Huang Puhua; H. Ohashi
三叉刺属 san cha ci shu
Shrubs, erect, spinose. Spines rigid, straight, sharp, trifid. Leaves 1-foliolate, entire; stipules scarious, striate; stipels minute. Racemes axillary, short; bracts broadly ovate, minute; bracteole absent. Calyx membranous; tube short, 5-lobed; lobes ovate-lanceolate, lower lobes 3, upper 2 lobes connate. Corolla purple; standard broadly obovate, base cuneate, not or very shortly clawed; wings narrowly elliptic; keel-petals slightly falcate, apex obtuse. Stamens diadelphous. Ovary linear, ca. 6-ovuled. Pod (3)57-jointed; upper suture straight or slightly undulate, lower suture deeply undulate between articles.
Monotypic genus: China (Hainan), Indonesia, Philippines (Luzon), Vietnam.
三叉刺 san cha ci
Desmodium horridum Steenis; D. unifoliolatum (Merrill) Steenis.
Shrubs, 12 m tall; spines 35 cm. Leaves alternate; petiole 24 mm, pubescent; blade elliptic or oblong-elliptic to linear-oblong, 1.56 Χ 0.71.5 cm, nearly leathery, distinctly reticulate-veined, both surfaces glabrous, apex rounded, mucronate, sometimes emarginate. Racemes ca. 3 cm, sparsely pilose; bracts numerous around base of rachises, striate. Pedicel ca. 5 mm, often fascicled at node of rachises. Flowers ca. 1 cm. Calyx ca. 3 mm, sparsely pubescent; upper lobe triangular-ovate. Ovary slightly pubescent; style glabrous. Pod stalked, straight, flat and thin, (2)34 cm, pubescent, reticulate-veined; lower suture indented, upper suture straight or slightly undulate; articles 67 Χ ca. 4 mm, lateral surfaces reticulate-veined. Fl. Apr-Jul, fr. Sep-Oct.
Dry thickets of savannas, sparse forests of river banks; ca. 200 m. Hainan [Indonesia (Lesser Sunda Island), Philippines, Vietnam].
假木豆属 jia mu dou shu
Desmodium subgen. Dendrolobium Wight & Arnott, Prodr. 1: 223. 1834; Desmodium sect. Dendrolobium (Wight & Arnott) Bentham.
Shrubs or small trees. Leaves 3-foliolate or rarely 1-foliolate, stipulate and stipellulate; leaflets entire or shallowly undulate; terminal leaflets larger than lateral ones, lateral leaflets often oblique at base. Inflorescences axillary, subumbellate or umbellate to shortly racemose, densely flowered; bracts scarious, striate. Calyx campanulate or tubular, 5-lobed; upper 2 lobes connate, appearing 4-lobed or minutely 2-toothed at apex; lower lobe longer than others. Corolla white or pale yellow; standard obovate, elliptic, or nearly rounded, clawed, not auriculate; wings narrowly oblong, clawed, auriculate or not. Stamens monadelphous. Ovary sessile, (1- or)28-ovuled. Pod ± moniliform, 18-jointed, indehiscent when mature. Seed distinctly rim-arillate. Cotyledons epigaeous.
Eighteen species: tropical and subtropical Asia and Australia; five species in China.
1a. Pods 1-jointed; terminal leaflets narrowly oblong to narrowly oblong-lanceolate, 25 Χ 0.91.9 cm 1. D. lanceolatum
1b. Pods 28-jointed; terminal leaflets usually elliptic-ovate to broadly elliptic-ovate, ratio between length and width less than two times
2a. Pods usually 2-jointed; terminal leaflets shorter than 3 cm; lateral veins 59 per side of midvein and not reaching margin ..................................................................................... 2. D. dispermum
2b. Pods 35(8)-jointed; terminal leaflets longer than 3 cm; lateral veins 717 per side of midvein and reaching margin.
3a. Lower calyx lobes ca. as long as other lobes; terminal leaflets apically acute or obtuse 4. D. umbellatum
3b. Lower calyx lobes longer than other lobes; terminal leaflets apically acuminate, rounded, or sometimes acute.
4a. Young shoots triangular; terminal leaflets narrowly elliptic to elliptic, apically acuminate to long acuminate; umbels 2030-flowered ............................................... 3. D. triangulare
4b. Young shoots 46-gonous; terminal
leaflets rhombic, obovate, or broadly obovate, apically rounded or sometimes acute;
umbels 1020-flowered........................................... 5. D.
rugosum
[from Professor Huang:]
3b. Young shoots terete; terminal leaflets not above shape; umbel 1020-flowered.
4a. Terminal leaflets elliptic to orbicular or ovate to broadly ovate, lateral leaflets basally ± oblique; keel-petals distinctly broader than wings ................................................ 4. D. umbellatum
4b. Terminal leaflets rhombic or obovate; lateral leaflets basally usually distinctly oblique; keel-petals slightly broader than wings ................................................................ 5. D. rugosum
单节假木豆 dan jie jian mu dou
Lespedeza lanceolata Dunn, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 35: 488. 1903; Desmodium dunnii Merrill.
Shrubs, usually 13 m tall. Branches glabrescent. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 0.52 cm; terminal leaflet blade oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 25 Χ 0.91.9 cm, lateral leaflets smaller, abaxially appressed pubescent, adaxially glabrous, lateral veins 47 per side of midvein, not reaching margin, both ends obtuse or acute. Inflorescences subumbellate, 11.5 cm, ca. 10-flowered. Pedicel ca. 2 mm, densely appressed pubescent. Calyx ca. 4 mm; upper lobe broader, other lobes narrower. Corolla white or pale yellow; standard elliptic, 69 Χ 56 mm, clawed; wings narrowly oblong, 56 Χ 1.52 mm; keel-petals nearly falcate, 79 Χ ca. 2.5 mm. Stamens 78 mm. Pistil 78 mm, ovary pilose; style ca. 7 mm. Pod broadly elliptic or nearly orbicular, 810 Χ 67 mm, sessile, 1-jointed, glabrous, distinctly reticulate-veined. Seed broadly elliptic, ca. 3 Χ 2 mm. Fl. May-Aug, fr. Sep-Nov.
Grassy river banks, thickets or sparse forests on mountain slopes; 100800 m. Hainan [Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam].
