Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Fabaceae / Leguminosae ⟩ Onobrychis viciifolia / sainfoin

Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.

sainfoin (Fabaceae / Leguminosae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
WidespreadStrong tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Onobrychis viciifolia is native on chalk and limestone downland in southern and eastern England, but is also naturalised outside this range.

Stowell (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2018-06-06

 sainfoin / Onobrychis viciifolia: _Onobrychis viciifolia_ is native on chalk and limestone downland in southern and eastern England, but is also naturalised outside this range.

Onobrychis viciifolia produces racemes of pink flowers.

Stowell (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2018-06-06

 sainfoin / Onobrychis viciifolia: _Onobrychis viciifolia_ produces racemes of pink flowers.

The fruit of Onobrychis viciifolia is a short, rounded, hairy pod with a network of ridges on the surface.

Worth Matravers (VC9: Dorset); 2020-06-08

 sainfoin / Onobrychis viciifolia: The fruit of _Onobrychis viciifolia_ is a short, rounded, hairy pod with a network of ridges on the surface.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne