French-honeysuckle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• French-honeysuckle
• Italian sainfoin
• Spanish sainfoin
• cock's-head
• honeyplant
• soola-clover
• sulla sweet-vetch
• sulla-clover
• French Honeysuckle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Echinolobium coronarium
• Hedysarum coronarium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically classified within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further organized under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Sulla.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Sulla coronaaria, exhibits a varied presence across several European regions. In Northern Europe, its range includes the territory of Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, it can be found inhabiting Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. Additionally, its distribution extends to Southwestern Europe, specifically within the Baleares islands. Through these locations, the species maintains a distinct geographical footprint across the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sulla coronaaria is characterized by its presence in lowland environments, where it establishes itself within specific ecological niches. This species is typically found across a notable vertical distribution, maintaining a significant elevational range with a mean altitude of approximately 1800 m AMSL. Such positioning suggests an adaptation to the unique climatic and soil conditions present at these mid-to-high lowland elevations.

Elevational range mean:

1800 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Sulla coronaaria is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural development and survival strategy, it is classified as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil. This hemicryptophytic nature ensures its ability to endure varying environmental conditions by maintaining its regenerative capacity at the ground level.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sulla coronaaria is characterized by a growth form primarily classified as a herb, exhibiting a non-woody structure throughout its vegetative parts. It functions as an independent organism, showing no parasitic tendencies, and is categorized as a terrestrial species rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic plant. In terms of its climbing habit, the plant is self-supporting, lacking the necessity to be an obligatory or facultative climber such as a liana or vine. Furthermore, it is strictly terrestrial in its ecological positioning, showing no epiphytic tendencies, whether as a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sulla coronaaria is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying environmental conditions. In addition to its carbon assimilation mechanisms, the plant exhibits specialized nitrogen metabolism through its capacity as a nitrogen fixer, utilizing biological processes to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms for growth and development.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sulla coronaaria is characterized by the production of small, uniform fruit and seeds. The plant produces fruits that maintain an average length of 1 cm. The seeds generated during this reproductive process are remarkably consistent in their physical properties, exhibiting a singular measured seed mass of 0.00483 g. This specific mass remains constant across all recorded observations, with the minimum, maximum, and mean seed mass all being precisely 0.00483 g.

Fruit length mean:

1 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.00483 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sulla coronaria 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 flower.

Flower

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Chemicals

Sulla coronaria has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Condensed Tannins, RUTIN, quercetin.

Condensed Tannins

1. The Veterinary record
2. Research in veterinary science

RUTIN

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

quercetin

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Preparations

Sulla coronaria has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethanol extracts.

Ethanol extracts

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry