Published by Daniel Mosquin on October 15, 2018
Securigera varia, also known as Coronilla varia, is a tough, aggressively-spreading, low-growing legume (to 60cm (~2 ft.)). Known for its beautiful crown-like inflorescence, its other names include crown vetch and purple crown vetch. The native range of crown vetch is Eurasia and northern Africa, but it has become established in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and […]
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on August 28, 2018
The fifth fabaceous species in this series on the pea family, Clianthus puniceus is a critically-endangered species now only extant on a small island (~5ha or ~12 acres) within a harbour of New Zealand’s North Island. Threats include summer droughts, competition from weeds, and browsing animals, including rodents.
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on August 24, 2018
Cladrastis is a genus of about a half dozen species of pinnate-leaved, deciduous trees in the pea family (Fabaceae), all of them native to Asia except Cladrastis kentukea (American yellowwood), which is native to southeastern North America, and the only widely cultivated species. Though not particularly common or well-known locally, Cladrastis are beautiful trees. For […]
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on August 23, 2018
“Here are sweet peas, on tip-toe for a flight: with wings of gentle flush o’er delicate white, and taper fingers catching at all things, to bind them all about with tiny rings,” wrote John Keats of an old cultivar of sweet pea, ‘Painted Lady’.
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on August 22, 2018
Like the previous Medicago sativa, elegant lupine or dwarf mountain lupine is a member of the pea family, or Fabaceae. The Fabaceae contains about 750 genera and 19000 species, making it the third largest plant family by number of species.
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on August 20, 2018
Alfalfa, or lucerne, lined the roadsides in many places during my recent trip across Canada’s Prairies. In a few places, it was also cultivated as a crop for hay.
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on March 28, 2018
The name Clianthus is derived from the Greek words kleios and anthos; combined, they mean glory flower. Perhaps it is my proclivity for pop culture, but I can’t help but think of casting a magic spell within the Harry Potter universe when I recite Clianthus maximus.
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