''Hedysarum'' (sweetvetch) is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
of the
botanical
Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Fabaceae, consisting of about 200
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of annual or perennial
herbs in
Asia
Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...
,
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...
,
North Africa
North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...
, and
North America.
Description
![Hedysarum_occidentale_5652](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Hedysarum_occidentale_5652.JPG)
Species within genus ''Hedysarum'' may be herbaceous plants or deciduous shrubs. They have
odd-pinnate leaves, with entire
leaflets (no notches or indentations). These leaves resemble the leaves of sweet peas. The
stipule
In botany, a stipule is an outgrowth typically borne on both sides (sometimes on just one side) of the base of a leafstalk (the petiole). Stipules are considered part of the anatomy of the leaf of a typical flowering plant, although in many speci ...
s may be free or connate, and stipels (secondary stipules) are absent.
The
inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphology (biology), Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of sperma ...
s are
peduncled racemes or heads.
Bracts are small, with bracteoles below the
calyx, and calyx teeth subequal. The
petals may be pink, purplish, yellow, or whitish.
Vexillum
The ''vexillum'' (; plural ''vexilla'') was a flag-like object used as a military standard by units in the Ancient Roman army.
Use in Roman army
The word ''vexillum'' is a derivative of the Latin word, ''velum'', meaning a sail, which co ...
is longer than the wings, with an obtuse keel longer or rarely shorter than the wings.
Stamens are diadelphous, 9+1, and
anthers uniform. Ovary is 2-8-ovuled. Fruit is a
lomentum, with segments that are glabrous, pubescent, bristly, or spiny, and break into single-seeded sections on ripening.
[Tropicos]
/ref>
Uses
''Hedysarum'' species are used as food plants by the larva
A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle.
...
e of some Lepidoptera (moth and butterfly) species including '' Coleophora accordella''. Some species, such as '' Hedysarum alpinum'' also known as Alpine sweetvetch or wild potato, were eaten by the Inuit
Inuit (; iu, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ 'the people', singular: Inuk, , dual: Inuuk, ) are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Labrador, Quebec, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories ...
to help ward off the effects of scurvy
Scurvy is a disease resulting from a lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Early symptoms of deficiency include weakness, feeling tired and sore arms and legs. Without treatment, decreased red blood cells, gum disease, changes to hair, and bleeding ...
due to it being rich in vitamin C
Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits and vegetables, also sold as a dietary supplement and as a topical 'serum' ingredient to treat melasma (dark pigment spots) ...
, containing about 21 mg/100g. Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended ...
also called the telegraph plant a ''Hedysarum''.
In his book '' Into the Wild'', Jon Krakauer
Jon Krakauer (born April 12, 1954) is an American writer and mountaineer. He is the author of bestselling non-fiction books—'' Into the Wild''; ''Into Thin Air''; ''Under the Banner of Heaven''; and '' Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat ...
speculated that Christopher McCandless
Christopher Johnson McCandless (; February 12, 1968 – August 1992), also known by his pseudonym "Alexander Supertramp", was an American adventurer who sought an increasingly nomadic lifestyle as he grew up. McCandless is the subject of '' Int ...
may have died from eating seeds of ''H. alpinum'', which Krakauer thought might contain swainsonine. This theory was later debunked by experts in the field of botany. Krakauer subsequently postulated that the seeds were stored wet in a plastic bag, which may have created a toxic by-product.
Krakauer was later validated, to a certain extent. Krakauer explains that he came across the research of Ronald Hamilton, who had concluded that the neurotoxin oxalyldiaminopropionic acid
Oxalyldiaminopropionic acid (ODAP) is a structural analogue of the neurotransmitter glutamate found in the grass pea ''Lathyrus sativus''. It is the neurotoxin responsible for the motor neuron degeneration syndrome lathyrism.
Sources
ODAP is ...
