Scientific name: | Anagyris foetida L. | |
Common name: | Mediterranean Stinkbush, Stinking bean trefoil | |
Hebrew name: | צחנן מבאיש | |
Arabic name: | خروب الخنازير , السلمون | |
Family: | Papilionaceae, פרפרניים |
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Life form: | Phanerophyte, shrub | |
Stems: | 1m to 3m. high; stems get lignified to become tough wood | |
Leaves: | Alternate, compound, trifoliate | |
Flowers: | Yellow | |
Fruits / pods: | Flattened legume, dark brown / black; 4-12 seeds per fruit, reniform - broad, kidney-shaped; very hard, smooth surface and posoinous | |
Flowering Period: | January, February, March, April | |
Habitat: | Mediterranean maquis and forest | |
Distribution: | Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes, Montane vegetation of Mt. Hermon | |
Chorotype: | Med - Irano-Turanian | |
Summer shedding: | Perennating |
Derivation of the botanical name: Anagyris, αναγυροϛ, a strong smelling shrub with pods; Greek ana 'up, back again, backwards' and gyros 'a ring', referring to the curvature of the pods. foetida, stinking, bad smelling; unpleasantly scented. The Hebrew word: צחנן, tzachnan ; זחן, tzachnan, stink; indicates the unpleasant odor from the leaves.
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