Relatives
Onobrychis cyri Grossh. - Esparcet kurinskiy.
Taxonomic position.
Family Leguminosae Endl., genus Onobrychis Mill.Biology and morphology.
Perennial herb. Stems are rude, branched, 30-60 cm tall, sometimes 50-80 cm tall. Leaves are pinnate, elongated, elliptical or narrowly obovate. Peduncle is twice as long as the corresponding pedicel. Florets are pink, 6-12 mm long. Pod is 5-6mm long, pubescent, with 5-7 triangular thorns. Blossoms in May-June; seeds ripen in August-September. 2n=28.Distribution.
Indigenous to the Caucasus mountain region.Ecology.
Occurs among bushes, on dry slopes, and in stony locations up to the middle mountain level.Utilization and economic value.
Fodder crop; its feeding value is lower than that of other Onobrychis species because of its narrow leaflets. Possesses high drought-resistance and 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).