Hedysarum hedysaroides

Hedysarum hedysaroides, common name alpine sainfoin, is a perennial herb belonging to the family Fabaceae.

Hedysarum hedysaroides
Flowers of Hedysarum hedysaroides subsp. hedysaroides at the Giardino Botanico Alpino Chanousia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Hedysarum
Species:	H. hedysaroides
Binomial name
Hedysarum hedysaroides (L.) Schinz & Thell.
Synonyms[1]
Astragalus hedysaroides L. Hedysarum obscurum L.

Description

Hedysarum hedysaroides grows to 20–60 centimetres (7.9–23.6 in) in height. It is a perennial plant, with straight or ascending stems and imparipinnate leaves, 1–3 cm long. Inflorescences bear from 15 to 30-35 purple-violet flowers in clusters. The flowering period extends from June to August.^[2][3]

Distribution

This species can be found in Central and Southern Europe, in Finland, Russia, Ukraine and Western North America.^[4] It occurs in alpine meadows at an elevation of 1,600–2,500 metres (5,200–8,200 ft) above sea level.^[3]

Bibliography

• Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia (3 voll.) - Edagricole - 1982
• Tutin, T.G. et al. - Flora Europaea, second edition - 1993
• Zangheri P. - Flora Italica (2 voll.) - Cedam - 1976