Galega

Galega officinalis

Galega is the only genus in the subtribes Galeginae in the subfamily of the Fabaceae ( Faboideae ).

Description

Galega species are erect, much branched perennial herbaceous plants. The leaves are pinnate, the leaflets are entire. The side facing away from the midrib ( lateral ) leaf veins are prominent and extend all the way to the edge of the sheet. Stipules are present. They are deeply incised in two to five very narrow lobes. The outer stipule ( from the petiole ) pointing straight down.

The narrow branched paniculate inflorescences are axillary or terminal. Bracteoles absent. The flowers are classic butterfly flowers. The calyx is bell-shaped with five uneven teeth. The crown is white to purple. The flag is inversely - ovate to rounded and glabrous. The nail, the pointed basal end of the flag, is short. The wings are slightly shorter than the flag and sit basal, close to the boat, at. The boat is as long as the wings.

The stamens are fused along the entire length of the stamens. The ovary is upper constant with many ovules. The stylus is bent with a terminal scar.

The fruits are linealische, flattened legumes with a chamber. They are pressed at either end and are parallel high ribs on the surface.

Dissemination

Home of the genus Galega is the eastern Mediterranean region, southern Central Europe, Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia Minor. The center manifold, that is the area with the largest biodiversity, lies in Asia Minor between the Black and Caspian Seas.

In addition to the Eurasian circulation area there is still a second natural range in Africa, in the countries of Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda. Here are the three types battiscombei G., G. and G. lindblomii somalensis, which are summarized in the section Afrogalega.

G. officinalis and G. orientalis are regularly cultivated as a fodder plant. You could run wild, leading to a large number of neophytic occurrence. Thus G. officinalis is also found in Germany and in Switzerland. In the United States the species was first introduced in Utah and has spread from there. In Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and New Zealand, there are entrained stocks. The species reproduce rapidly and in an uncontrolled manner and are considered invasive. In the U.S. at least G. officinalis was included in the " Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974 ", which has the objective to curb the further spread.

Species

Six species of the genus Galega are accepted as valid. These are:

  • Galega albiflora Tournay
  • Galega battiscombei ( Baker f ) J.B.Gillett
  • Galega lindblomii ( Harms ) J.B.Gillett
  • Goat's rue ( Galega officinalis) L.
  • Galega orientalis Lam.
  • Galega somalensis ( Taub. ex Harms ) J.B.Gillett

Pictures

Galega officinalis:

Galegeae John Lindley Perennial plant Ovary (botany) Stigma (botany) Digital Object Identifier
359295
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