Herbs 10–40(–60) cm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Stems erect or procumbent, diffusely branched. Leaves: stipules lanceolate-subulate, margins dentate or incised; leaflet blades obovate to oblong-obovate or oblong-cuneate, (5–)10–30(–40) × (3–)8–20(–35) mm, margins dentate. Peduncles 1.5–6 cm. Inflorescences 10–20-flowered, spicate, ovate racemes, elongated in fruit. Flowers 6–7(–10) mm; calyx lobes 1/2 to as long as tube; corolla yellow. Legumes pendent, linear, flattened-compressed, ± curved-falcate, 10–20(–30) × (1.5–)2–2.5(–3) mm, tapering-acuminate into beak 0.5–1.5 mm. Seeds 4–8, yellow- to light brown, oblong, 1–2 × 1.3 mm. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering early–late summer.
Habitat: Roadsides, waste areas, fields.
Elevation: 0–1000 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Introduced; Calif., Mass., Utah, Eurasia.

Discussion

Trigonella corniculata may be extirpated from California. The Massachusetts record is from 1979 at a single ballast site.

Trigonella corniculata is a minor, cultivated food herb in Asia, where the young leaves and stem tips are consumed as a potherb, and the seeds are used as a fla­voring agent.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.