Arabian pea

Bituminaria bituminosa

''Bituminaria bituminosa'', the Arabian pea or pitch trefoil, is a perennial Mediterranean herb species in the genus ''Bituminaria''. The pterocarpans bitucarpin A and B can be isolated from the aerial parts of ''B. bituminosa''.
Arabian Pea_Bituminaria_bituminosa Seen in grasses neat arboretum Trsteno, Croatia. Arabian pea,Bituminaria bituminosa,Croatia,Geotagged,Spring

Appearance

It is easily recognizable by the characteristic smell of bitumen from its leaves. This strong tar-like characteristic aroma appears to be the result of a combination of several substances such as phenolics, sulphurated compounds, sesquiterpenes and probably short-chain hydrocarbon.
Bituminaria bituminosa Arabian pea,Bituminaria bituminosa,Geotagged,Spring

Uses

It has several potential uses: forage crop, Phytostabilization of heavy metal contaminated or degraded soils, Synthesis of furanocoumarins , compounds of broad pharmaceutical interest.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionAngiosperms
ClassEudicots
OrderFabales
FamilyFabaceae
GenusBituminaria
SpeciesB. bituminosa
Photographed in
Spain
Croatia