SafePlants

Bituminaria bituminosa: An Overview

Bituminaria bituminosa, also known as Arabian pea or pitch trefoil, is a perennial herb belonging to the bean family (Fabaceae). The plant emits a strong odour of bitumen.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C.H. Stirt.
• Family: Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae)
• Subfamily: Faboideae
• Tribe: Psoraleeae
• Synonyms: Psoralea bituminosa L. is used in some European floras.

Considerations for Pets

• The plant emits a strong odour of bitumen.

Considerations for Children

• The plant emits a strong odour of bitumen.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to the Mediterranean region and the Canary Islands.
• Also found in non-desert North Africa and eastward.

Morphological Characteristics

• A perennial herb with a height ranging from (10)20 to 150 cm.
• Pluricaulis (having multiple stems).
• Stems are slightly branched and somewhat silky.

Ecological Role

• Has potential as a drought-tolerant pasture species, particularly in the Canary Islands and Mediterranean region.

Varieties

• Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata (Canary Islands): Albo Tedera
• Bituminaria bituminosa var. crassiuscula (Canary Islands): Teide Tedera

The frost tolerance varies between varieties, with var. albomarginata being the least tolerant.

Quirky Facts

• The name Bituminaria is derived from the Latin word "bitumino," meaning "to impregnate with bitumen," referring to the plant's strong bitumen-like odor.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Subject to the fungus *Phoma herbarum*, as reported in Australia on the var. *albomarginata*.
• Plant traits are affected by cattle grazing intensity in Mediterranean grasslands.

Further Information

• MaltaWildPlants.com is an online database featuring this plant.
• Discover Life provides information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Bituminaria bituminosa.
• Wikispecies and Wikimedia Commons also offer resources on this species.