__NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widel ...

herbaceous plants of the legume family (

Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomenc ...

). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flora Europaea lists 23 species of ''Onobrychis''; the main centre of diversity extends from

Central Asia Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes the fo ...

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

, with 56 species – 27 of which are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

– in the latter country alone. '' O. viciifolia'' is naturalized throughout many countries in Europe and North America

grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses ( Poaceae). However, sedge ( Cyperaceae) and rush ( Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur na ...

s on calcareous soils.

Description, ecology and uses

Sainfoins are mostly

subtropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical and climate zones to the north and south of the tropics. Geographically part of the temperate zones of both hemispheres, they cover the middle latitudes from to approximately 35° north a ...

plants, but their range extends throughout Europe as far north as southern

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic countries, Nordic c ...

. These plants grow on

, agricultural land and wasteland. The leaves are

pinnate Pinnation (also called pennation) is the arrangement of feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis. Pinnation occurs in biological morphology, in crystals, such as some forms of ice or metal crystals, an ...

, alternate, with 6 to 14 pairs of oblong to linear leaflets. Sainfoins have pale pink flowers, typically blooming between June and September and pollinated by honey bees and

solitary bee Bees are winged insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their roles in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfami ...

s. The rounded single-seeded pods bear prominent spikes or similar protrusions in many species, enabling them to cling to the fur of large mammals and be thus distributed. These highly nutritious plants were an important

forage Forage is a plant material (mainly plant leaves and stems) eaten by grazing livestock. Historically, the term ''forage'' has meant only plants eaten by the animals directly as pasture, crop residue, or immature cereal crops, but it is also use ...

for heavy working horses in

agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people ...

, and are still an excellent source of

nectar Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualist ...

for honey production as well as

pollen Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametop ...

for bee food. Because sainfoins are rich in tannins which protect

protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, res ...

s from

hydrolysis Hydrolysis (; ) is any chemical reaction in which a molecule of water breaks one or more chemical bonds. The term is used broadly for substitution, elimination, and solvation reactions in which water is the nucleophile. Biological hydrolysi ...

in the

rumen The rumen, also known as a paunch, is the largest stomach compartment in ruminants and the larger part of the reticulorumen, which is the first chamber in the alimentary canal of ruminant animals. The rumen's microbial favoring environment al ...

, the proteins are instead absorbed in the abomasum. ''Onobrychis'' typically have a deep taproot and so are very

drought A drought is defined as drier than normal conditions.Douville, H., K. Raghavan, J. Renwick, R.P. Allan, P.A. Arias, M. Barlow, R. Cerezo-Mota, A. Cherchi, T.Y. Gan, J. Gergis, D. Jiang, A. Khan, W. Pokam Mba, D. Rosenfeld, J. Tierney, an ...

resistant, but do not recover well from overgrazing. Adapted to slow but steady growth in the

arid A region is arid when it severely lacks available water, to the extent of hindering or preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life. Regions with arid climates tend to lack vegetation and are called xeric or desertic. Most ...

steppe In physical geography, a steppe () is an ecoregion characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes. Steppe biomes may include: * the montane grasslands and shrublands biome * the temperate gras ...

belt of

Eurasia Eurasia (, ) is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it spans from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Japanese archipelag ...

, sainfoins are difficult to establish as pasture, are not persistent in grassland, and only yield one crop of hay or

seed A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiosper ...

s per year. Thus they are seldom grown in any significant extent, though '' O. viciifolia'' is met with somewhat more regularly. ''Onobrychis'' species are used as food plants by the

caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder Sy ...

s of some

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order of insects that includes butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 families and 46 superfamilies, 10 percent of the total described speci ...

species, such as the

case-bearer __NOTOC__ The Coleophoridae are a family of small moths, belonging to the huge superfamily Gelechioidea. Collectively known as case-bearers, casebearing moths or case moths, this family is represented on all continents, but the majority are foun ...

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

'' Coleophora colutella'' (recorded on '' O. saxatilis'') and the Damon Blue (''Polyommatus damon'')

butterfly Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The group compris ...

Nutritional benefits and the latest research

Sainfoin provides a superb forage for grazing animals and voluntary intake of sainfoin by

cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus '' Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult ...

and

sheep Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus '' Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticate ...

is 20% higher than for

grass Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns a ...

. Unlike many other legumes, it is non-bloating and is known to have anthelmintic properties, so reducing the problems associated with livestock

worm Worms are many different distantly related bilateral animals that typically have a long cylindrical tube-like body, no limbs, and no eyes (though not always). Worms vary in size from microscopic to over in length for marine polychaete wor ...

s. Sainfoin contains

condensed tannin Condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins, polyflavonoid tannins, catechol-type tannins, pyrocatecollic type tannins, non-hydrolyzable tannins or flavolans) are polymers formed by the condensation of flavans. They do not contain sugar residues. They ...

s, and it is these that protect animals against bloat. Sainfoin has also been shown to increase

absorption. This, combined with its other health benefits, mean that animals grazing sainfoin have very rapid liveweight gains, so young stock can be finished sooner and with very good carcass grades. Sainfoin is therefore extremely useful to low input and organic farmers. Yields can be very high at around 16t DM per hectare. Methods and research techniques have been studied and developed to look specifically at Sainfoin polyphenols which include

tannin Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids. The term ''tannin'' (from Anglo-Norman ''tanner'' ...

s and flavonoids. There are significant differences between Sainfoin types and this will lead to further development of Sainfoin plant breeding. One method for improving

nitrogen Nitrogen is the chemical element with the symbol N and atomic number 7. Nitrogen is a nonmetal and the lightest member of group 15 of the periodic table, often called the pnictogens. It is a common element in the universe, estimated at se ...

utilisation by ruminants and reduce greenhouse gases (CH, NO), without altering their

and energy value, is to use forages that contain

s, such as sainfoin. The

nutritive value Nutritional value or nutritive value as part of food quality is the measure of a well-balanced ratio of the essential nutrients carbohydrates, fat, protein, minerals, and vitamins in items of food or diet concerning the nutrient requirements of the ...

of sainfoin, despite its lower

content than lucerne, is high. Future research, on the nutritional impact of

s is likely not only be based on

content, but also include structure-activity considerations. The results obtained, with sheep at maintenance fed a diet containing only sainfoin will be tested with producing animals, for example growing

and

, lactating ewes,

goat The goat or domestic goat (''Capra hircus'') is a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (''C. aegagrus'') of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the a ...

s or cows. In producing animals the diet will comprise different forage sources and supplement feeds. Sainfoin is seldom used as a pure crop and is generally introduced in pasture in a

-legume mix with cocksfoot (''

Dactylis ''Dactylis'' is a genus of Eurasian and North African plants in the bluegrass subfamily within the grass family. ''Dactylis'' is native to North Africa, they are found throughout the world, and are an invasive species. They are known in Engl ...

''), ryegrass (''

Lolium ''Lolium'' is a genus of tufted grasses in the bluegrass subfamily (Pooideae). It is often called ryegrass, but this term is sometimes used to refer to grasses in other genera. They are characterized by bunch-like growth habits. ''Lolium'' ...

'') or with other legumes such as red clover, white clover or lucerne. Results have shown the choice of the variety is important. A variety like Esparcette, characterised by the highest

content, may provide beneficial effects with a lower proportion in a mixture with other legumes. Preserving legumes, as silage, is a good way to provide an on-farm source of home-grown energy and

, offers advantages over traditional haymaking, being less weather-dependent, and allows a high quality of forage during the harvesting period. In particular, wrapped silage bales of sainfoin have great potential in animal nutrition and can be used by farmers, as found that

effects were not reduced by this mode of preservation.

Etymology

''Onobrychis'' means "devoured by donkeys", from

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic pe ...

''ónos'' (ὄνος, "donkey") and ''brýkein'' (βρύκειν, "to eat greedily"). This refers to sainfoin's good properties as a forage plant for large mammalian

herbivore A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example foliage or marine algae, for the main component of its diet. As a result of their plant diet, herbivorous animals typically have mouthpar ...

s. ''Sainfoin'' is derived from

Old French Old French (, , ; Modern French: ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France from approximately the 8th to the 14th centuries. Rather than a unified language, Old French was a linkage of Romance dialects, mutually intel ...

''sain foin'' ("healthy hay"). In the words of the 16th-century soil scientist

Olivier de Serres Olivier de Serres (; 1539–1619) was a French author and soil scientist whose '' Théâtre d'Agriculture'' (1600) was the accepted textbook of French agriculture in the 17th century. Biography Serres was born in 1539 at Villeneuve-de-Berg, ...

"The herb is called ''sain-foin'' in France, in Italy ''herba medica'', in Provence and the Languedoc ''luzerne''. From the inordinate praise the plant has been given, for its medical virtues and for fattening the livestock that graze on it, comes the term ''sain''."

In northern European languages that have been less influenced by

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

, the plants' name usually derives from ''esparceto'', the Provençal term for the similar-looking and closely related

sweetvetch ''Hedysarum'' (sweetvetch) is a genus of the botanical family Fabaceae, consisting of about 200 species of annual or perennial herbs in Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America. Description Species within genus ''Hedysarum'' may be herbac ...

es (''Hedysarum''). Examples are Danish ''esparsette'', Dutch ''esparcette'',

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

''Esparsette'', Lithuanian ''esparceta'', Polish ''sparceta'', Russian ''espartset'' (Эспарцет) and Swedish ''esparsett''. Meanwhile, the Occitan name of sainfoin, ''luzerne'', has in many languages come to mean species of the related genus ''

Medicago ''Medicago'' is a genus of flowering plants, commonly known as medick or burclover, in the legume family (Fabaceae). It contains at least 87 species and is distributed mainly around the Mediterranean basin. The best-known member of the genus is ...

'', in particular

Alfalfa Alfalfa () (''Medicago sativa''), also called lucerne, is a perennial flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. It is cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world. It is used for grazing, hay, and silage, as ...

(''M. sativa''). The native name of the Cock's Head ('' O. caput-galli'') is one of the few words of the

extinct Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...

Dacian language that have been recorded. The Dacians called this plant ''aniarsexe'' or ''aniassexie''. In

George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950), better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to totalit ...

's '' Coming Up for Air'', travelling salesman George Bowling regularly reminisces about the smell of sainfoin in his father's seed shop in Lower Binfield.

List of species

The following

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 appropriat ...

are considered at least provisionally valid by the International Legume Database & Information Service; some notable

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics ( morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all specie ...

are also listed:ILDIS (2005) Onobrychis seedpods

* '' Onobrychis acaulis'' Bornm. * ''

Onobrychis aequidentata __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' (Sm.) d'Urv. * '' Onobrychis afghanica'' Sirj. & Rech.f. * '' Onobrychis alatavica'' Bajtenov * '' Onobrychis alba'' (Waldst. & Kit.) Desv. ** ''Onobrychis alba'' ssp. ''calcarea'' (Vandas) P.W.Ball * '' Onobrychis aliacmonia'' Rech.f. * '' Onobrychis altissima'' Grossh. * '' Onobrychis alyassinicus'' Parsa * '' Onobrychis amoena'' Popov & Vved. * '' Onobrychis andalanica'' Bornm. * '' Onobrychis angustifolia'' Chinth. (= ''O. petrae sensu auct. fl. Cauc.'') * ''

Onobrychis arenaria __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family (Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flora ...

'' (Kit.) DC. ** ''Onobrychis arenaria'' ssp. ''arenaria'' (= ''O. tanaitica'' Spreng., ''O. viciifolia sensu auct. fl. Ross.'') ** ''Onobrychis arenaria'' ssp. ''sibirica'' (Besser) P.W.Ball (= ''O. tanaitica'' ''sensu auct. non'' Spreng.) ** ''Onobrychis arenaria'' ssp. ''tommasinii'' (Jord.) Asch. & Graebn. * '' Onobrychis argyrea'' Boiss. (= ''O. ornata'') * '' Onobrychis arnacantha'' Boiss. * '' Onobrychis atropatana'' Boiss. (=? ''O. heterophylla'' ''sensu'' Trautv.) * '' Onobrychis aucheri'' Boiss. * '' Onobrychis baldshuanica'' Sirj. * '' Onobrychis bertiscea'' Sirj. & Rech.f. * '' Onobrychis bicornis'' Vassilcz. (validity requires confirmation) * '' Onobrychis biebersteinii'' Sirj. (= ''O. sativa'' ''sensu'' Ledeb.) * '' Onobrychis bobrovii'' Grossh. * '' Onobrychis buhseana'' Boiss. * ''Onobrychis "buhseana"'' Bunge (validity requires confirmation) * ''

Onobrychis bungei __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Boiss. * '' Onobrychis cadevallii'' Jahand. ''et al.'' * '' Onobrychis caput-galli'' (L.) Lam. Cock's Head * '' Onobrychis chorassanica'' Boiss. (= ''O. circinnata'' ''sensu auct. fl. As. Med. non'' Ledeb., ''O. radiata sensu auct. fl. As. Med., O. vaginalis sensu auct. fl. As. Med.'') * ''

Onobrychis conferta __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' (Desf.) Desv. ** ''Onobrychis conferta'' ssp. ''hispanica'' (Sirj.) Guitt. & Kerguelen * '' Onobrychis cornuta'' (L.) Desv. * '' Onobrychis crista-galli'' (L.) Lam. * '' Onobrychis cyri'' Grossh. (=? ''O. viciaefolia'' ''sensu'' Trautv.) * '' Onobrychis daghestanica'' Grossh. * ''

Onobrychis darwasicaa __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial plant, perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family (Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently ...

'' Vassilcz. * '' Onobrychis dealbata'' Stocks * '' Onobrychis degenii'' Dorfl. * ''

Onobrychis depauperata __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial plant, perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family (Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently ...

'' Boiss. * '' Onobrychis dielsii'' (Sirj.) Vassilcz. * ''

Onobrychis ebenoides __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial plant, perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family (Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently ...

'' Boiss. & Spruner * ''

Onobrychis echidna __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Lipsky * '' Onobrychis elymaitiaca'' Boiss. & Hausskn. * '' Onobrychis eubrychidea'' Boiss. * ''

Onobrychis fallax __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Freyn & Sint. * '' Onobrychis ferganica'' (Sirj.) Grossh. * ''

Onobrychis freitagii __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial plant, perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family (Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently ...

'' Rech.f. * ''

Onobrychis galegifolia __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial plant, perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family (Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently ...

'' Boiss. * '' Onobrychis garinensis'' * '' Onobrychis gaubae'' Bornm. * '' Onobrychis gontscharovii'' Vassilcz. (= ''O. lipskyi'' ''sensu auct. non'' Korovin) * ''

Onobrychis gracilis __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Besser (= ''O. longeaculeata'' (Pacz.) Wissjul., ''O. petrae'' ''sensu'' Besser) * ''

Onobrychis grandis __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Lipsky * '' Onobrychis grossheimii'' B.Fedtsch. * '' Onobrychis gypsicola'' Rech.f. * '' Onobrychis hajastana'' Grossh. * ''

Onobrychis hamata __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial plant, perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family (Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently ...

'' Vassilcz. * '' Onobrychis haussknechtii'' Boiss. * '' Onobrychis heliocarpa'' Boiss. * ''

Onobrychis heterophylla __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' C.A.Mey. * '' Onobrychis hohenackerana'' C.A.Mey. * ''

Onobrychis humilis __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' (Loefl.) G.López ** ''Onobrychis humilis'' ssp. ''humilis'' ** ''Onobrychis humilis'' ssp. ''matritensis'' (Boiss. & Reut.) Greuter & Burdet (= ''O. longeaculeata'' (Boiss.) Pau) * '' Onobrychis hypargyrea'' Boiss. * '' Onobrychis iberica'' Grossh. * '' Onobrychis inermis'' Steven * '' Onobrychis iranica'' Bornm. * '' Onobrychis iranshahrii'' Rech.f. * '' Onobrychis jailae'' Czernova * '' Onobrychis kabylica'' (Bornm.) Sirj. * ''

Onobrychis kachetica __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Boiss. & Buhse * '' Onobrychis kemulariae'' Chinth. (= ''O. biebersteinii sensu auct. fl. Cauc.'') * '' Onobrychis kermanensis'' (Sirj. & Rech.f.) Rech.f. * '' Onobrychis kluchorica'' Chinth. * '' Onobrychis komarovii'' Grossh. * '' Onobrychis kotschyana'' Fenzl * '' Onobrychis lahidjanicus'' Parsa * '' Onobrychis laxiflora'' Baker (=? ''O. schugnanica'') * '' Onobrychis longipes'' Bunge * '' Onobrychis lunata'' Boiss. * ''

Onobrychis luristanica __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Rech.f. * ''

Onobrychis macrorrhiza __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Rech.f. * ''

Onobrychis major __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' (Boiss.) Hand.-Mazz. * '' Onobrychis majorovii'' Grossh. * '' Onobrychis mazanderanica'' Rech.f. * '' Onobrychis megalobotrys'' Aitch. & Hemsl. (= ''O. vaginalis'' ''sensu auct. non'' C.A.Mey. ''non fl. As. Med.'') * '' Onobrychis megaloptera'' Kovalevsk. (=? ''O. chorassanica'' ''sensu'' Nikitina) * ''

Onobrychis megataphros __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Boiss. * '' Onobrychis melanotricha'' Boiss. (=? ''O. belangeri'', =? ''O. linearis'') * '' Onobrychis mermuelleri'' Podlech & Rech.f. * ''

Onobrychis meschetica __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial plant, perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family (Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently ...

'' Grossh. * '' Onobrychis michauxii'' DC. * '' Onobrychis micrantha'' Schrenk * ''

Onobrychis microptera __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Baker * ''

Onobrychis montana __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' DC. * ''

Onobrychis nemecii __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Sirj. * '' Onobrychis nikitinii'' Orazm. * '' Onobrychis novopokrovskii'' Vassilcz. * '' Onobrychis nummularia'' Boiss. * ''

Onobrychis oxyodonta __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Boiss. * '' Onobrychis oxyptera'' Boiss. * '' Onobrychis oxytropoides'' Bunge * '' Onobrychis pallasii'' (Willd.) M. Bieb. * '' Onobrychis pallida'' Boiss. & Kotschy * '' Onobrychis paucidentata'' Pomel (validity requires confirmation) * ''

Onobrychis persica __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial plant, perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family (Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently ...

'' Sirj. & Rech.f. * ''

Onobrychis petraea __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' (Willd.) Fisch. * '' Onobrychis pindicola'' Hausskn. * '' Onobrychis plantago'' Bornm. * ''

Onobrychis poikilantha __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Rech.f. * '' Onobrychis psoraleifolia'' Boiss. * '' Onobrychis ptolemaica'' (Delile) DC. * '' Onobrychis ptychophylla'' Sirj. & Rech.f. * '' Onobrychis pulchella'' Schrenk * '' Onobrychis pyrenaica'' (Sennen) Sirj. * ''

Onobrychis radiata __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' (Desf.) M.Bieb. (= ''O. circinata'' Ledeb. * '' Onobrychis rechingerorum'' Wendelbo * ''

Onobrychis reuteri __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Leresche * '' Onobrychis ruprechtii'' Grossh. * '' Onobrychis samanganica'' Rech.f. * '' Onobrychis saravschanica'' B.Fedtsch. (= ''O. amoena'' ''sensu auct. non'' Popov & Vved., ''O. baldshuanica'' ''sensu auct. non'' Sirj., ''O. baldzuanica'' Sirj., ''O. circinata'' ''sensu auct. non'' Ledeb. ''non fl. As. Med.'') * '' Onobrychis sauzakensis'' Sirj. & Rech.f. * ''

Onobrychis saxatilis __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' (L.) Lam. * ''

Onobrychis schahuensis __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Bornm. * '' Onobrychis schuschajensis'' O.D.Agajeva * '' Onobrychis scrobiculata'' Boiss. * '' Onobrychis sennenii'' Sirj. * '' Onobrychis shahpurensis'' Rech.f. * '' Onobrychis sintenisii'' Bornm. * ''

Onobrychis sirdjanicus __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial plant, perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family (Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently ...

'' Parsa * '' Onobrychis sojakii'' Rech.f. * ''

Onobrychis sphaciotica __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Greuter * '' Onobrychis spinosissima'' Baker * ''

Onobrychis splendida __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial plant, perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family (Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently ...

