35. URARIA Desvaux, J. Bot. Appl. 1: 122. 1813. [Draft]

狸尾豆属  li wei dou shu, 算珠豆属  shuan zhu dou shu

Urariopsis Schindler.

Yenchin Yang, Puhwa Huang; Hiroyoshi Ohashi, Yu Iokawa, Pauline Dy Phon

Subshrubs, shrubs, or perennial herbs. Leaves 1-foliolate or imparipinnately 3- or 5–9-foliolate; stipulate and stipellulate. Racemes or panicles, terminal or axillary. Flowers numerous, dense, small. Bracts deciduous or persistent, imbricate, 2-flowered at each bract; bracteole absent. Pedicel elongated after anthesis, apically hooked, rarely not curved. Calyx 5-lobed, lower 3 lobes usually longer, upper 2 lobes partly connate. Standard orbicular or broadly obovate, clawed, auriculate; wings adherent to keel-petals, shortly clawed, auriculate; keel-petals obtuse, slightly incurved, auriculate. Stamens diadelphous (9 + 1), vexillary one free; anthers uniform. Ovary subsessile, 2–10-ovuled; style incurved, linear; stigma capitate. Pod small, jointed; articles 2–8, plicate or peltate, folded laterally or longitudinally, not dehiscent, with 1 seed per article.

About 20 species: [mostly] in tropical Africa, Asia, and Australia; 9 species in China.

1a.     Articles peltate to each other, i.e., connected centrally on facing flat sides; leaves 1-foliolate.

2a.    Leaflets apically obtuse, not mucronate; inflorescences terminal, 13–20 cm, densely flowered; fruiting pedicel not curved apically .................................................................................  1. U. cordifolia

2b.    Leaflets apically acute, mucronate; inflorescences terminal or axillary, shorter than 10 cm, laxly flowered; fruiting pedicel apically distinctly curved .........................................  2. U. cochinchinensis

1b.     Articles plicate, i.e., connected at both ends in a zig-zag arrangement; leaves odd-pinnate, more than 3-foliolate but sometimes mixed with 1-foliolate leaves or rarely only 1-foliolate.

3a.     Leaves 5–7(–9)-foliolate, sometimes mixed with (1–)3-foliolate leaves.

4a.     Leaflets linear to narrowly oblong, adaxially usually variegated on midvein, lateral veins looped with margin; pedicel 4–9 mm; lateral and lowest calyx lobes not elongate after anthesis, 2–3 mm; leaves (1–)3-foliolate on lower part of stem ......................................................  3. U. picta

4b.     Leaflets narrowly ovate to ovate, elliptic, or oblong, without variegated area, lateral veins extending to margin; pedicel 6–11 mm in flower, 12–15 mm in fruit; lateral and lowest calyx lobes elongating to 5–6 mm after anthesis; leaves sometimes (1–)3-foliolate on upper part of stem  4. U. crinita

3b.     Leaves 3-foliolate, often 1-foliolate on upper part of stem.

5a.    Inflorescences usually terminal panicles, with dense glandular hairs 1–2 mm on inflorescence rachis, pedicels, and calyx; pods shortly pubescent ........................................  7. U. lacei

5b.    Inflorescences usually simple, sometimes with elongate branches but not paniculate; glandular hairs present or absent on inflorescence rachis, pedicels, and calyx; pods glabrous or pubescent.

6a.     Lateral and lowest calyx lobes more than 2 Χ as long as upper lobes; inflorescences usually 3–6 cm, densely flowered; bracts persistent, spreading at apex; leaflets usually orbicular to broadly ovate ......................................................................................  5. U. lagopodioides

6b.     Lateral and lowest calyx lobes less than 2 Χ as long as upper lobes; inflorescences usually longer than 6 cm, densely or loosely flowered; bracts deciduous or persistent, erect along inflorescence when persistent; leaflets basically oblong to ovate, rarely (in U. sinensis) broadly obovate or obcordate, apically truncate or emarginate.

7a.     Inflorescence rachis, pedicels, and calyx with dense, spreading glandular hairs 1–2 mm; pods glabrous; inflorescences densely flowered; bracts 9–18 mm .  6. U. neglecta

7b.     Inflorescence rachis, pedicels, and calyx without or with sparse glandular hairs 1–2 mm; pods shortly hairy; inflorescences ± loosely flowered; bracts usually shorter than 13 mm.

8a.     Keel-petals apically obtuse; pedicel 5–6 mm, recurved after anthesis; calyx lobes narrowly triangular, acuminate; pods minutely hairy; leaflets apically obtuse to acute or rarely rounded ....................................................................................  8. U. rufescens

8b.     Keel-petals apically apiculate; pedicel 7–8 mm, not recurved after anthesis; calyx lobes triangular to broadly ovate, acute; pods with long glandular hairs; leaflets apically obtuse to truncate or emarginate ....................................................  9. U. sinensis

 

1. Uraria cordifolia Wallich, Pl. Asiat. Rar. 1: 33. 1830.

算珠豆  shuan zhu dou

Urariopsis cordifolia (Wallich) Schindler.

Shrubs, erect, 0.4–1 m tall. Branches stout, densely yellow tomentose. Leaves 1-foliolate; petiole 4–5 cm, yellow tomentose; blade ovate or broadly ovate, 4–12 Χ 6–10 cm, both surfaces shortly tomentose, base shallowly cordate, apex acute to obtuse, not mucronate. Racemes terminal, 13–20 cm, simple or once branched at base, densely yellow shortly tomentose. Pedicel 1–1.2 cm at fruiting, with gray-yellow spreading hairs. Calyx 4–5 mm; upper 2 lobes connate above middle. Corolla pale red or white, 5–6 mm; standard obovate; wings ca. 5 Χ 1–2 mm, base auriculate; keel-petals obtuse, clawed. Ovary 2- or 3-ovuled; style enlarged from apex to middle, 8–10 Χ as long as ovary. Pod brown, shortly hairy, 2–4-jointed. Seeds reniform, ca. 2 Χ 1.5 mm. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Aug-Sep.

Sunny slopes, roadsides, weedy places; below 1000 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

2. Uraria cochinchinensis Schindler, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 21: 14. 1925.

短序算珠豆  duan xu suan zhu dou

Urariopsis brevissima Y. C. Yang & P. H. Huang.

Subshrubs, erect, ca. 1 m tall. Stems and branches densely yellow tomentose and sparsely spreading white pubescent. Leaves 1-foliolate; petiole hairy as stem; blade cordate, 5.5–10 Χ 5–8 cm, both surfaces spreading pubescent, base cordate, apex acute, mucronate. Racemes short, axillary or terminal, simple or 1-branched at base, 4–5 cm, densely yellow tomentose and spreading straight pubescent. Pedicel 1.2–1.3 cm, spreading yellow villous. Calyx lobes lanceolate; upper 2 lobes connate, villous; tube short, ca. 1.5 mm. Standard obovate, 7.5–8 mm; wings falcate-oblong, ca. 6 mm; keel-petals falcate-oblong. Ovary ca. 3 mm, 3- or 4-ovuled; style ca. 6 mm. Pod 3- or 4-jointed; articles ca. 3 mm in diam., rugate, adpressed pubescent. Fruiting pedicel distinctly curved apically. Fl. and fr. Oct-Dec.

* Dry grasslands, mountain slopes; 100–500 m. Guangxi, S Yunnan [Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam].

3. Uraria picta (Jacquin) Desvaux ex A. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 2: 324. 1825.

美花狸尾豆  mei hua li wei dou

Hedysarum pictum Jacquin, Collectanea 2: 262. 1788; Doodia picta (Jacquin) Roxburgh; Uraria leucantha Zipp. ex Span; U. linearis Hasskarl.

Subshrubs or shrubs. Stems erect, 1–2 m tall, gray strigose. Leaves imparipinnate; leaflets 5–7, rarely 9; petiole 4–7 cm; leaflet blade linear-oblong or narrowly lanceolate, 4.5–13 Χ 1–2 cm, abaxially densely hairy on veins, adaxially pubescent along midvein and base margin, base rounded, apex narrowly acute. Racemes terminal, 10–30 cm. Pedicel 5–6 mm, elongated to 8 mm after anthesis, apically hooked. Calyx 5-parted, long hairy and ciliate, lower lobes slightly longer than upper; wings ear-shaped, 4–7 mm, base shortly auriculate; keel-petals ca. as long as wings, upper parts curved. Ovary glabrous, 3–5-ovuled. Pod lead-colored, lucid, glabrous, 3–5-jointed; articles ca. 3 Χ 2 mm. Fl. and fr. Apr-Oct. 2n = 16, 22.

