Coronilla minima

Coronilla minima is a small low-growing perennial in the legume family Fabaceae, often slightly woody at the base, with erect or ascending stems 5–60 cm long. The compound leaves are pinnate, with two to four pairs of small, membranous, obovate to spatulate leaflets 1.2–20 mm long and 0.8–7 mm wide, often somewhat glaucous. In spring it produces small terminal umbels of 4–12 bright yellow pea-flowers on slender peduncles, the calyx glabrous and the bracteoles and pedicels ascending. The fruit is a straight, narrowly cylindrical pod 10–45 mm long that breaks transversely at maturity into one-seeded segments, releasing yellowish-brown seeds. The species is native to eastern and central Spain, where it grows on dry, sunny, calcareous slopes, rocky pastures and garrigue. Like several other Coronilla species the plant is reported to contain cardenolide glycosides similar to those of foxglove, contraindicating any casual use; no significant herbal tradition is documented.