sainfoin

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• esparcet
• holy-clover
• vicia-leaved holy-clover
• Sanfoin
• common sainfoin

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Onobrychis vicioides
• Onobrychis sativa var. pseudosupina
• Onobrychis sativa var. silvestris
• Onobrychis sativa var. communis
• Onobrychis vulgaris var. sativa
• Onobrychis sativa var. bifera
• Onobrychis viciifolia subsp. collina
• Hedysarum onobrychis var. canone
• Onobrychis viciifolia var. comosa
• Hedysarum onobrychioides
• Onobrychis viciifolia monstr. comosa
• Onobrychis glabra
• Onobrychis viciifolia monstr. braunii
• Onobrychis incana
• Onobrychis viciifolia var. culta
• Onobrychis viciifolia f. glabrescens
• Onobrychis sativa var. calvescens
• Onobrychis sativa var. hirsuta
• Onobrychis pallescens
• Onobrychis viciifolia var. subvillosa
• Onobrychis pallens
• Onobrychis viciifolia f. subvillosa
• Onobrychis spicata
• Onobrychis viciifolia proles albiflora
• Onobrychis viciifolia f. nivea
• Onobrychis esponellae
• Onobrychis viciifolia f. roseola
• Onobrychis collina
• Onobrychis viciifolia f. inermis
• Onobrychis viciifolia f. pallens
• Onobrychis viciifolia f. pallidiflora
• Onobrychis viciifolia monstr. ramosa
• Onobrychis bifera
• Onobrychis viciifolia var. communis
• Onobrychis viciifolia subsp. sativa
• Onobrychis viciifolia var. collina

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Onobrychis viciifolia, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Its taxonomic hierarchy concludes with its placement in the genus Onobrychis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in Denmark, Great Britain, and Sweden. Moving toward the central parts of the continent, the species can also be found in Middle Europe. Specifically, it inhabits parts of Austria within this central region. Finally, its range extends to Belgium, further demonstrating its widespread geographical footprint.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Onobrychis viciifolia is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennable buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or ground cover during unfavorable conditions. Furthermore, this species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal survival strategy.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Onobrychis viciifolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. This plant is a self-supporting species, functioning independently without the need for climbing or parasitic behaviors. It is a terrestrial organism, neither aquatic nor epiphytic, inhabiting land environments. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a relatively low height, with a minimum measurement of 0.15 m, a maximum reach of 0.8 m, and a mean plant height of approximately 0.5175 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.5175 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Onobrychis viciifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Its leaf morphology exhibits significant variation, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, while the leaf width is notably narrow, spanning from 0.3 cm to 0.7 cm. These dimensions contribute to a mean leaf size of approximately 31.34438 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 185.86 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and providing insight into its resource allocation strategies and light-use efficiency.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf size mean:

31.34438 cm²

Leaf width max:

0.7 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

185.86 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Onobrychis viciifolia is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically begins in May and concludes in July. The plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects, with bees identified as a key pollinator. This reproductive cycle is dependent on cross-pollination, as self-fertilization is absent. Following fertilization, the plant produces fruit classified as a berry, which is dehiscent in nature. The resulting seeds vary in mass, with a minimum weight of 0.00868 g, a mean mass of approximately 0.0155971515 g, and a maximum mass of 0.0232 g. For the distribution of its offspring, the plant employs a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, specifically utilizing epizoochory to spread its seeds.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit type :

berry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0232 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0155971515 g

Seed mass min:

0.00868 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Onobrychis viciifolia has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Onobrychis viciifolia has 29 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-Pinitol, Afzelin, CATECHIN, COUMESTROL, Condensed Tannin.

(+)-Pinitol

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Afzelin

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

CATECHIN

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

COUMESTROL

1. Journal of food science and technology

Condensed Tannin

1. Parasites & vectors

Condensed Tannins

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Cyanidin

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Delphinidin

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Epicatechin

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Epigallocatechin

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Conditions

Onobrychis viciifolia has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Ostertagia ostertagi, nematode infections, salt stress.

Ostertagia ostertagi

1. Parasites & vectors

Nematode infections

1. Veterinary parasitology

Salt stress

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Onobrychis viciifolia has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Freeze-dried samples, extractives of the leaves.

Freeze-dried samples

1. Journal of food science and technology

Extractives of the leaves

1. Phytochemistry