Grassy slopes; 400–1500 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, S Taiwan, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; tropical Africa, Australia].

The roots are used medicinally for invigorating the liver and spleen, and as a sedative.

4. Uraria crinita (Linnaeus) Desvaux ex A. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 2: 324. 1825.

猫尾草  mao wei cao

Hedysarum crinitum Linnaeus, Mant. Pl. 1: 102. 1767; Doodia crinita Roxburgh; Uraria comosa Spanoghe; U. crinita var. macrostachya Wallich; U. macrostachya (Wallich) Prain.

Subshrubs, 1–1.5 m tall. Stems erect, gray pubescent. Leaves imparipinnate; leaflets usually 3 on lower stem, 5, rarely 7 above; petiole 5.5–15 cm, gray-white pubescent; leaflet blade oblong, ovate-lanceolate, or ovate, 6–15 Χ 3–8 cm, abaxially pubescent on veins, adaxially glabrous or slightly gray pubescent on midvein, base orbicular to slightly cordate, apex slightly acute, obtuse, or orbicular. Racemes terminal, 15–30 cm or longer, stout, densely gray-white hirtose. Pedicel 6–11 mm in flower, elongated to 1–1.5 cm after anthesis, hooked, with short uncinate and long white hairs. Calyx shallowly cup-shaped, long white hirtose; lower lobes ca. 3.5 mm, upper lobes ca. 3 mm. Corolla purple, ca. 6 mm. Pod slightly pubescent; articles 2–4 , elliptic, reticulate-veined. Fl. and fr. Apr-Sep.

Dry waste slopes, roadsides, thickets; below 900 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, [N Australia].

The whole plant is used medicinally for dispelling stasis??, stopping bleeding, reducing fever, and relieving cough.

5. Uraria lagopodioides (Linnaeus) Desvaux in Mιm. Soc. Linn. Paris 4: 309 (1826), as “Urania lagopodioides”.

狸尾豆  li wei dou

Hedysarum lagopodioides Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1198. 1753; Doodia lagopodioides Roxburgh; H. lagopoides Burm. f.; Lespedeza lagopodioides Persoon; Uraria lagopoides A. P. de Candolle.

Herbs, prostrate or spreading, to 60 cm tall. Leaves mostly 3-foliolate, rarely 1-foliolate; petiole 1–2 cm; terminal leaflet blade nearly orbicular or elliptic to ovate, 2–6 Χ 1.5–3 cm, abaxially gray-yellow pubescent, base orbicular or cordate, apex rounded or emarginate. Racemes terminal, 3–6 cm, densely flowered. Pedicel ca. 4 mm, sparsely white villous. Calyx 5-parted; lower lobes 3 Χ or more longer than upper ones, white villous. Corolla pale purple, ca. 6 mm; standard obovate, base attenuate. Ovary glabrous, 1- or 2-ovuled. Pod small, enclosed by calyx; articles 1 or 2, elliptic, ca. 2.5 mm, black-brown at maturity, swollen, glabrous, slightly lucid. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct. 2n = 22.

Open waste slopes, thickets; below 1000 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan [Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam; Australia, Pacific islands].

The whole plant is used medicinally for relieving swelling and as a pesticide.

6. Uraria neglecta Prain, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 66: 382. 1897.

福建狸尾豆  fu jian li we dou, 长苞狸尾豆  chang bao li wei dou

Uraria aequilobata Hosokawa; U. fujianensis Y. C. Yang & P. H. Huang; U. hamosa [author??] var. formosana Matsumura; U. lagopus de Candolle var. neglecta (Prain) H. Ohashi; U. longibracteata Y. C. Yang & P. H. Huang.

Herbs or shrubs, erect, subshrub-like. Stems densely gray-yellow tomentose and spreading pubescent. Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate, sometimes 1-foliolate; petiole 7–20 mm, densely hairy as stem; blade ovate, orbicular, or oblong, 1.8–6 Χ 1.9–4.5 cm, abaxially pubescent, adaxially pilose, lateral veins 11–14 per side of midvein, base broadly cuneate, rounded, or slightly cordate, apex orbicular or emarginate, mucronate. Racemes terminal, or sometimes terminal and axillary, sometimes with a few branches at base, 6–40 cm, densely hairy with gray-yellow spreading glandular hairs, 2-flowered at each node of rachises, internode 2–4 mm. Pedicel 7–12 mm, densely villous, apically hooked. Calyx ca. 5 mm, 5-parted; lobes narrowly triangular, subequal. Corolla purple, ca. 5 mm; standard obovate, ca. 5 Χ 3 mm, base cuneate, apex orbicular; wings and keel-petals auricular-oblong, ca. 4 Χ 1.5 mm. Ovary ca. 2.5 mm, glabrous; style ca. 4 mm, curved. Pod 5–7-jointed, slightly compressed, glabrous. Fl. and fr. Sep-Nov.

