Russian).
Grossheim A.A. 1952. Genus Onobrychis. Flora of the Caucasus. Vol. 5. M.-L.: USSR, p. 358-376. (in Russian).
Kolakovskiy A.L. 1958. Flora of Abhasiya. Vol. 3. Tbilisi, 292 pp. (in Russian).