1a. Pods broadly elliptic or nearly orbicular, 810 Χ 67 mm ......................... 1a. var. lanceolatum
1b. Pods nearly orbicular, 45.5 Χ 34 mm ................................................. 1b. var. microcarpum
单节假木豆 dan jie jian mu dou (yuan bian zhong)
Pods broadly elliptic or nearly orbicular, 810 Χ 67 mm.
Grassy river banks, thickets or sparse forests on mountain slopes; 100800 m. Hainan [Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam].
Chinese name: ???????
Pods nearly orbicular, 45.5 Χ 34 mm.
Fujian [Thailand].
两节假木豆 liang jie jia mu dou
Desmodium dispermum Hayata, Icon. Pl. Formosan. 3: 69. 1913.
Shrubs, 23 m tall. Branches glabrescent. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 512 mm; terminal leaflet blade obovate or elliptic, 1.32.5 Χ 11.5 cm, lateral leaflet nearly equal or slightly smaller, abaxially densely appressed sericeous especially on midvein, adaxially sparsely pubescent, lateral veins 59 per side of midvein, not reaching margin. Inflorescences shortly racemose, 12 cm, 57-flowered. Pedicel 2.55 mm. Calyx campanulate; lower lobes narrowly triangular; upper lobe broadly ovate, entire or minutely 2-toothed at apex. Corolla white; standard broadly elliptic or nearly orbicular, 811 Χ 79 mm; wings 710 Χ 2.53 mm, clawed at base; keel-petals 811 Χ ca. 3 mm, base shortly clawed. Stamens ca. 8 mm. Pistil ca. 1 cm; ovary densely sericeous, style ca. 7 mm, glabrous. Pod narrowly oblong, 12 Χ 0.50.6 cm, usually 2-jointed, extremely rarely 1-jointed, densely appressed-sericeous, reticulate-veined. Seed elliptic, ca. 4 Χ 3 mm. Fl. Oct, fr. Oct-Nov.
* River banks, open places; sea level to 200 m. S Taiwan.
假木豆 jia mu dou
Hedysarum triangulare Retzius, Observ. Bot. 3: 40. 1783; Desmodium cephalotes (Roxburgh) Wight & Arnott; D. triangulare (Retzius) Merrill.
Shrubs, 12 m tall. Young shoots sharply triangular, densely gray sericeous. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 12.5 cm; terminal leaflet blade narrowly obovate-elliptic [or narrowly elliptic in key??], 715 Χ 36 cm, lateral leaflets slightly smaller, abaxially long sericeous especially on veins, adaxially glabrous, lateral veins 1017 per side of midvein, straight, reaching margin. Umbels 2030-flowered. Pedicels not equal, densely appressed sericeous. Calyx 59 mm; tube 1.83 mm. Corolla white or pale yellow; standard broadly elliptic, shortly clawed; wings and keel-petal oblong, base clawed. Stamens 0.81.2 cm. Pistil 0.71.4 cm; style 712 mm; ovary densely pubescent. Pod 22.5 cm, slightly arcuate, sessile, appressed sericeous, 36-jointed. Seed elliptic, 2.53.5 Χ 22.5 mm. Fl. Aug-Oct, fr. Oct-Dec. 2n = 22@.
Grassy river banks, thickets on mountain slopes; 1001400 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Africa].
The roots are used medicinally for strengthening bones and building muscles.
伞花假木豆 sna hua jia mu dou
Hedysarum umbellatum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 747. 1753; Desmodium umbellatum (Linnaeus) A. de Candolle.
Shrubs or small trees, to 3 m tall. Young shoots terete, densely appressed sericeous. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 25 cm; terminal leaflet blade elliptic or ovate to orbicular or broadly ovate, 514(17) Χ 37(8.5) cm, lateral leaflets slightly smaller, abaxially appressed long hairy, adaxially glabrescent, lateral veins 712 per side of midvein, reaching margin. Umbels often 1020-flowered [1012 in key??]. Pedicel 37 mm at anthesis, 512 mm in fruit. Calyx 45 mm, upper lobe 2-toothed at apex. Corolla white; standard broadly obovate or elliptic, 11.3 cm Χ 610 mm, clawed; wings narrowly elliptic, 1.11.2 cm Χ 12 mm, clawed; keel-petals broader than wings, 1.11.2 cm Χ 35 mm, clawed. Stamens ca. 1 cm. Pistil to 1.5 cm; ovary sericeous; style ca. 1.2 cm, glabrous. Pod narrowly oblong, 23.5 Χ 0.40.6 cm, (3)8-jointed, article broadly elliptic or oblong. Seed elliptic or broadly elliptic, ca. 4 Χ 3 mm. Fl. Aug-Oct, fr. Nov-Mar.
Seashores. Taiwan [India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Africa, Australia, Pacific islands].
多皱假木豆 duo zhou jia mu dou
Desmodium rugosum Prain, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. 66(2): 137. 1897.
Shrubs to 2.5 m tall. Branches terete, glabrescent; young shoots 46-gonous. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 1.57 cm; leaflet blade rhombic to broadly obovate, 515(17) Χ (3)413 cm, lateral leaflets 3.513 Χ 28 cm, densely appressed-tomentose, but afterwards almost glabrescent adaxially, densely tomentose with appressed hairs abaxially, lateral veins 915 per side of midvein and reaching margin. Umbels often 1020-flowered; pedicel 23 mm at anthesis, afterward 37 mm. Calyx 5.56.5 mm, 4-lobed, upper lobes entire or minutely 2-toothed at apex. Corolla white; standard broadly obovate or broadly elliptic 912.5 Χ 7.510.5 mm, shortly clawed; wings narrowly elliptic 9.512.5 Χ 34.5 mm, base auriculate on both sides, claw 2.53 mm; keel-petals ca, as long as or slightly broader than wings, 9.511.5 Χ 3.54.5 mm, claw 2.53 mm. Stamens 1011 mm. Pistil 1113.5 mm. Ovary densely puberulent; style 911.5 mm, puberulent in lower half. Pod narrowly oblong, 1327 Χ 45.5 mm, 25-jointed, densely appressed-sericeous, both sutures undulate; articles broadly elliptic or nearly orbicular, 58 Χ 35 mm. Seeds transversely elliptic, 2.52.7 Χ 3.74 mm.
Snow range, streamsides; 8002800 m. Yunnan [Laos, Myanmar, Thailand].
Desmodium rugosum Prain, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 66: 137. 1897.
Shrubs to 2.5 m tall. Young shoot 46-gonous, densely sericeous. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 1.57 cm; terminal leaflets rhombic, obovate, or broadly obovate, 515(17) Χ (3)413 cm, abaxially densely tomentose, adaxially densely appressed-tomentose but afterward almost glabrescent, principal lateral veins 915 per side of midvein, apex rounded to acute; lateral leaflets usually conspicuously oblique. Umbels shortly pedunculate, usually densely 1020-flowered. Pedicels 27 mm, with dense subspreading or retrorse soft hairs. Calyx broadly campanulate, 5.56.5 mm; tube 22.5 mm; lower lobe distinctly longer than other lobes, 45.5 mm. Corolla white; standard broadly obovate or broadly elliptic, 912.5 Χ 7.510.5 mm, apex rounded or retuse; keel-petals ca. as long as wings, 912.5 mm, apex obtuse to rounded. Stamens 1011 mm. Pistil 1113.5 mm; ovary densely puberulent. Pods narrowly oblong, 1.32.7 cm Χ 45.5 mm, 25-jointed, sessile, very densely appressed-sericeous, not reticulate-veined, ± moniliform. Seeds elliptic, 2.52.7 Χ 3.74 mm.
Thickets. Yunnan [Laos, Myanmar, Thailand].
排钱书卫戍 pai qian shu shu
Desmodium sect. Phyllodium (Desv.) Bentham; D. subgen. Phyllodium (Desv.) Baker; Dicerma sect. Phyllodium (Desv.) A. de Candolle.
Shrubs or subshrubs. Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate; stipulate and stipellulate. Inflorescences terminal, forming a racemose panicle, each umbellate, 415-flowered, subtended and enclosed by a pair of persistent leaflike bracts. Calyx campanulate, pubescent, 5-lobed; lower 3 lobes usually longer than upper ones; upper 2 lobes connate and entire or minutely 2-toothed at apex. Corolla white to pale yellow or rarely purple; standard obovate or broadly obovate, clawed or tapering to base; wings narrowly elliptic, clawed and auriculate at base; keel-petals arcuate, base long clawed, auriculate. Stamens 10, monadelphous. Gynoecia longer than androecium. Pod sessile, indehiscent; lower suture more deeply incised, upper suture shallowly undulate, (1- or)27-jointed. Seed distinctly rim-arillate around hilum. Cotyledons epigaeous.
Eight species: tropical and subtropical Asia, N Australia; four species in China.
1a. Terminal leaflets lanceolate or oblong, 1320 cm, often 45 Χ longer than lateral ones 1. P. longipes
1b. Terminal leaflets ovate, elliptic, or sometimes obovate, often 512 cm, ca. 2 Χ as long as lateral ones or nearly equal
2a. Terminal leaflets slightly longer than lateral ones or nearly equal; leaflike bracts broadly elliptic or broadly ovate; pod slightly pubescent or glabrescent .............................................. 2. P. kurzianum
2b. Terminal leaflets ca. 2 Χ as long as lateral ones; leaflike bracts orbicular or broadly elliptic, if broadly elliptic, pod densely silver-gray tomentose.
3a. Leaflets adaxially nearly glabrous; leaflike bracts orbicular, slightly pubescent and ciliate; pod usually 2-jointed, glabrous or slightly pubescent and ciliate ................................... 3. P. pulchellum
3b. Leaflets densely tomentose; leaflike bracts broadly elliptic, densely tomentose; pod often 3- or 4-jointed, densely silver-gray tomentose .................................................................. 4. P. elegans
长叶排钱树 chang ye pai qian shu
Desmodium longipes Craib, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1910: 20. 1910; D. tonkinense Schindler.
Shrubs, ca. 1 m tall. Branchlets densely brown pubescent. Petiole ca. 3 mm; terminal leaflet blade lanceolate or oblong, 1320 Χ 3.76 cm, lateral ones obliquely ovate, 34 Χ 1.52 cm, abaxially densely brown soft hairy, adaxially sparsely pubescent or glabrescent, lateral veins 815 per side of midvein, distinctly reticulate-veined. Flowers (5)915 enclosed by pair of leaflike bracts; leaflike ones obliquely ovate, 2.53.5 Χ 22.7 cm. Pedicel 46 mm. Calyx 45 mm, white tomentose. Corolla white or pale yellow; standard obovate, 39 mm, clawed; wings 78 mm, base auriculate, clawed; keel-petals arcuate, 88.5 mm. Ovary 3.54 mm, 7- or 8-ovuled. Pod narrowly oblong, 0.81.5 cm Χ ca. 3.5 mm; lower suture more deeply undulate, upper suture slightly undulate, both surfaces downy, 25-jointed; articles broadly oblong to nearly quadrangular. Seed broadly elliptic, ca. 3 Χ 2.3 mm. Fl. Aug-Sep, fr. Oct-Nov.
Thickets, dense forests; 9001000 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, S Yunnan [Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].
长柱排钱树 chang zhu pai qian shu
Meibomia kurziana Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 197. 1891; Desmodium grande Kurz; D. kurzii Craib; Phyllodium grande (Kurz) Schindler; P. kurzii (Craib) Chun.
Shrubs, much branched, 12 m tall. Branchlets densely gray-yellow tomentose. Petiole 23 mm; terminal leaflet blade ovate or elliptic, 716 Χ 511 cm, lateral ones 711 Χ 56 cm, abaxially densely white tomentose, adaxially appressed white pubescent, lateral veins 810 per side of midvein, reaching margin, both surfaces distinctly reticulate-veined. Flowers 511, enclosed by pair of leaflike bracts broadly elliptic or broadly ovate, 23.5 Χ 1.52.5 cm. Pedicel 510 mm. Calyx 23.5 mm. Corolla white or pale yellow; standard ca. 10 Χ 5 mm, clawed; wings ca. 8 Χ 1.5 mm, clawed; keel-petals ca. 9 mm, base long clawed, auriculate. Ovary 2.53 mm; style ca. 1 cm, slender. Pod 12 Χ 0.40.5 cm, slightly pubescent or glabrescent, 3- or 4-jointed; articles nearly quadrangular, reticulate-veined. Seeds orbicular, 2.32.7 mm in diam. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Oct-Nov.
Thickets of mountain slopes; below 1000 m. W Guangdong, S Guangxi, SW and W Yunnan [Myanmar, N Thailand, Vietnam].
排钱树 pai qian shu
Hedysarum pulchellum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 747. 1753; Desmodium pulchellum (Linnaeus) Bentham; Dicerma pulchellum (Linnaeus) A. de Candolle.
Shrubs, 0.52 m tall. Branchlets white or gray pubescent. Petiole 57 mm; terminal leaflet blade ovate, elliptic, or obovate, 610 Χ 2.54.5. cm, ca. 2 Χ as long as lateral leaflets, abaxially densely pubescent on veins, adaxially sparsely pubescent, lateral veins 610 per side of midvein. Flowers 5 or 6, enclosed by pair of bracts; bracts leaflike, orbicular, 11.5 cm in diam., both surfaces slightly pubescent, ciliate. Pedicel 23 mm, pubescent. Calyx ca. 2 mm. Corolla white or pale yellow; standard 56 mm, base attenuate, shortly and broadly clawed; wings ca. 5 Χ 1 mm, auriculate, clawed; keel-petals ca. 6 Χ 2 mm, clawed, not auriculate. Pistil 67 mm; style 4.55.5 mm. Pod ca. 6 Χ 2.5 mm, slightly constricted on both sutures, usually 2-jointed; articles glabrous or sparsely pubescent and ciliate. Seed broadly elliptic or nearly orbicular, 2.22.8 Χ ca. 2 mm. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Oct-Nov. 2n = 22.
Waste places on hills, roadsides, sparse forests on mountain slopes; 1602000 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, S Jiangxi, Taiwan, S Yunnan [Cambodia, India, Japan (Ryukyu Is.), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; N Australia].
The roots and leaves are used as medicine for reducing fever, cooling blood, and dispelling stasis.
毛排钱树 mao pai qian shu
Hedysarum elegans Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 2: 450. 1790; Desmodium blandum van Meeuwen; D. elegans (Loureiro) Bentham; Dicerma elegans A. de Candolle.
Shrubs, 0.51.5 m tall. Branchlets and petioles densely yellow tomentose. Petiole ca. 5 mm; terminal leaflet blade ovate or elliptic to obovate, 710 Χ 35 cm, lateral one obliquely ovate, ca. 1/2 as long as terminal one, both surfaces densely tomentose especially abaxially, lateral veins 9 or 10 per side of midvein, both ends obtuse. Flowers 49, enclosed by a pair of bracts; bracts leaflike, broadly elliptic, 1.43.5 Χ 0.92.5 cm, densely yellow tomentose, base oblique, apex emarginate. Pedicel 24 mm. Calyx campanulate, 34 mm. Corolla white or pale green; standard 67 Χ 34 mm, base attenuate; wings 56 Χ ca. 1 mm, base auriculate, clawed; keel-petals larger than wings, 78 Χ ca. 2 mm, clawed. Pistil 810 mm. Pod 12 Χ 0.30.4 cm, densely silver-gray tomentose, lower suture undulate, upper suture straight or shallowly undulate, usually 3- or 4-jointed. Seed elliptic, ca. 2.5 Χ 1.82 mm. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Oct-Nov.
Plains, waste places on hills, grasslands, sparse forests, thickets on mountain slopes; sea level to 1100 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Yunnan [Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam].
The roots and leaves are used as medicine for cooling blood, and as an antiphlogistic and diuretic.
两节豆属 liang jie dou shu
Dicerma sect. Aphyllodium A. de Candolle, Prodr. 2: 339. 1825; Desmodium sect. Dicerma (A. de Candolle) Bentham; Desmodium subgen. Dicerma (A. de Candolle) Baker; Dicerma A. de Candolle, nom. illeg..
Subshrubs or shrubs. Leaves digitate-trifoliolate; stipules united, amplexicaul, mostly 3-lobed at apex, stipellules very minute. Inflorescences racemose, terminal and axillary; bracts narrowly triangular, bracteoles at base of calyx; 25 flowered at each node. Calyx campanulate or infundibular, with appressed long hairs and minute uncinate hairs, 5-lobed; lower lobes nearly equal to or longer than upper ones, upper lobes 2-connate, entire or minutely 2-toothed at apex. Corolla red; standard narrowly obovate to obovate, not auriculate; wings narrowly oblong; keel-petals narrowly elliptic, shorter than wings, auriculate, clawed. Stamens diadelphous (9 + 1); gynoecia sessile. Pods mostly 2- or occasionally 1-jointed, both sutures deeply indented. Seeds distinctly rim-arillate around hilum.
Seven species: Tropical Asia to N Australia.
两节豆 liang jie dou
Hedysarum biarticulatum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 747. 1753; Desmodium biarticulatum (Linnaeus) F. Mueller; Dicerma biarticulatum (Linnaeus) A. de Candolle; Echinolobium biarticulatum (Linnaeus) Desvaux.
Subshrubs, 4070 cm tall. Stem erect or creeping; young shoots with appressed soft hairs. Petiole 57 mm; leaflet blade narrowly obovate or narrowly elliptic, 11.8 cm Χ 38 mm, abaxially appressed-pilose, adaxially glabrous, base cuneate to rounded, apex obtuse, mucronate. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, simple, 515 cm. Pedicel 23 mm. Calyx ca. 3.5 mm; lobes lanceolate, ca. 2 Χ as long as tube. Corolla standard 57 Χ 2.54 mm, not auriculate and clawed; wings 57.5 Χ 0.81.3 mm, ± auriculate, claw 1.52.5 mm. Ovary puberulent, 2-ovuled; style glabrous. Pod erect, ca. 1 cm, both sutures deeply indented, articles transversely broadly elliptic to orbicular, with dense appressed or spreading hairs, reticulate. Seeds transversely broadly elliptic to transversely elliptic, ca. 1 Χ 1.21.5 mm. Fl. Aug-Sep, fr. Sep-Oct. 2n = 22.
Waste places, grassy forest margins. Hainan [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; N Australia].
Chinese name: ???????????
Catenaria Benth. (1852), non Roussel (1806); Desmodium sect. Catenaria (Bentham) Bentham; Desmodium subgen. Catenaria (Bentham) Baker.
Shrubs. Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate; stipules persistent; petiole winged. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, pseudoracemose or paniculate. Calyx narrowly campanulate, 4-lobed, upper lobe bifid at apex, lowest lobe longer than lateral ones. Corolla white to pale yellow; petals slightly callose, distinctly veined; standard elliptic, clawed; keel-petals longer than wings. Androecium diadelphous; vexillary stamen free. Disk present around base of gynoecium. Pistil stipitate, style curved upward, stigma small. Loments linear; articles narrowly elliptic. Cotyledons epigaeous.
Two species in SE and E Asia.
1a. Leaflets apically attenuate to caudate; flowers 66.5 mm; corolla greenish or yellowish white 1. O. caudata
1b. Leaflets apically obtuse; flowers ca. 9 mm; corolla pale yellow ...................... 2. O. sinoluteola
_ﾁﾈｱﾈｬ xiao huai hua
Hedysarum caudatum Thunberg, Fl. Jap. 286. 1784; Catenaria caudata (Thunberg) Schindler; C. laburnifolium (Poiret) Bentham; Desmodium caudatum (Thunberg) A. de Candolle; D. laburnifolium (Poiret) A. de Candolle; H. laburnifolium Poiret.
Shrubs or subshrubs, erect, 12 m tall, much branched. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 1.54 cm, often very narrowly winged; terminal leaflet blade lanceolate or oblong, 59 Χ 1.52.5 cm, lateral ones smaller, abaxially apparently glaucous and more densely hairy on raised veins, adaxially lucid and glabrescent, base cuneate, apex acuminate or acute. Racemes terminal or axillary. 530 cm; rachises densely pubescent intermixed with minute uncinate and appressed or spreading longer hairs, 2-flowered at each node. Pedicel 34 mm. Calyx 3.54 mm, upper 2 lobes united for 3/4 length or more. Corolla green-white or yellow-white; standard elliptic, shortly clawed; wings narrowly oblong, clawed; keel-petals oblong, clawed. Ovary densely appressed-pilose on both sutures. Pod linear, flat, 57 cm, sessile, 48-jointed; articles narrowly ellipsoidal, 912 Χ ca. 3 mm, with dense short uncinate brown hairs. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Sep-Nov. 2n = 22@.
Mountain slopes, roadsides, grasslands, streamsides, forest margins; 1001000 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bhutan, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Vietnam].
The roots and leaves are used as medicine for expelling cheumarism??, promoting blood ?? and diuresis, and as a pesticide.
[note: Professor Huang treats this species as Desmodium caudatum].
Chinese name: ????????
Desmodium luteolum H. Ohashi & T. Nemoto, J. Jap. Bot. 73: 86. 1998, non Standley (1938); Desmodium sinoluteolum H. Ohashi & T. Nemoto; Ohwia luteola (H. Ohashi & T. Nemoto) H. Ohashi.
Shrubs ca. 50 cm tall. Stems glabrescent. Leaves alternate, stipulate, 3-foliolate, petiolate; leaflets stipellate, narrowly elliptic, principal lateral veins looped within margin, apex obtuse. Stipules persistent, narrowly triangular, 57 mm. Petiole slightly winged. Terminal leaflets stipellate, ± larger than lateral ones, 45 Χ 1.52 cm, abaxially appressed straight pubescent on veins, adaxially glabrous, rachis 58 mm, slightly winged, sulcate adaxially; lateral leaflets pulvinate, sessile, stipellate adaxially; stipels filiform, 24 mm. Inflorescences terminal, pseudoracemose, 57-flowered per node, appressed pubescent and with minute hooked hairs, 19 cm when young (probably shortly paniculate at lower nodes when mature); primary bracts narrowly triangular, 34 mm. Flowers ca. 9 mm; pedicel 24 mm, pubescent; bracteoles 2 at base of calyx, ovate, ca. 0.5 mm. Calyx campanulate, symmetrical to base, 5-lobed but upper two united near to tip, outside densely appressed pubescent; tube ca. 1.5 mm; lobes ca. 2 mm, almost same in length, lateral one narrowly triangular, lowest one slightly longer than others, inside appressed pubescent. Corolla pale yellow, distinctly veined; standard elliptic, ca. 8 Χ 5 mm, with a claw ca. 1 mm, slightly auriculate at base, apex slightly retuse; wings smaller than the keel-petals, ca. 7 mm, apex obtuse; lamina narrowly elliptic, ca. 5.5 Χ 2 mm, slightly auriculate at upper side of base, claw 11.5 mm; keel-petals 88.5 mm, apex rounded, lamina ca. 7 Χ 3 mm, auriculate at upper side of base, claw 1.52 mm. Androecium diadelphous; vexillary stamen free from stamens of both sides and with small openings (fenestrae) at both sides at base; remaining 9 stamens connate 4/5 or more of the length. Disk present at base of pistil, ca. 0.3 mm tall. Pistil slightly S-shaped, 7.58 mm, stipitate, stipe ca. 0.5 mm, glabrous; ovary 44.5 mm, 4-ovuled, densely appressed puberulent; style curved upward, pilose on both sutures; stigma small. Pods and seeds unknown. Fl. Sep.
* Riverside thickets; 400500 m. NE Yunnan.
[note: Professor Huang treats Desmodium luteolum as synonymous with Desmodium caudatum]
山蚂蝗属 shan ma huang shu
Herbs, subshrubs, or shrubs. Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate or 1-foliolate by reduction of lateral leaflets; stipulate and stipellulate. Flowers usually smaller, in racemes or panicles, axillary or terminal, rarely solitary or binate in leaf axils. Bracts persistent or early deciduous; bracteoles present or absent. Calyx campanulate, 4- or 5-lobed, bilabiate; upper 2 lobes connate for all or most of length, entire or 2-toothed at apex, lower lobes free, longest. Corolla white, green-white, pink, purple, or violet; standard elliptic or obovate to nearly orbicular; wings ± adherent to keel-petals, wholly clawed. Stamens diadelphous (9 + 1), rarely monadelphous. Ovary usually sessile, with several to many ovules. Pod compressed, usually indehiscent, transversely segmented, upper (adaxial) suture slightly constricted or straight, lower (abaxial) one constricted; articles mostly ellipsoidal to quadrangular. Cotyledons epigaeous.
About 275 species: mostly in subtropical and tropical regions; 30 species in China.
1a. Stamens monadelphous, axillary ones connate to above middle (only D. sequax to below middle).
2a. Stipules linear; keel-petals equal to wings; pod moniliform, with dense rust-colored or brown minute hooked hairs .......................................................................................................... 32. D. sequax
2b. Stipules mostly narrowly ovate; keel-petals shorter than wings; pod not moniliform, with hooked and straight hairs or glabrous.
3a. Bracteoles absent.
3a. Pods densely appressed sericeous; leaflets abaxially sericeous, midvein and lateral veins conspicuous .................................................................................................. 25. D. multiflorum
3b. Pods glabrous; leaflets abaxially velutinous, veins inconspicuous 26. D. amethystinum
3b. Bracteoles present.
4a. Terminal leaflets 517 cm wide.
5a. Young branchlets white pubescent; terminal leaflet ovate or broadly ovate, base oblique, abaxially densely sericeous ................................................................ 30. D. megaphyllum
5b. Young branchlets densely white- or gray tomentose; terminal leaflet orbicular, ovate, or obovate, base not oblique, abaxially densely gray or white tomentose ..... 31. D. yunnanense
4b. Terminal leaflets 15 cm wide.
6a. Terminal leaflets lanceolate or lanceolate-linear, more than 4 Χ as long as wide; pod glabrous ........................................................................................... 29. D. stenophyllum
6b. Terminal leaflets not as above, if lanceolate, then less than 2 Χ as long as wide; pod hairy or subglabrous.
7a. Standard apically emarginate; keel-petals not mucronate; young branchlets pubescent 27. D. elegans
7b. Standard apically orbicular, not emarginate; keel-petals apically mucronate; young branchlets subglabrous ...................................................................... 28. D. callianthum
1b. Stamens diadelphous, axillary ones free.
8a. Pod linear; articles linear, oblong, or oblong-linear to narrowly obovoid, ca. 3 Χ as long as wide or more.
10a. Leaves 1-foliolate.
11a. Leaves 1-foliolate, leaflet blade ovate, ovate-elliptic, or lanceolate, 512 Χ 25 cm; pod 812 cm, 68-jointed; articles longer than 12 mm ..................................................... 4. D. zonatum
11b. Leaves often 1-foliolate, sometimes 3-foliolate near base of stem, leaflet blade broadly triangular or broadly ovate, 23.5 Χ 1.52.5 cm; pod 23.5 cm, 35-jointed; articles 67 mm 5. D. gracillimum
10b. Leaves 3-foliolate.
12a. Terminal leaflets elliptic-oblong, 14 Χ 0.72.5 cm, lateral veins 4 or 5; stipules ca. 2 mm 6. D. scorpiurus
12b. Terminal leaflets basically ovate-elliptic, 4.510(15 ) Χ 36(8) cm, lateral veins 712; stipules 710 mm.
13a. Pods plicate when young; pedicels deflexed after flowering; flowers opening almost at same time; articles oblong; leaves always 3-foliolate ....................................... 3. D. hispidum
13b. Pods always straight; pedicels not deflexed after flowering; flowers opening one by one; articles linear to narrowly oblong; leaves 3- or 13-foliolate.
13a. Terminal leaflets ovate or ovate-elliptic, lateral veins 912; upper lobe of calyx entire or nearly so at apex ............................................................................. 1. D. laxiflorum
13b. Terminal leaflets rhombic-ovate or obovate, lateral veins 79; upper lobe of calyx 2-toothed at apex ....................................................................................... 2. D. diffusum
8b. Pod narrowly oblong; articles often orbicular, nearly oblong, or nearly quadrate, nearly as long as wide or slightly longer.
14a. Leaves 1-foliolate (D. styracifolium sometimes 3-foliolate).
15a. Leaflets orbicular to broadly obovate, reniform, or complanate-rhombic.
16a. Leaflets orbicular to broadly obovate, abaxially densely adpressed white sericeous, lateral veins 810 ....................................................................................... 20. D. styracifolium
16b. Leaflets reniform or compressed-rhombic, abaxially glabrous; lateral veins 3 or 4 21. D. renifolium
15b. Leaflets not as above, longer than wide.
17a. Leaflets 12.2 Χ 0.71.2 cm; pod glabrous ..................................... 19. D. rubrum
17b. Leaflets longer than 3 cm; pod hairy or nearly glabrous.
18a. Flowers crowded on peduncles; leaflets yellow-brown velutinous on both surfaces 14. D. velutinum
18b. Flowers lax, scattered on peduncles; leaflets adaxially glabrous, abaxially pubescent or villous.
19a. Flowering pedicel ca. 12 mm; pod subglabrous, glabrescent . 13. D. oblongum
19b. Flowering pedicel 25 mm; pod with hooked hairs.
20a. Corolla green-white; petioles with dense straight and minute hooked hairs 11. D. gangeticum
20b. Corolla purple; petioles sparsely villous 12. D. flexuosum var. cordifoliolatum
14b. Leaves 3-foliolate (D. tortuosum, D. dichotomum, D. reticulatum, D. heterophyllum and D. microphyllum sometimes mixed 1-foliolate leaves near base of stem).
21a. Terminal leaflets shorter than 2.5 cm.
22a. Racemes 6-flowered to numerous.
23a. Leaflets obtriangular-ovate or obovate, 12.5 Χ 11.6 cm; branchlets spreading yellow-brown or rust-colored pubescent; seed without aril .......................... 15. D. griffithianum
23b. Larger leaflets narrowly obovate-elliptic or narrowly elliptic, 11.2 Χ 0.40.6 cm, smaller leaflets obovate or elliptic, 0.20.6 Χ 0.150.4 cm; branchlets nearly glabrous; seed arillate 22. D. microphyllum
22b. Flowers solitary, in pairs at axils, or 2 or 3 scattered on peduncles.
24a. Terminal leaflets broadly elliptic or broadly obovate; flowering pedicel 1025 mm; articles of pod longer than 3.54 mm .................................................... 23. D. heterophyllum
24b. Terminal leaflets obcordate, obtriangular, or obovate; flowering pedicel 38 mm; articles of pod shorter than 2.5 mm ............................................................... 24. D. triflorum
21b. Terminal leaflets usually longer than 2.5 cm.
25a. Racemes shorter than 7 cm; flowers dense.
26a. Rachises densely spreading yellowish hooked-hairy; pod erect 16. D. heterocarpon
26b. Rachises densely adpressed gray-white villous; pod pendent 17. D. strigillosum var. pendenticarpum
25b. Racemes longer than 10 cm; flowers slightly sparse.
27a. Terminal leaflets narrowly ovate, or ovate-elliptic to long-elliptic, adaxially glabrous 18. D. reticulatum
27b. Terminal leaflets elliptic, broadly elliptic, ovate, broadly ovate, or rhombic-ovate to obovate, adaxially sparsely hairy.
28a. Upper suture of pods straight or slightly undulate, lower suture constricted between articles.
29a. Shrubs with terete and glabrescent branches; terminal leaflets elliptic or obovate 9. D. concinnum
29b. Prostrate or climbing herbs with triangular stems; terminal leaflets broadly ovate to rhombic, rarely elliptic .................................................... 10. D. intortum
28b. Both sutures of pods constricted between articles, moniliform.
30a. Flowering pedicel 817 mm, with minute hooked and glandular hairs; bracts caducous; leaflets sparsely hairy on both surfaces .......................... 7. D. tortuosum
30b. Flowering pedicel 25 mm, with minute hooked hairs and minute pubescence; bracts persistent; leaflets adaxially with adpressed and intermixed hooked hairs, abaxially densely adpressed-hairy ......................................................... 8. D. dichotomum
大叶拿身草 da ye na shen cao
Desmodium macrophyllum Desvaux; D. recurvatum (Roxburgh) Grah. ex Wight & Arnott.
Subshrubs or shrubs, erect, 30120 cm tall. Young branchlets with adpressed and minute hooked hairs. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 1.54 cm; terminal leaflet blade ovate or ovate-elliptic, 919 Χ 38 cm, abaxially densely yellow sericeous, adaxially sparsely adpressed hairy, lateral veins 912, apex shortly acuminate. Racemes terminal and axillary, often 2 axillary, to 28 cm; rachises pubescent intermixed with minute hooked hairs, 27-flowered, fascicled. Pedicel 510 mm, densely hairy as rachises. Calyx densely villous; upper lobes entire or nearly so at apex. Corolla white to violet, 47 mm; standard broadly obovate or orbicular; wings auriculate and clawed; keel-petals clawed. Pod linear, 2-6 cm, densely minute-hooked-hairy, 412-jointed, articles oblong, both sutures nearly not constricted between articles. Fl. Aug-Oct, fr. Oct-Nov. 2n = 22.
Secondary forest margins, thickets, grassy slopes; 2002400 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam].
单序山蚂蝗 dan xu shan ma juang
Hedysarum diffusum (A. de Candolle) Roxburgh (1832), non Willdenow (1801); Desmodium laxiflorum var. formosense Ohwi; D. unibotryosum C. Chen & X. J. Cui.
Subshrubs or shrubs, nearly erect, 30100 cm tall. Branchlets with adpressed and minute hooked hairs. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 1-4 cm; terminal leaflet blade rhombic-ovate or obovate, shorter than 9 cm, abaxially densely yellow sericeous, adaxially sparsely adpressed hairy, lateral veins 79, apex acute. Racemes solitary, often terminal, to 25 cm; rachises pubescent intermixed with minute hooked hairs. Pedicel 35 mm, densely hairy as rachises. Calyx densely villous; upper lobes minutely 2-toothed at apex. Corolla white to violet, 47 mm; standard broadly obovate or orbicular. Pod linear, 26 cm, densely minutely hooked-hairy, 412-jointed, articles oblong, both sutures distinctly constricted between articles. Fl. and fr. Aug-Nov.
Thickets, forest margins, mountain slopes; 1002500 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam].
This species has been confused with Desmodium laxiflorum. However, it is well distinguished from it by the terminal leaflets rhombic-ovate or obovate, shorter than 9 cm, acute at apex, lateral veins often 79 pairs; racemes solitary; pedicel 35 mm; upper calyx lobe 2-toothed at the apex; both sutures of the pods distinctly constricted between the articles.
??Chinese name
Uraria henryi Schindler; U. hispida (Franchet) Schindler.
Shrubs or subshrubs, erect, 0.51 m in tall. Stems striate; branches densely yellowish villous; old branches purple, glabrous. Leaves 3-foliolate; stipules ovate or narrowly triangular-ovate, 1015 Χ 34 mm; petiole 12 cm, densely yellowish villous; petiolules 46 mm; leaflets papery; terminal leaflet ovate to elliptic, 517 Χ 38 cm, abaxially yellowish villous, adaxially densely hispid, glabrescent, lateral veins 811 per side of midvein, reaching margin, margin entire, midvein and lateral veins prominent on both surfaces. Inflorescences densely yellowish villous, paniculate at terminal, fasciculate with (1 or)24 pseudoracemes or sometimes panicles at axil, 825 cm; primary bracts narrowly triangular-ovate, 45 Χ ca. 1 mm at base; secondary bracts 1.52.5 mm. Pedicel 45 mm, deflexed after flowering. Bracteoles absent. Flowers 28 per node, fasciculate, opening almost at same time. Calyx 34 mm, outside densely yellowish villous, 4-lobed; lobes lanceolate, subequal. Corolla , white, pale yellow, or greenish white, 45 mm; standard elliptic to broadly elliptic, without auricles, claw ca. 1 mm; wings elliptic, claw ca. 1 mm; keel-petals ca. 4 mm, auriculate, claw ca. 1 mm. Androecium diadelphous. Pods sessile, 1.21.8 cm, with dense hooked hairs, plicate when young, straight when mature, 47-jointed, both sutures undulate; articles elliptic, 2.53 Χ ca. 1.5 mm. Seeds elliptic. Fl. and fr. Sep-Dec.
7002400 m. Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan [India, Myanmar].
单叶拿身草 dan ye na shen cao
Desmodium shimadai Hayata; Meibomia zonata (Miquel) Kuntze.