* Mountain slopes, roadsides, field margins; below 500 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Zhejiang [India, Nepal].

7. Uraria lacei Craib, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1910: 276. 1910.

野番豆  dian nan li wei dou

Uraria clarkei Gagnepain; U. guangxiensis W. L. Sha.

Shrubs or herbs, erect, to 2 m tall. Stems stout, with brown spreading long hairs. Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate; petiole 3.5–6 cm, densely yellow-brown spreading hirsute; leaflet blade elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, (4.5–)5.5–10(–15) Χ 2–5.5(–6.5) cm, abaxially densely pilose, adaxially pilose, lateral veins 11–13 per side of midvein, both ends rounded or obtuse, apex mucronate. Panicles terminal, 13–30 cm, densely brown spreading hairy. Pedicel 3–4 mm, elongated to 1 cm at fruiting, yellow-brown pubescent. Calyx 4–5 mm, densely hairy as pedicel; lower lobes ca. 2 Χ as long as upper ones or more. Corolla purple or purple-brown, 8–9 mm. Ovary hairy, 6–8-ovuled. Pod brown, shortly hairy, 6–8-jointed; articles ca. 3 Χ 2.5 mm. Fl. and fr. Jun-Oct.

Open grassy slopes, secondary seasonal rain forests; ca. 700 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan [India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

8. Uraria rufescens (A. P. de Candolle) Schindler, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 21: 14. 1925.

钩柄狸尾豆  gou bing li wei dou

Desmodium rufescens A. P. de Candolle, Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris) 4: 101. 1825; Doodia hamosa Roxburgh; Uraria hamosa Sweet ex Arnott.

Subshrubs. Stems erect, 40–70 cm tall, gray-white pilose and brown hooked-hairy. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 1–2.5 cm, hairy; leaflet blade elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 3–8 Χ 2–4 cm, abaxially pilose, adaxially glabrous, lateral veins 11–13 per side of midvein, base orbicular or slightly cordate, apex rounded or sometimes emarginate. Inflorescences terminal, 10–20 cm, densely hooked hairy and pubescent. Flowers sparse. Pedicel short, prime ca. 3 mm, hairy, elongated to 5–6 mm at fruiting, apically hooked. Calyx ca. 3 mm, pubescent, 5-parted; lower lobes longer than tube, upper lobes slightly shorter. Corolla purple, 2–3 Χ as long as calyx. Pod 4–7-jointed; articles gray-brown, compressed, slightly reticulate-veined. Fl. and fr. Oct-Nov. 2n = 22.

Roadsides, mountain slopes; below 900 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Xizang, S Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].

9. Uraria sinensis (Hemsley) Franchet, Pl. Delavay. 172. 1890.

中华狸尾豆  zhong hua li wei dou

Uraria hamosa Wallich var. sinensis Hemsley, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 23: 177. 1886; Desmodium bonatianum Pampanini.

Subshrubs, ca. 1 m tall. Stems erect, gray-yellow hispidulous. Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate; petiole 2–4 cm, gray-yellow pubescent; leaflet blade oblong, obovate-oblong, or broadly ovate, 3–7 Χ 2–4 cm, abaxially gray-yellow villous, adaxially pilose on veins, lateral veins 6–8 per side of midvein. Panicles terminal, 20–30 cm, gray-yellow hairy, sparsely flowered, 1- or 2-flowered at each node. Pedicel filiform, 8–10 mm, elongated to 1.3 cm at fruiting. Calyx ca. 3 mm; lower lobes ca. as long as tube or shorter. Corolla purple, ca. 4 Χ as long as calyx. Ovary pilose. Pod ca. as long as pedicel, 4- or 5-jointed, subglabrous, reticulate-veined. Fl. and fr. Sep-Oct.

* Dry river valleys, mountain slopes, sparse forests, thickets, alpine grasslands; 500–2300 m. Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India].