Sainfoin, Esparsette
Onobrychis viciifolia
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A herb which grows 60-100 cm tall and spreads 50 cm wide. It keeps growing from year to year. The stem is erect and tough and has grooves. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are 15 cm long and there are 13-25 narrow leaflets. The flowers are bright pink with purple or red veins. The flowers occur in long dense clusters. The fruit are flat pods. There are pits on both sides. There is one seed per pod.
Where it is found
It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It will grow in most well-drained soils. It needs an open sunny position. It is resistant to frost and drought. Tasmania Herbarium.
Countries/locations it is found in
Albania, Andorra, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Britain, China, Czech, Europe (country/location of origin), France, Hungary, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Tasmania, Yugoslavia
How it is used for food
It is an important honey plant. The sprouted seeds are eaten. The roasted seeds are used as a coffee substitute.
The flowers are eaten especially by children. It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Leaves, seeds, flowers
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. The seeds are sown where the plants are to grow.
Its other names
Local names
Lupinella, Navadna turška detelja, Slaninka