Cicer arietinum
Sp. Pl. 2: 738. 1753.
Herbs (20–)25–60(–100) cm, ± branched from base, deep-rooted. Leaves: stipules ovate to oblique-triangular, 3–5(–11) × (1–)2–4(–6) mm, teeth 2–4(–6); petiole 5–10 mm; rachis green distally, with or without anthocyanins, or purple throughout, 25–60(–75) mm, grooved adaxially; leaflets opposite or alternate, subsessile, crowded or not, blades obovate-oblong to elliptic, (6–)10–15(–20) × (3–)4–12(–14) mm, base cuneate to rounded, margin teeth sometimes curved, to 1.5(–2) mm, apex rounded to acuminate, abaxial surface more prominently ribbed and more glandular-pubescent than adaxial. Peduncles (6–)13–17(–30) mm; bracts 0.5–1.5 mm. Pedicels straight in flower, recurved in fruit, 6–13 mm. Flowers: calyx green or purple, tube 3–4 mm, lobes lanceolate, 5–6 mm, midrib prominent; corolla 5–29 mm, veined; stamens 6–8 mm; ovary ovoid, 2–3 mm; style 3–4 mm. Legumes 14–25(–29) × 8–15(–20) mm. Seeds white, cream, brown, black, or dull green, (4–)7–10(–11) × 5–8 mm, beak conspicuous, coat rough or smooth (sometimes minute black dots or speckles present); hilum grayish, deep. 2n = (14), 16.
Phenology: Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat: Fields, waste places.
Elevation: 0–900(–2400) m.
Distribution
Introduced; Sask., Calif., Idaho, N.Dak., Wash., s Europe, Asia (India), introduced also in Mexico, South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile), n Africa.
Discussion
Cicer arietinum is cultivated in the United States in California, Idaho (particularly the Palouse region), North Dakota, and Washington, and in Canada in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The species occasionally escapes from cultivation but is not known to be invasive; it is the third most important pulse crop in the world, after beans and peas, and was introduced from the Mediterranean region and India. Cicer arietinum is widely cultivated as a cool-season crop in semi-arid, tropical areas of the world, or in summers in temperate zones. Mutants with phyllodes or unifoliolate leaves are known.
In North America, chickpeas are often canned; large- and cream-seeded Kabuli cultivars are used in salad bars. Hummus, mashed chickpeas with sesame oil and spices, is a popular appetizer in the Near East and has become popular in the West. The largest producer of Cicer arietinum is India, where it contributes protein to the vegetarian diet in a wide range of dishes.
Selected References
None.