Fabaceae

Flower of Lathyrus odoratus 'Wiltshire Ripple'

Lathyrus odoratus ‘Wiltshire Ripple’

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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The low-growing Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii

Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii

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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The flowering head of Medicago sativa

Medicago sativa

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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Flowers of Clianthus maximus

Clianthus maximus

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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Mimosa microphylla, or littleleaf sensitive-briar

Mimosa microphylla

Published by Daniel Mosquin on February 16, 2018

Fancy a mimosa, anyone? Pictured here is Mimosa microphylla, or littleleaf sensitive-briar, growing as it typically does–low to the ground. It is one of many Mimosa species with intriguing properties.

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The gall-like spine base of Vachellia drepanolobium

Vachellia drepanolobium

Published by Daniel Mosquin on October 16, 2017

To say it’s an interesting species is an understatement. Vachellia drepanolobium, or whistling thorn, is an acacia tree native to eastern Africa that grows to 6m (18 ft.) in height. The whistling from the bulbous bases of its thorns is a result of holes made by ants, but there is more to the story than […]

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Cercis canadensis in habitat

Cercis canadensis

Published by Daniel Mosquin on October 5, 2017

Eastern redbud was featured this past spring, but here is a photograph in habitat.

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