(ODAP) in the wild potato seed was responsible for a degenerative disease known as lathyrism. In August 2013, Krakauer sent a modest sample of the seeds for testing, discovering that they contained ".394 per cent beta-ODAP by weight, a concentration well within the levels known to cause lathyrism in humans." Krakauer concludes that "Had McCandless's guidebook to edible plants warned that ''Hedysarum alpinum'' seeds contain a neurotoxin that can cause paralysis, he probably would have walked out of the wild in late August with no more difficulty than when he walked into the wild in April, and would still be alive today."[Jon Krakaue]
How Chris McCandless Died
/ref> Later, a more detailed mass spectrometric analysis showed, that the poison in ''Hedysarum alpinum'' is L-canavanine instead of ODAP.
Wildlife
The roots are a major food for grizzly bears.
Species
The following species are accepted by '' The Plant List'':
*'' Hedysarum aculeatum'' Golosk.
*'' Hedysarum aculeolatum'' Boiss.
*'' Hedysarum acutifolium'' Bajtenov
*'' Hedysarum alaicum'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum algidum'' L.Z.Shue
*'' Hedysarum alpinum'' L.
*'' Hedysarum amankutanicum'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum angrenicum'' Korotkova
*'' Hedysarum argyreum'' Greuter & Burdet
*'' Hedysarum argyrophyllum'' Ledeb.
*'' Hedysarum armenum'' Boiss. & Tchich.
*'' Hedysarum astragaloides'' Benth.
*'' Hedysarum atropatanum'' Boiss.
*'' Hedysarum austrokurilense'' (N.S.Pavlova) N.S.Pavlova
*'' Hedysarum austrosibiricum'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum baicalense'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum balchanense'' Boriss.
*'' Hedysarum baldshuanicum'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum bectauatavicum'' Bajtenov
*'' Hedysarum bellevii'' (Prain) Bornm.
*'' Hedysarum biebersteinii'' Zertova
*'' Hedysarum bordzilovskyi'' Grossh.
*'' Hedysarum boreale'' Nutt.
*'' Hedysarum boutignyanum'' (A.Camus) Alleiz.
*'' Hedysarum boveanum'' Basiner
*'' Hedysarum brachypterum'' Bunge
*'' Hedysarum brahuicum'' Boiss.
*'' Hedysarum branthii'' Trautv. & C.A.Mey.
*'' Hedysarum bucharicum'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum cachemirianum'' Baker
*'' Hedysarum callithrix'' Boiss.
*'' Hedysarum campylocarpon'' H.Ohashi
*'' Hedysarum candidum'' M.Bieb.
*'' Hedysarum cappadocicum'' Boiss.
*'' Hedysarum carnosum'' Desf.
*'' Hedysarum caucasicum'' M.Bieb.
*'' Hedysarum chaitocarpum'' Regel & Schmalh.
*'' Hedysarum chaiyrakanicum'' Kurbatski
*'' Hedysarum chalchorum'' N.Ulziykh.
*'' Hedysarum chantavicum'' Bajtenov
*'' Hedysarum chinense'' (B.Fedtsch.) Hand.-Mazz.
*'' Hedysarum cisbaicalense'' Malyschev
*'' Hedysarum cisdarvasicum'' Kamelin
*'' Hedysarum citrinum'' Baker f.
*'' Hedysarum consanguineum'' DC.
*''Hedysarum coronarium
''Sulla coronaria'' (French honeysuckle, cock's head, Italian sainfoin, sulla, or soola) is a perennial herb native to Malta, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, southern Italy and Spain, cultivated for animal fodder and hay, and for honey production.
T ...
'' L.
*'' Hedysarum cretaceum'' DC.
*'' Hedysarum criniferum'' Boiss.
*'' Hedysarum cumuschtanicum'' Sultanova
*'' Hedysarum daghestanicum'' Boiss.
*'' Hedysarum dahuricum'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum damghanicum'' Rech.f.
*'' Hedysarum daraut-kurganicum'' Sultanova
*'' Hedysarum dasycarpum'' Turcz.
*'' Hedysarum dentatoalatum'' K.T.Fu
*'' Hedysarum denticulatum'' Regel & Schmalh.
*'' Hedysarum dmitrievae'' Bajtenov
*'' Hedysarum drobovii'' Korotkova
*'' Hedysarum dshambulicum'' Pavlov
*'' Hedysarum elbursense'' Bornm. & Gauba
*'' Hedysarum elegans'' Boiss. & A.Huet
*'' Hedysarum elymaiticum'' Boiss. & Hausskn.
*'' Hedysarum enaffae'' Sultanova
*'' Hedysarum falconeri'' Baker
*'' Hedysarum fallacinum'' Rech.f. & Aellen
*'' Hedysarum farinosum'' Parsa
*'' Hedysarum ferganense'' Korsh.
*'' Hedysarum fistulosum'' Hand.-Mazz.
*'' Hedysarum flavescens'' Regel & Schmalh.
*'' Hedysarum flavum'' Rupr.
*'' Hedysarum flexuosum'' L.
*'' Hedysarum formosum'' Basiner
*'' Hedysarum fruticosum'' Pall.
*'' Hedysarum gmelinii'' Ledeb.
*'' Hedysarum grandiflorum'' Pall.
*'' Hedysarum gypsaceum'' Korotkova
*'' Hedysarum halophilum'' Bornm. & Gauba
*'' Hedysarum hedysaroides'' (L.) Schinz & Thell.
*'' Hedysarum hemithamnoides'' Korotkova
*'' Hedysarum hyrcanum'' Bornm. & Gauba
*'' Hedysarum ibericum'' M.Bieb.
*'' Hedysarum iliense'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum inundatum'' Turcz.
*'' Hedysarum iomuticum'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum jaxarticum'' Popov
*'' Hedysarum jaxartucirdes'' Y. Liu ''ex'' R. Sa
*'' Hedysarum jinchuanense'' L.Z.Shue
*'' Hedysarum kamcziraki'' Karimova
*'' Hedysarum kamelinii'' N.Ulziykh.
*'' Hedysarum kandyktassicum'' Bajtenov
*'' Hedysarum karataviense'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum kasteki'' Bajtenov
*'' Hedysarum kemulariae'' Sachokia & Chinth.
*'' Hedysarum kirghisorum'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum kopetdaghi'' Boriss.
*'' Hedysarum korshinskyanum'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum kotschyi'' Boiss.
*'' Hedysarum krasnovii'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum krylovii'' Sumnev.
*'' Hedysarum kudrjaschevii'' Korotkova
*'' Hedysarum kuhitangi'' Boriss.
*'' Hedysarum kumaonense'' Baker
*'' Hedysarum latibracteatum'' N.S.Pavlova
*'' Hedysarum lehmannianum'' Bunge
*'' Hedysarum leucanthum'' (Greene) Greene
*'' Hedysarum limitaneum'' Hand.-Mazz.
*'' Hedysarum linczevskyi'' Bajtenov
*'' Hedysarum lipskianum'' L.I.Vassiljeva
*'' Hedysarum lipskyi'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum longigynophorum'' C.C.Ni
*'' Hedysarum macedonicum'' Bornm.
*'' Hedysarum mackenzii'' Richardson
*'' Hedysarum macranthum'' Freyn & Sint.
*'' Hedysarum macrocarpum'' Korotkova
*'' Hedysarum magnificum'' Kudr.
*'' Hedysarum mahrense'' Rech.f.
*'' Hedysarum maitlandianum'' Aitch. & Baker
*'' Hedysarum manaslense'' (Kitam.) H.Ohashi
*'' Hedysarum membranaceum'' Coss. & Balansa
*'' Hedysarum microcalyx'' Baker
*'' Hedysarum micropterum'' Boiss.
*'' Hedysarum mindshilkense'' Bajtenov
*'' Hedysarum minjanense'' Rech.f.
*'' Hedysarum minussinense'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum mogianicum'' (B.Fedtsch.) B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum monophyllum'' Boriss.
*'' Hedysarum montanum'' (B.Fedtsch.) B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum multijugum'' Maxim.
*'' Hedysarum nagarzense'' C.C.Ni
*'' Hedysarum narynense'' Nikitina
*'' Hedysarum naudinianum'' Coss. & Durieu
*'' Hedysarum neglectum'' Ledeb.
*'' Hedysarum nikolai'' Kovalevsk.
*'' Hedysarum nonnae'' Roskov
*'' Hedysarum nuratense'' Popov
*'' Hedysarum occidentale'' Greene
*'' Hedysarum olgae'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum omissum'' Korotkova ''ex'' Kovalevsk.
*'' Hedysarum ovczinnikovii'' Karimova
*'' Hedysarum pallidiflorum'' Pavlov
*'' Hedysarum pallidum'' Desf.
*'' Hedysarum papillosum'' Boiss.
*'' Hedysarum parviflorum'' Bajtenov
*'' Hedysarum parvum'' Sultanova
*'' Hedysarum pavlovii'' Bajtenov
*'' Hedysarum perrauderianum'' Coss. & Durieu
*'' Hedysarum petrovii'' Yakovlev
*'' Hedysarum plumosum'' Boiss. & Hausskn.
*'' Hedysarum polybotrys'' Hand.-Mazz.
*'' Hedysarum popovii'' Korotkova
*'' Hedysarum praticolum'' Rech.f.
*'' Hedysarum pseudastragalus'' Ulbr.
*'' Hedysarum pseudomicrocalyx'' H.Ohashi & Tateishi
*'' Hedysarum pskemense'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum pulchrum'' Nikitina
*'' Hedysarum razoumovianum'' DC.
*'' Hedysarum renzii'' Rech.f.
*'' Hedysarum roseum'' Sims
*'' Hedysarum sachalinense'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum sajanicum'' N.Ulziykh.
*'' Hedysarum sangilense'' Krasnob. & Timokhina
*'' Hedysarum santalaschi'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum sauzakense'' Rech.f.
*'' Hedysarum schischkinii'' Sumnev.
*'' Hedysarum scoparium'' Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
*'' Hedysarum semenovii'' Regel & Herder
*'' Hedysarum sericatum'' Kitam.
*'' Hedysarum sericeum'' M.Bieb.
*'' Hedysarum setigerum'' Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
*'' Hedysarum setosum'' Vved.
*'' Hedysarum severzovii'' Bunge
*'' Hedysarum sikkimense'' Baker
*'' Hedysarum singarense'' Boiss. & Hausskn.
*'' Hedysarum songoricum'' Bong.
*'' Hedysarum spinosissimum'' L.
*'' Hedysarum splendens'' DC.
*'' Hedysarum subglabrum'' (Kar. & Kir.) B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum sulphurescens'' Rydb.
*'' Hedysarum taipeicum'' (Hand.-Mazz.) K.T.Fu
*'' Hedysarum talassicum'' Nikitina & Sultanova
*'' Hedysarum tanguticum'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum taschkendicum'' Popov
*'' Hedysarum tauricum'' Willd.
*'' Hedysarum tenuifolium'' (B.Fedtsch.) B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum theinum'' Krasnob.
*'' Hedysarum thiochroum'' Hand.-Mazz.
*'' Hedysarum tibeticum'' (Benth.) B.H. Choi & H. Ohashi
*'' Hedysarum trigonomerum'' Hand.-Mazz.
*'' Hedysarum truncatum'' Eastw.
*'' Hedysarum turczaninovii'' Peschkova
*'' Hedysarum turkestanicum'' Regel & Schmalh.
*'' Hedysarum turkewiczii'' B.Fedtsch.
*'' Hedysarum ucrainicum'' Kaschm.
*'' Hedysarum varium'' Willd.
*'' Hedysarum vicioides'' Turcz.
*'' Hedysarum volkii'' Rech.f.
*'' Hedysarum vvedenskyi'' Korotkova
*'' Hedysarum wakhanicum'' Podlech & Anderson
*'' Hedysarum wrightianum'' Aitch. & Baker
*'' Hedysarum xizangensis'' C.C.Ni
*'' Hedysarum zundukii'' Peschkova
References
External links
Global Biodiversity Information Facility entry
Zipcodezoo entry
{{Taxonbar, from=Q148973
Hedysareae
Fabaceae genera