Greek gala — milk; this herb was thought to improve lactation.

Erect perennial herbs. Leaves odd-pinnate with entire leaflets; stipules minute. Flowers in axillary clusters. Calyx bell-shaped, with 5 almost equal teeth. Corolla white to blue-violet. Stamens 10, 9 fused, 1 separated to the middle of the staminal tube. Fruit a linear, cylindrical pod containing numerous seeds.

Grown as G. officinalis for the attractive foliage and spikes of flowers, generally as a herb-garden or border plant.

6-8 species from tropical E Africa, W Asia and S Europe.

Seed or division.

Used medicinally and also as food for livestock.

Herbaceous perennial with stamens 10, 9 fused, 1 free; fruit cylindrical with numerous seeds.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Fabaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.