Onobrychis

Onobrychis
Flowering Onobrychis arenaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Tribe: Hedysareae
Genus: Onobrychis
Mill. (1754)
Species

Some 206, see text.

Synonyms
  • Dendrobrychis Galushko (1976)
  • Echinolobium Desv. (1813)
  • Eriocarpaea Bertol. (1843)
  • Xanthobrychis Galushko (1979)

Onobrychis, the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family (Fabaceae). About 206 species are presently accepted. The Flora Europaea lists 23 species of Onobrychis; the main centre of diversity extends from Central Asia to Iran, with 56 species 27 of which are endemic in the latter country alone. O. viciifolia is naturalized throughout many countries in Europe and North America grasslands on calcareous soils.