Onobrychis viciifolia
Sainfoin

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

One report says that the plant is edible^[1], but does not say what part of the plant is used.

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

A good soil conditioner for poor light soils^[2]. The plants can be grown on the land for a number of years, the deep tap roots breaking up the sub-soil and bringing up minerals from below. Plants can be cut during the growing season but care must be taken not to cut too low because the tap root tends to rise above ground level and the plant can be killed if this is cut off^[2]. The plant has an extensive root system and is useful for stabilizing soils^[3]^[4].

There are no material uses listed for Onobrychis viciifolia.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Onobrychis viciifolia.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Soil conditioner

Earth stabiliser

Nitrogen fixer

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and sow in situ in the spring^[5]^[4]. Seed can also be sown in situ in the autumn.

If seed is in short supply then it might be wiser to sow it in pots in a cold frame in early spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.

Division in the spring just before new growth commences^[4]. Large divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Onobrychis viciifolia. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.

Cultivation

Prefers a well-drained neutral to alkaline sandy loam in full sun^[5]^[4]. Succeeds in poor soils^[2] and in shallow soils over chalk^[4]. Dislikes shade. Does not succeed in wet soils^[2].

A good border plant for the vegetable garden^[6]^[1], the deep tap root helps to break up the sub-soil^[2]. Plants are resistant to alfalfa stem nematodes^[3] and are immune to bacterial wilt disease and attacks by the alfalfa stem weevil^[3]. A good bee plant^[4].

This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby^[4].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Onobrychis viciifolia. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Onobrychis viciifolia.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

References

? ^1.0^1.1^1.2 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (1978-00-00)
? ^2.0^2.1^2.2^2.3^2.4^2.5 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
? ^3.0^3.1^3.2^3.3 Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987. ()
? ^4.0^4.1^4.2^4.3^4.4^4.5^4.6^4.7^4.8 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
? ^5.0^5.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
? Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins (1979-00-00)
? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

"image:Illustration Onobrychis viciifolia0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

[PFAFimport-20-1] ? ^1.0^1.1^1.2 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (1978-00-00)

[PFAFimport-115-2] ? ^2.0^2.1^2.2^2.3^2.4^2.5 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()

[PFAFimport-160-3] ? ^3.0^3.1^3.2^3.3 Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987. ()

[PFAFimport-200-4] ? ^4.0^4.1^4.2^4.3^4.4^4.5^4.6^4.7^4.8 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

[PFAFimport-1-5] ? ^5.0^5.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)

[PFAFimport-18-6] ? Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins (1979-00-00)

[PFAFimport-17-7] ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

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Article is incomplete	Yes +
Article requires citations	No +
Article requires cleanup	Yes +
Belongs to family	Leguminosae +
Belongs to genus	Onobrychis +
Functions as	Soil conditioner +, Earth stabiliser + and Nitrogen fixer +
Has common name	Sainfoin +
Has drought tolerance	Intolerant +
Has edible part	Leaves +
Has edible use	Unknown use +
Has fertility type	Self sterile + and Bee +
Has flowers of type	Hermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone	6 +
Has image	Illustration Onobrychis viciifolia0.jpg +
Has lifecycle type	Perennial +
Has mature height	1 +
Has primary image	Illustration Onobrychis viciifolia0.jpg +
Has search name	onobrychis viciifolia + and x +
Has shade tolerance	No shade +
Has soil ph preference	Neutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
Has soil teloamyture preference	Loamy +
Has soil tesandyture preference	Sandy +
Has soil water retention preference	Well drained +
Has sun preference	Full sun +
Has taxonomy name	Onobrychis viciifolia +
Has water requirements	moderate +
Is taxonomy type	Species +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soil	No +
Uses mature size measurement unit	Meters +