'' Rech.f. & Podlech * '' Onobrychis stenorhiza'' DC. * ''

Onobrychis stewartii __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family (Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flora ...

'' Baker * '' Onobrychis subacaulis'' Boiss. * ''

Onobrychis subnitens __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Bornm. * '' Onobrychis supina'' (Vill.) DC. * '' Onobrychis susiana'' Nabelek * '' Onobrychis szovitsii'' Boiss. * '' Onobrychis talagonica'' Rech.f. * '' Onobrychis tavernieraefolia'' Boiss. * ''

Onobrychis tesquicola __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' Krytzka * ''

Onobrychis tournefortii __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' (Willd.) Desv. * ''

Onobrychis transcaspica __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family ( Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently known. The Flor ...

'' V.V.Nikitin * ''

Onobrychis transcaucasica __NOTOC__ ''Onobrychis'', the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial plant, perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family (Fabaceae). Including doubtfully distinct species and provisionally accepted taxa, about 150 species are presently ...

'' Grossh. * '' Onobrychis transsilvanica'' * '' Onobrychis vaginalis'' C.A.Mey. * '' Onobrychis vassilczenkoi'' Grossh. * '' Onobrychis verae'' Sirj. (= ''O. lipskyi'' Korovin) * '' Onobrychis venosa'' (Desf).Desv. * ''

Onobrychis viciifolia ''Onobrychis viciifolia'', also known as ''O. sativa'' or common sainfoin () has been an important forage legume in temperate regions until the 1950s. During the Green Revolution it was replaced by high yielding alfalfa and clover species. Due t ...

'' Scop. (= ''O. sativa'' Lam.) * '' Onobrychis wettsteinii'' Nabelek

Footnotes

References

* International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS) (2005
Genus ''Onobrychis''
Version 10.01, November 2005. Retrieved 2009-JAN-26. * Muẓaffariyān, Valī Allāh (1996) ''Farhang-i nāmhā-yi giyāhān-i Īrān: Lātīnī, Inglīsī, Fārsī'' A dictionary of Iranian plant names: Latin, English, Persian" Tehran: Farhang-i Muʻāṣir n Persian with Latin and English names * Hayot Carbonero, C., Mueller-Harvey, I., Smith, L., Brown, T. A review of a beneficial forage, ''Plant Genetic Resources: Utilization and Characterization'' 2011, 9, 70–85. * Stringano, E., Hayot Carbonero, C., Smith, L.M.J., Brown, R.H., Mueller-Harvey, I. Proanthocyanidin diversity in the EU 'Healthy Hay' sainfoin (''Onobrychis viciifolia'') germplasm collection ''Phytochemistry'' 2012, 77, 197–208. * Niderkorn, V., Mueller-Harvey, I., Le Morvan, A., Aufrère, J. Synergistic effects of mixing cocksfoot and sainfoin on ''in vitro'' rumen fermentation. Role of condensed tannins. ''Anim. Feed Sci. Technol.'' 2012, 178, 48–56. * Theodoridou, K., Aufrère, J., Andueza, D., Le Morvan, A., Picard, F., Stringano, E., Pourrat, J., Mueller-Harvey, I., Baumont, R. Effect of plant development during first and second growth cycle on chemical composition, condensed tannins and nutritive value of three sainfoin (''Onobrychis viciifolia'') varieties and Lucerne. ''Grass For. Sci.'' 2011, 66, 402–414. * Theodoridou, K., Aufrère, J., Andueza, D., Pourrat, J., Le Morvan, A., Stringano, E., Mueller-Harvey, I., Baumont, R. Effects of condensed tannins in fresh sainfoin (''Onobrychis viciifolia'') on ''in vivo'' and ''in situ'' digestion in sheep ''Anim. Feed Sci. Technol.'' 2010, 160, 23–38. * Stringano, E., Cramer, R., Hayes, W., Smith, C., Gibson, T., Mueller-Harvey, I. Deciphering the complexity of sainfoin (''Onobrychis viciifolia'') proanthocyanidins by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry with a judicious choice of isotope patterns and matrices. ''Anal. Chem.'' 2011, 83, 4147–4153. * papers by M. Lorenz and P. Uden (Uppsala University) {{Authority control Hedysareae Forages Taxa named by Philip Miller Fabaceae genera