Editing Onobrychis

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants in the bean family Fabaceae}}
{{Redirect|Sainfoin|Royal Navy ship|HMS Sainfoin (F183)|the racehorse|Sainfoin (horse)}}
__NOTOC__
{{Automatic taxobox
|image = Onobrychis arenaria1.jpg
|image_caption = Flowering ''[[Onobrychis arenaria]]''
|taxon = Onobrychis
|authority = [[Philip Miller|Mill.]] (1754)
|subdivision_ranks = Species
|subdivision = Some 206, see [[#List of species|text]].
|subdivision_ref = <ref name = powo>[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30311989-2 ''Onobrychis'' Mill.] ''[[Plants of the World Online]]''. Retrieved 11 September 2023.</ref>
|synonyms =
*''Dendrobrychis'' <small>Galushko (1976)</small>
*''Echinolobium'' {{small|Desv. (1813)}}
*''Eriocarpaea'' {{small|Bertol. (1843)}}
*''Xanthobrychis'' <small>Galushko (1979)</small>
|synonyms_ref = <ref name = powo/>
}}

'''''Onobrychis''''', the '''sainfoins''', are a genus of Eurasian [[perennial plant|perennial]] herbaceous plants of the legume family ([[Fabaceae]]). About 206 species are presently accepted.<ref name = powo/> The [[Flora Europaea]] lists 23 species of ''Onobrychis''; the main centre of diversity extends from [[Central Asia]] to [[Iran]], with 56 species &ndash; 27 of which are [[endemic]] &ndash; in the latter country alone.<ref>Muẓaffariyān (1996)</ref> ''[[Onobrychis viciifolia|O.&nbsp;viciifolia]]'' is naturalized throughout many countries in Europe and North America [[grassland]]s on [[calcareous soil]]s.

==Description==
The leaves are [[pinnate]], alternate, with 6 to 14 pairs of oblong to linear leaflets. Sainfoins have pale pink flowers, typically blooming between June and September and [[pollinated]] by [[honey bee]]s and [[solitary bee]]s. The rounded single-seeded [[Pod (fruit)|pods]] bear prominent spikes or similar protrusions in many species, enabling them to cling to the fur of large mammals and be thus distributed.

{{gallery|mode=packed
|Onobrychis argentea MHNT.BOT.2011.18.11.jpg|''Onobrychis argentea'' - [[MHNT]]
|Onobrychis caput-galli Taub122e.png|Drawing of fruiting ''[[Onobrychis caput-galli|O. caput-galli]]''
|OnobrychisViciifolia.jpg|''[[Onobrychis viciifolia|O. viciifolia]]'' flowers
|Onobrychis seedpods.jpg|Seedpods of: 1)&nbsp;''[[Onobrychis hypargyrea|O.&nbsp;hypargyrea]]'', 2)&nbsp;''[[Onobrychis pallasii|O.&nbsp;pallasii]]'', 3)&nbsp;''O.&nbsp;radiata'', 4)&nbsp;''O.&nbsp;petraea'', 5)&nbsp;''[[Onobrychis supina|O.&nbsp;supina]]'', 6)&nbsp;''[[Onobrychis gracilis|O.&nbsp;gracilis]]'', 7)&nbsp;''[[Onobrychis stenorhiza|O.&nbsp;stenorhiza]]'', 8)&nbsp;[[Onobrychis alba|''O.&nbsp;alba'' ssp. ''calcarea'']], 9)&nbsp;[[Onobrychis humilis|''O.&nbsp;humilis'' ssp. ''humilis'']], 10)&nbsp;[[Onobrychis conferta|''O.&nbsp;conferta'' ssp. ''hispanica'']], 11)&nbsp;''[[Onobrychis montana|O.&nbsp;montana]]'', 12)&nbsp;[[Onobrychis arenaria|''O.&nbsp;arenaria'' ssp. ''tommasinii'']], 13)&nbsp;''[[Onobrychis oxyodonta|O.&nbsp;oxyodonta]]'', 14)&nbsp;''[[Onobrychis inermis|O.&nbsp;inermis]]'', 15)&nbsp;(''[[Onobrychis caput-galli|O.&nbsp;caput-galli]]''), and 16)&nbsp;''[[Onobrychis aequidentata|O.&nbsp;aequidentata]]''
}}

==Taxonomy==

=== List of species ===
The following [[species]] are considered at least provisionally valid by the International Legume Database & Information Service; some notable [[subspecies]] are also listed:<ref>ILDIS (2005)</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=23em}}
* ''[[Onobrychis acaulis]]'' <small>Bornm.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis aequidentata]]'' <small>(Sm.) d'Urv.</small><!-- "equidentata" is lapsus -->
* ''[[Onobrychis afghanica]]'' <small>Sirj. & Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis alatavica]]'' <small>Bajtenov</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis alba]]'' <small>(Waldst. & Kit.) Desv.</small>
** ''Onobrychis alba'' ssp. ''calcarea'' <small>(Vandas) P.W.Ball</small><!-- = O. calcarea Vandas -->
* ''[[Onobrychis aliacmonia]]'' <small>Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis altissima]]'' <small>Grossh.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis alyassinicus]]'' <small>Parsa</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis amoena]]'' <small>Popov & Vved.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis andalanica]]'' <small>Bornm.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis angustifolia]]'' <small>Chinth.</small> (= ''O. petrae <small>sensu auct. fl. Cauc.</small>'')
* ''[[Onobrychis arenaria]]'' <small>(Kit.) DC.</small><!-- BiolConserv137:248. -->
** ''Onobrychis arenaria'' ssp. ''arenaria'' (= ''O. tanaitica'' <small>Spreng.</small>, ''O. viciifolia <small>sensu auct. fl. Ross.</small>'')
** ''Onobrychis arenaria'' ssp. ''sibirica'' <small>(Besser) P.W.Ball</small> (= ''O. tanaitica'' <small>''sensu auct. non'' Spreng.</small>)
** ''Onobrychis arenaria'' ssp. ''tommasinii'' <small>(Jord.) Asch. & Graebn.</small><!-- = O. tommasinii Jord., "tomasinii" is lapsus -->
* ''[[Onobrychis argyrea]]'' <small>Boiss.</small> (= ''O. ornata''<!-- sensu auct. -->)
* ''[[Onobrychis arnacantha]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis atropatana]]'' <small>Boiss.</small> (=? ''O. heterophylla'' <small>''sensu'' Trautv.</small>)
* ''[[Onobrychis aucheri]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis baldshuanica]]'' <small>Sirj.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis bertiscea]]'' <small>Sirj. & Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis bicornis]]'' <small>Vassilcz.</small> (validity requires confirmation)
* ''[[Onobrychis biebersteinii]]'' <small>Sirj.</small> (= ''O. sativa'' <small>''sensu'' Ledeb.</small>)
* ''[[Onobrychis bobrovii]]'' <small>Grossh.</small><!-- "bobrovi" is lapsus -->
* ''[[Onobrychis buhseana]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''Onobrychis "buhseana"'' <small>Bunge</small> (validity requires confirmation)
* ''[[Onobrychis bungei]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis cadevallii]]'' <small>Jahand. ''et al.''</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis caput-galli]]''<!-- "caput galli", "caput-gallii" is lapsus --> <small>(L.) Lam.</small>  [[Cock's Head]]
* ''[[Onobrychis chorassanica]]'' <small>Boiss.</small> (= ''O. circinnata'' <small>''sensu auct. fl. As. Med. non'' Ledeb.</small>, ''O. radiata <small>sensu auct. fl. As. Med.</small>, O. vaginalis <small>sensu auct. fl. As. Med.</small>'')
* ''[[Onobrychis conferta]]'' <small>(Desf.) Desv.</small>
** ''Onobrychis conferta'' ssp. ''hispanica'' <small>(Sirj.) Guitt. & Kerguelen</small><!-- = O. hispanica Sirj. -->
* ''[[Onobrychis cornuta]]'' <small>(L.) Desv.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis crista-galli]]'' <small>(L.) Lam.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis cyri]]'' <small>Grossh.</small> (=? ''O. viciaefolia'' <small>''sensu'' Trautv.</small>)
* ''[[Onobrychis daghestanica]]'' <small>Grossh.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis darwasicaa]]'' <small>Vassilcz.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis dealbata]]'' <small>Stocks</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis degenii]]'' <small>Dorfl.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis depauperata]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis dielsii]]'' <small>(Sirj.) Vassilcz.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis ebenoides]]'' <small>Boiss. & Spruner</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis echidna]]'' <small>Lipsky</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis elymaitiaca]]'' <small>Boiss. & Hausskn.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis eubrychidea]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis fallax]]'' <small>Freyn & Sint.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis ferganica]]'' <small>(Sirj.) Grossh.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis freitagii]]'' <small>Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis galegifolia]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis garinensis]]''
* ''[[Onobrychis gaubae]]'' <small>Bornm.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis gontscharovii]]'' <small>Vassilcz.</small> (= ''O. lipskyi'' <small>''sensu auct. non'' Korovin</small>)
* ''[[Onobrychis gracilis]]'' <small>Besser</small> (= ''O.  longeaculeata'' <small>(Pacz.) Wissjul.</small>, ''O. petrae'' <small>''sensu'' Besser</small>)
* ''[[Onobrychis grandis]]'' <small>Lipsky</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis grossheimii]]'' <small>B.Fedtsch.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis gypsicola]]'' <small>Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis hajastana]]'' <small>Grossh.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis hamata]]'' <small>Vassilcz.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis haussknechtii]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis heliocarpa]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis heterophylla]]'' <small>C.A.Mey.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis hohenackerana]]'' <small>C.A.Mey.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis humilis]]'' <small>(Loefl.) G.López</small>
** ''Onobrychis humilis'' ssp. ''humilis''<!-- = O. eriophora Desv. -->
** ''Onobrychis humilis'' ssp. ''matritensis'' <small>(Boiss. & Reut.) Greuter & Burdet</small> (= ''O.  longeaculeata'' <small>(Boiss.) Pau</small>)
* ''[[Onobrychis hypargyrea]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis iberica]]'' <small>Grossh.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis inermis]]'' <small>Steven</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis iranica]]'' <small>Bornm.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis iranshahrii]]'' <small>Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis jailae]]'' <small>Czernova</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis kabylica]]'' <small>(Bornm.) Sirj.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis kachetica]]'' <small>Boiss. & Buhse</small><!-- "kacketica" is lapsus -->
* ''[[Onobrychis kemulariae]]'' <small>Chinth.</small><!-- "kemularia" is lapsus --> (= ''O. biebersteinii <small>sensu auct. fl. Cauc.</small>'')
* ''[[Onobrychis kermanensis]]'' <small>(Sirj. & Rech.f.) Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis kluchorica]]'' <small>Chinth.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis komarovii]]'' <small>Grossh.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis kotschyana]]'' <small>Fenzl</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis lahidjanicus]]'' <small>Parsa</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis laxiflora]]'' <small>Baker</small> (=? ''O. schugnanica''<!-- B.Fedtsch. -->)
* ''[[Onobrychis longipes]]'' <small>Bunge</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis lunata]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis luristanica]]'' <small>Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis macrorrhiza]]'' <small>Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis major]]'' <small>(Boiss.) Hand.-Mazz.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis majorovii]]'' <small>Grossh.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis mazanderanica]]'' <small>Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis megalobotrys]]'' <small>Aitch. & Hemsl.</small> (= ''O. vaginalis'' <small>''sensu auct. non'' C.A.Mey. ''non fl. As. Med.''</small>)
* ''[[Onobrychis megaloptera]]'' <small>Kovalevsk.</small> (=? ''O. chorassanica'' <small>''sensu'' Nikitina</small>)
* ''[[Onobrychis megataphros]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis melanotricha]]'' <small>Boiss.</small> (=? ''O. belangeri''<!-- Boiss. & Buhse -->, =? ''O. linearis''<!-- Pau & Vicioso -->)
* ''[[Onobrychis mermuelleri]]'' <small>Podlech & Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis meschetica]]'' <small>Grossh.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis michauxii]]'' <small>DC.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis micrantha]]'' <small>Schrenk</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis microptera]]'' <small>Baker</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis montana]]'' <small>DC.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis nemecii]]'' <small>Sirj.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis nikitinii]]'' <small>Orazm.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis novopokrovskii]]'' <small>Vassilcz.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis nummularia]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis oxyodonta]]'' <small>Boiss.</small><!-- "oxydontata" is lapsus -->
