Biserrula

Summary

Biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus) is a self-regenerating annual legume.

It is native to Mediterranean areas of Europe and Africa, the Canary Islands and highland areas of Kenya, Ethiopia and Eritrea.

In its native environment, it is often found with other annual legumes, such as subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) and serradella (Ornithopus spp.), growing on well-drained but relatively infertile, sandy, acid soils.

Germplasm was collected by Australian scientists, beginning in the late 1980s. This material was then further developed and evaluated, resulting in the release of the world’s first commercially available cultivar of biserrula in 1997.

This Primefact contains information on the following:

• Adaptation
• Description
• Varieties
• Establishment and management
• Pests and diseases
• Seed production
• Herbage production and nutritional quality