Flora-Fauna

Tripodion tetraphyllum (L.) Fourr.

First published in Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon, n.s., 16: 359 (1868).

(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, p. 301, Pl. CXIV, 2; 1970)

Description

Life-form & habit: Annual with spreading hairs and somewhat thick, prostrate stems, 20–60 cm long.

Leaves: Lower leaves sometimes simple; others have a much enlarged, ovate-oblong terminal leaflet and three much smaller, pointed, lanceolate-linear leaflets, the lowest among the stipules.

Inflorescence & flowers: Very shortly stalked axillary heads, usually with 4–6 flowers. The silky, reddish-brown calyx is initially cylindrical, 10–12 mm long, but soon becomes bladder-like and more than 1 cm wide. Its teeth are short, unequal and awl-shaped. The hairy yellow corolla projects 3–5 mm beyond the calyx; the standard exceeds the wings and keel.

Fruit: Two-seeded pod enclosed by the greatly swollen calyx.

Flowering and habitat

Phenology: Flowering March–May, sometimes later.

Habitat & elevation: Cultivation, abandoned ground and roadsides, especially near the coast.

Distribution

Lebanese distribution: Beirut, Nahr Beirut, Nahr el Kelb, Tripoli, Asfouriye, Baabda, Antoura, Jabal Terbol, Ain Besabba, Mazraat ech Chaar, Tlail and Kornet Chehwan.

Syrian distribution: Tartous, Latakia, Safita, Bhamra, Bassit and Kessab.

Native range: Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye.

Introduced into: Germany.

⚠️ Taxonomic note:

Mouterde treats this species as Physanthyllis tetraphylla (L.) Boiss. and cites Anthyllis tetraphylla L.; Kew accepts both names as synonyms of Tripodion tetraphyllum.