* ''[[Onobrychis oxyptera]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis oxytropoides]]'' <small>Bunge</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis pallasii]]'' <small>(Willd.) M. Bieb.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis pallida]]'' <small>Boiss. & Kotschy</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis paucidentata]]'' <small>Pomel</small> (validity requires confirmation)
* ''[[Onobrychis persica]]'' <small>Sirj. & Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis petraea]]'' <small>(Willd.) Fisch.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis pindicola]]'' <small>Hausskn.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis plantago]]'' <small>Bornm.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis poikilantha]]'' <small>Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis psoraleifolia]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis ptolemaica]]'' <small>(Delile) DC.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis ptychophylla]]'' <small>Sirj. & Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis pulchella]]'' <small>Schrenk</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis pyrenaica]]'' <small>(Sennen) Sirj.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis radiata]]'' <small>(Desf.) M.Bieb.</small> (= ''O. circinata'' <small>Ledeb.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis rechingerorum]]'' <small>[[Per Wendelbo (botanist)|Wendelbo]]</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis reuteri]]'' <small>Leresche</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis ruprechtii]]'' <small>Grossh.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis samanganica]]'' <small>Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis saravschanica]]'' <small>B.Fedtsch.</small> (= ''O. amoena'' <small>''sensu auct. non'' Popov & Vved.</small>, ''O. baldshuanica'' <small>''sensu auct. non'' Sirj.</small>, ''O. baldzuanica'' <small>Sirj.</small>, ''O. circinata'' <small>''sensu auct. non'' Ledeb. ''non fl. As. Med.''</small>)
* ''[[Onobrychis sauzakensis]]'' <small>Sirj. & Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis saxatilis]]'' <small>(L.) Lam.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis schahuensis]]'' <small>Bornm.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis schuschajensis]]'' <small>O.D.Agajeva</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis scrobiculata]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis sennenii]]'' <small>Sirj.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis shahpurensis]]'' <small>Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis sintenisii]]'' <small>Bornm.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis sirdjanicus]]'' <small>Parsa</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis sojakii]]'' <small>Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis sphaciotica]]'' <small>Greuter</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis spinosissima]]'' <small>Baker</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis splendida]]'' <small>Rech.f. & Podlech</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis stenorhiza]]'' <small>DC.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis stewartii]]'' <small>Baker</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis subacaulis]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis subnitens]]'' <small>Bornm.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis supina]]'' <small>(Vill.) DC.</small><!-- "supine" is lapsus -->
* ''[[Onobrychis susiana]]'' <small>Nabelek</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis szovitsii]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis talagonica]]'' <small>Rech.f.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis tavernieraefolia]]'' <small>Boiss.</small><!-- "tavernierifolia" is lapsus -->
* ''[[Onobrychis tesquicola]]'' <small>Krytzka</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis tournefortii]]'' <small>(Willd.) Desv.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis transcaspica]]'' <small>V.V.Nikitin</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis transcaucasica]]'' <small>Grossh.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis transsilvanica]]''
* ''[[Onobrychis vaginalis]]'' <small>C.A.Mey.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis vassilczenkoi]]'' <small>Grossh.</small><!-- "vassiltschenkoi" is lapsus -->
* ''[[Onobrychis verae]]'' <small>Sirj.</small> (= ''O. lipskyi'' <small>Korovin</small>)
* ''[[Onobrychis venosa]]'' <small>(Desf).Desv.</small>
* ''[[Onobrychis viciifolia]]'' <small>Scop.</small> (= ''O. sativa'' <small>Lam.</small>)<!-- BiolConserv137:248. -->
* ''[[Onobrychis wettsteinii]]'' <small>Nabelek</small>
{{div col end}}

=== Etymology ===
''Onobrychis'' means "devoured by donkeys", from [[Ancient Greek]] {{Transliteration|grc|ónos}} ({{lang|grc|ὄνος}}, "donkey") and {{Transliteration|grc|brýkein}} ({{lang|grc|βρύκειν}}, "to eat greedily"). This refers to sainfoin's good properties as a forage plant for large mammalian [[herbivore]]s.

''Sainfoin'' is derived from [[Old French]] {{lang|fro|sain foin}} ("healthy [[hay]]"). In the words of the 16th-century [[soil scientist]] [[Olivier de Serres]]:
<blockquote>"The herb is called {{lang|fr|sain-foin'}} in France, in Italy {{lang|it|herba medica}}, in Provence and the Languedoc {{lang|oc|luzerne}}. From the inordinate praise the plant has been given, for its medical virtues and for fattening the livestock that graze on it, comes the term {{lang|fr|sain}}."<ref>''L'herbe appellée en France sain-foin, en Italie herba medica, en Provence et Languedoc luzerne. De l'excessive louange qu'on a donné à ceste plante, à cause de sa vertu medecinale et engraissante le bestail qui s'en paist, vient ce mot de sain.''</ref></blockquote>

In northern European languages that have been less influenced by [[French language|French]], the plants' name usually derives from {{lang|mis|esparceto}}, the [[Provençal (dialect)|Provençal]] term for the similar-looking and closely related [[sweetvetch]]es (''Hedysarum''). Examples are [[Danish language|Danish]] {{lang|da|esparsette}}, [[Dutch language|Dutch]] {{lang|nl|esparcette}}, [[German language|German]] {{lang|de|Esparsette}}, [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] {{lang|lt|esparceta}}, [[Polish language|Polish]] {{lang|pl|sparceta}}, [[Russian language|Russian]] '{{Transliteration|ru|espartset}} ({{lang|ru|Эспарцет}}) and [[Swedish language|Swedish]] {{lang|sv|esparsett}}. Meanwhile, the [[Occitan language|Occitan]] name of sainfoin, {{lang|oc|luzerne}}, has in many languages come to mean species of the related genus ''[[Medicago]]'', in particular [[Alfalfa]] (''M. sativa'').

The native name of the [[cock's head]] (''[[Onobrychis caput-galli|O. caput-galli]]'') is one of the few words of the [[extinct language|extinct]] [[Dacian language]] that have been recorded. The Dacians called this plant {{lang|xdc|aniarsexe}} or {{lang|xdc|aniassexie}}.

==Distribution and habitat==
Sainfoins are mostly [[subtropical]] plants, but their range extends throughout Europe as far north as southern [[Sweden]]. These plants grow on [[grassland]], [[agricultural land]] and [[:wikt:wasteland|wasteland]].

== Ecology ==
''Onobrychis'' species are used as food plants by the [[caterpillar]]s of some [[Lepidoptera]] species, such as the [[case-bearer]] [[moth]] ''[[Coleophora colutella]]'' (recorded on ''[[Onobrychis saxatilis|O. saxatilis]]'') and the [[Damon Blue]] (''Polyommatus damon'') [[butterfly]].

== Uses ==
These highly nutritious plants were an important [[forage]] for heavy working horses in [[agriculture]], and are still an excellent source of [[nectar]] for honey production as well as [[pollen]] for bee food. Because sainfoins are rich in [[tannins]] which protect [[protein]]s from [[hydrolysis]] in the [[rumen]], the proteins are instead absorbed in the [[abomasum]]. ''Onobrychis'' typically have a deep [[taproot]] and so are very [[drought]] resistant, but do not recover well from [[overgrazing]]. Adapted to slow but steady growth in the [[arid]] [[steppe]] belt of [[Eurasia]], sainfoins are difficult to establish as pasture, are not persistent in grassland, and only yield one crop of [[hay]] or [[seed]]s per year. Thus they are seldom grown in any significant extent, though ''[[Onobrychis viciifolia|O. viciifolia]]'' is met with somewhat more regularly.

=== Nutrition ===
Sainfoin provides a superb forage for grazing animals and voluntary intake of sainfoin by [[cattle]] and [[sheep]] is 20% higher than for [[grass]].  Unlike many other legumes, it is non-bloating and is known to have anthelmintic properties, so reducing the problems associated with livestock [[worm]]s.  Sainfoin contains [[condensed tannin]]s, and it is these that protect animals against bloat. Sainfoin has also been shown to increase [[protein]] absorption. This, combined with its other health benefits, mean that animals grazing sainfoin have very rapid liveweight gains, so young stock can be finished sooner and with very good carcass grades. Sainfoin is therefore extremely useful to low input and organic farmers. Yields can be very high at around 16t DM per hectare.

Methods and research techniques have been studied and developed to look specifically at Sainfoin polyphenols which include [[tannin]]s and flavonoids. There are significant differences between Sainfoin types and this will lead to further development of Sainfoin plant breeding.

One method for improving [[nitrogen]] utilisation by ruminants and reduce greenhouse gases (CH{{sub|4}}, N{{sub|2}}O), without altering their [[nitrogen]] and energy value, is to use forages that contain [[condensed tannin]]s, such as sainfoin. The [[nutritional value|nutritive value]] of sainfoin, despite its lower [[nitrogen]] content than lucerne, is high. Future research, on the nutritional impact of [[condensed tannin]]s is likely not only be based on [[condensed tannin]] content, but also include structure-activity considerations. The results obtained, with sheep at maintenance fed a diet containing only sainfoin will be tested with producing animals, for example growing [[sheep]] and [[cattle]], lactating ewes, [[goat]]s or [[cow]]s. In producing animals the diet will comprise different forage sources and supplement feeds.
 
Sainfoin is seldom used as a pure crop and is generally introduced in pasture in a [[grass]]-legume mix with cocksfoot (''[[Dactylis]]''), ryegrass (''[[Lolium]]'') or with other legumes such as red clover, white clover or lucerne. Results have shown the choice of the variety is important. A variety like Esparcette, characterised by the highest [[condensed tannin]] content, may provide beneficial effects with a lower proportion in a mixture with other legumes. Preserving legumes, as [[silage]], is a good way to provide an on-farm source of home-grown energy and [[protein]], offers advantages over traditional haymaking, being less weather-dependent, and allows a high quality of forage during the harvesting period. In particular, wrapped [[silage]] bales of sainfoin have great potential in animal nutrition and can be used by farmers, as found that [[condensed tannin]] effects were not reduced by this mode of preservation.

==In culture==
In [[George Orwell]]'s ''[[Coming Up for Air]]'', travelling salesman George Bowling regularly reminisces about the smell of sainfoin in his father's seed shop in Lower Binfield.

== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
{{Commons category|Onobrychis}}
* International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS) (2005) [http://www.ildis.org/ Genus ''Onobrychis'']. Version 10.01, November 2005. Retrieved 2009-JAN-26.
* Muẓaffariyān, Valī Allāh (1996) ''Farhang-i nāmhā-yi giyāhān-i Īrān: Lātīnī, Inglīsī, Fārsī'' ["A dictionary of Iranian plant names: Latin, English, Persian"]. Tehran: Farhang-i Muʻāṣir [in Persian with Latin and English names]. <small>{{ISBN|964-5545-19-6}}</small>
* Hayot Carbonero, C., Mueller-Harvey, I., Smith, L., Brown, T. A review of a beneficial forage, ''Plant Genetic Resources: Utilization and Characterization'' 2011, 9, 70–85.
* Stringano, E., Hayot Carbonero, C., Smith, L.M.J., Brown, R.H., Mueller-Harvey, I. Proanthocyanidin diversity in the EU 'Healthy Hay' sainfoin (''Onobrychis viciifolia'') germplasm collection ''Phytochemistry'' 2012, 77, 197–208.
* Niderkorn, V., Mueller-Harvey, I., Le Morvan, A., Aufrère, J. Synergistic effects of mixing cocksfoot and sainfoin on ''in vitro'' rumen fermentation. Role of condensed tannins. ''Anim. Feed Sci. Technol.'' 2012, 178, 48–56.
* Theodoridou, K., Aufrère, J., Andueza, D., Le Morvan, A., Picard, F., Stringano, E., Pourrat, J., Mueller-Harvey, I., Baumont, R. Effect of plant development during first and second growth cycle on chemical composition, condensed tannins and nutritive value of three sainfoin (''Onobrychis viciifolia'') varieties and Lucerne. ''Grass For. Sci.'' 2011, 66, 402–414.
* Theodoridou, K., Aufrère, J., Andueza, D., Pourrat, J., Le Morvan, A., Stringano, E., Mueller-Harvey, I., Baumont, R. Effects of condensed tannins in fresh sainfoin (''Onobrychis viciifolia'') on ''in vivo'' and ''in situ'' digestion in sheep ''Anim. Feed Sci. Technol.'' 2010, 160, 23–38.
* Stringano, E., Cramer, R., Hayes, W., Smith, C., Gibson, T., Mueller-Harvey, I. Deciphering the complexity of sainfoin (''Onobrychis viciifolia'') proanthocyanidins by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry with a judicious choice of isotope patterns and matrices. ''Anal. Chem.'' 2011, 83, 4147–4153.
* papers by M. Lorenz and P. Uden (Uppsala University)

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[[Category:Hedysareae]]
[[Category:Forages]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Philip Miller]]
[[Category:Fabaceae genera]]
[[Category:Flora of the Palearctic realm]]