Flora-Fauna

Astragalus nummularius subsp. trichopterus (Boiss.) Post

(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, Pl. CXXXIII nº 4; 1983, as A. trichopterus)

• Life-form & habit: Cushion-forming perennial with subterranean rhizomes and short aerial stems. Leaves spread flat on the ground in a dense mat, 5–10 cm long, surrounding few-flowered yellow racemes.

• Leaves: Rachis filiform, ciliate, with 7–9 pairs of ovate, small, retuse leaflets, appressed-hispid on both surfaces. Stipules lanceolate, hirsute at the tip.

• Inflorescence & flowers: Flowers subsessile, grouped into short racemes. Bracts ovate, shorter than the calyx.

• Calyx: 10 mm long, sparsely hairy, with slightly unequal teeth about as long as the tube.

• Corolla: Bright yellow, strongly exceeding the calyx; standard linear, retuse, glabrous, longer than the wings, which are often, though not always, ciliate-hispid at the margin.

• Fruit: Not described.

• Phenology: Flowers from June to July.

• Habitat & elevation: Rocky slopes of high mountains.

• Lebanese distribution: Mm. Tannourine, Ehden, Jourd Hasroun, Jabal Kneissé, Laqlouq; Me. Above the Cedars, Col des Cèdres, from Afqa to Yammouné, Dahr-el-Qodib to Berkacha, Jabal Sannine.

• Syrian distribution: A.L. Manchoura, Harf Ram el-Kebch.

• Native range: Endemic to Lebanon and Syria