Flora-Fauna

Anthyllis circinnata L.

(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, Pl. CXIV nº 2; 1983)

• Life-form & habit: Pubescent annual with spreading hairs; decumbent or ascending stems, somewhat thickened, 20–60 cm long.

• Leaves: Lower leaves sometimes simple; others pinnate with a strongly developed terminal leaflet, ovate-oblong, tapered at both ends, slightly acute at the tip, and three much smaller, narrow-lanceolate leaflets; lowest mingled with the stipules.

• Inflorescence & flowers: Axillary capitula with very short peduncles, each bearing 4–6 flowers.

• Calyx: Cylindrical in early anthesis, 10–12 mm long, silky and tawny; becoming inflated and vesicular after anthesis, eventually exceeding 1 cm in width.

• Corolla: Yellow, pubescent, exserted by 3–5 mm; standard exceeding the wings and keel.

• Fruit: Gibbous, membranous, one-seeded pod.

• Phenology: Flowers from March to May, sometimes later.

• Habitat & elevation: Fields, abandoned lands, roadsides; not rare near the coast.

• Lebanese distribution: Ct. Beirut (multiple records), Nahr Beyrouth, Nahr el-Kelb, Tripoli; Mi. 'Asfouriyé, Baabda, ‘Antoura, Jabal Terbol, Mazra‘at ech-Cha‘ar, Aïn Besabba; ‘Akkar: Tlail.

• Syrian distribution: Ct. Tartous, Lattaquié; Mi. Safita, Bhamra; NLatt. Bassit, Kessab.

• Native range: Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa