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[R] Onobrychis sativa Lamarck = O. viciaefolia Scopoli (Fabaceae).
Fr: Sainfoin; Ge: Esparsette; Pt: Sanfeno; Sp: Piprigallo; It: Lupinelle.
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- Perennial forage legume with a deep taproot, attaining a height of 15 to 60 cm (*) , with flowers arranged in racemes either tightly clustered or spread out and pollinated by bumblebees.
- The two-harvest variety of sainfoin is distinguished from the one-harvest variety, whose second growth is strictly vegetative.
- The indehiscentpods are adorned with spiny crests and contain a single seed. They are sown in spring. Cutting occurs at flowering, once or twice according to the type, for use as hay or silage. The second growth is generally used for pasture.
-Sainfoin is often grown in conjunction with forage grasses such as fescue and cocksfoot.
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- Diseases: those of forage legumes.
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- Principal European pests: those common to forage legumes.
Dipsosphecia scopigera Scopoli (Lep., Aegeridae) is specific to sainfoin. Its caterpillar lives in the collar, greatly reducing the yield, especially in Mediterranean regions. The sainfoin flower midge, Contarinia onobrychidis (Kiefer) (Dip., and Cécidomyiidae) is a serious pest in crops that are destined for use in seed production.

[R] Images

* Sainfoin (Minost C.)
a: stem; b: stiplules; c: leaf with 10, 11 or 12 pairs of leaflets and one leaflet at the tip; d: inflorescence in cluster, with pink and red flowers; e: fruit (pod) reticulate, containing 1 seed.

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HYPPZ on line: Species (scientific names), Pests (common names), Glossary, Crops.

HYP3 : HYPP Phytopathology.

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