Hippocrepis comosa, L.

3. H. comosa L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 744 (1753).

Perennial up to 40(-60) cm, woody at base. Leaflets 3-8 pairs, (2—)5—15 x (l-)2-4 mm, obovate to linear, subglabrous to densely pubescent beneath. Heads (2-)5- to 12-flowered; peduncles up to 4 times as long as the leaves. Corolla 6—10(—14) mm; claw of the standard usually distinctly longer than the calyx. Legume 15-30x2-3 mm; segments horseshoe-shaped or with semicircular sinuses, with red-brown papillae. 2« = 28. W., C. & S. Europe, northwards to N. England and N.C. Germany. Al Au Be Br Bu Cz Ga Ge G r He Ho Hs Hu It Ju Rm Rs (W) Sa. An extremely variable species which can be distinguished from all the other perennial species of Hippocrepis by the red-brown papillae on the legume. Plants in S.E. Europe, otherwise closely resembling this species, sometimes have white papillae, and it is not clear whether these are variants of 3 or of 1 or 2.