Subshrubs, erect, 3080 cm tall. Young branches densely minutely hooked-hairy intermixed with sparse adpressed hairs. Leaves 1-foliolate; petiole 12.5 cm; leaflet blade ovate, ovate-elliptic, or lanceolate, 512 Χ 25 cm, abaxially densely yellow-brown pubescent, adaxially glabrous or sparsely minutely hooked-hairy on veins. Racemes usually terminal, 1025 cm, densely hooked-hairy and sparsely straight-long pubescent at rachises, 2- or 3-flowered at each node. Pedicel 410 mm. Calyx 2.53 mm; lobes longer than tube. Corolla white or pink, 67 mm; standard obovate, attenuate to base; wings narrowly obovate-elliptic, auriculate, shortly clawed; keel-petals curved. Pod linear, 812 cm, both sutures shallowly undulate, 68-jointed; articles oblong-linear, longer than 12 mm, densely and minutely yellow hooked-hairy. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.
Dense forests, forest margins; 5001300 m. SW Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].
细叶山蚂蝗 xi ye shan ma huang
Subshrubs, prostrate, 3060 cm tall. Stems sparsely appressed-pubescent and spreading minutely uncinate-hairy. Leaves 1-foliolate, rarely 3-foliolate near base of stem; petiole 0.52 cm; blade broadly triangular or broadly ovate, 23.5 Χ 1.52.5 cm, abaxially appressed sericeous intermixed with sparse minute uncinate hairs, adaxially subspreading- and uncinate-hairy, base cordate, apex obtuse. Racemes terminal, 820 cm; rachises hairy, laxly flowered, often with 3-flowered fascicles. Pedicel 46 mm, densely uncinate-hairy. Calyx 22.3 mm; lobes nearly equal to tube. Corolla white-purple, 45 mm; standard obovate, shortly clawed; wings and keel-petals wholly shortly clawed. Pod linear, 23.5 Χ ca. 0.2 cm; lower suture more deeply undulate, upper suture shallowly undulate, 35-jointed; articles narrowly elliptic, 67 Χ ca. 2 mm, with dense spreading minute uncinate hairs. Fl. Sep-Nov, fr. Nov-Dec.
* Waste places; low elevations; 200-300 m. S Taiwan.
蝎尾山蚂蝗 xie wei shan ma huang
Hedysarum scorpiurus Swartz, Prodr. 107. 1788; Desmodium akoense Hayata.
Herbs, perennial. Stems ascending or diffuse, hooked-hairy. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 1.53 cm, minutely hooked-hairy; terminal leaflet blade ovate or broadly elliptic to obovate, 14 Χ 0.72.5 cm, lateral ones slightly smaller, both surfaces adpressed hairy, lateral veins 4 or 5, base obtuse, apex obtuse-rounded or emarginate. Racemes terminal or axillary; rachises slender, minutely hooked-hairy, laxly flowered, 1- or 2-flowered at each node. Pedicel 37 mm, with hooked hairs, sometimes intermixed with straight hairs. Calyx campanulate, ca. 2.5 mm; upper lobes slightly 2-toothed. Corolla pink, ca. 4 mm; standard obovate; wings oblong, clawed; keel-petals obliquely obovate, long clawed. Ovary linear, ca. 3.5 mm; style curved. Pod linear, slender, 25 Χ ca. 0.25 cm, 38-jointed, constricted between articles; articles 46 mm, 34 Χ as long as wide, hooked-hairy. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct. 2n = 22@.
Open dry places; low and middle elevations; sea level to 500 m. Introduced and naturalized in S Taiwan [native of tropical America].
南美山蚂蝗 nan mei shan ma huang
Hedysarum tortuosum Swartz, Prodr. 107. 1788; Desmodium purpureum (P. Miller) Fawcette & Rendle; H. purpureum P. Miller.
Herbs, perennial, erect, 50200 cm tall. Stems with hooked hairs, sometimes intermixed with long hairs. Leaves 3-foliolate, rarely 1-foliolate; petiole 18 cm, hairy as stems; terminal leaflet blade elliptic or ovate, 38(14) Χ 1.53(6) cm, both surfaces sparsely hairy, base cuneate, apex obtuse. Racemes or sometimes panicles, terminal or axillary, rachises with dense minute hooked and glandular hairs, 2-flowered at each node. Pedicel filiform, to 1.5 cm at fruiting, hairy as rachises. Calyx 34 mm, 5-parted; lobes longer than tube. Corolla red, white, or yellow; standard obovate, 2.53.5 Χ ca. 2 mm, base attenuate, apex emarginate; wings oblong, base auriculate, shortly clawed; keel-petals obliquely oblong, clawed. Pod narrowly oblong, 1.52 cm, both sutures constricted between articles, moniliform, densely gray-yellow hooked-hairy, (3)57-jointed. Fl. and fr. Jul-Sep. 2n = 22.
Waste places, plains; low elevations. Introduced and naturalized in Guangdong [W India; South America].
二歧山蚂蝗 er qi shan ma huang
Hedysarum dichotomum Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 3(2): 1180. 1802; Desmodium diffusum (Willdenow) A. de Candolle (year??), non D. diffusum A. de Candolle (Jan. 1825); H. diffusum Willdenow.
Subshrubs or diffuse herbs, 2080 cm tall. Stems adpressed long straight hairy and spreading hooked-hairy. Leaves 3-foliolate, sometimes 1-foliolate near base of stem; petiole 1.53.5 cm, hairy; leaflet blade elliptic or ovate to broadly elliptic or broadly ovate, 1.57 Χ 16 cm, abaxially densely adpressed hairy, adaxially with sparse adpressed hairs intermixed with sparse hooked hairs. Racemes terminal or axillary or usually panicles, 545 cm, hooked-hairy, laxly flowered, 2- or 3-flowered at each node. Pedicel 25 mm. Calyx 4-lobed, ca. as long as tube; upper lobes 2-toothed. Corolla purple to violet, ca. 3 mm; standard obovate or broadly obovate, base shortly clawed; wings and keel-petals wholly shortly clawed at base. Ovary densely pubescent, 5- or 6-ovuled. Pod narrowly oblong, 11.8 cm Χ 2.53 mm, 5- or 6-jointed, densely hooked hairy, both sutures shallowly constricted between articles. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Sep-Oct. 2n = 22.
Forests, thickets; elevation??. S Yunnan [India, Malaysia, Myanmar].
凹叶山蚂蝗 qo ye shan ma huang
Desmodium barbigerum H. Lιveillι.
Shrubs, 80150 cm tall. Young branches with adpressed pubescence. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 0.81.3 cm, densely gray hairy, terminal leaflet blade elliptic or obovate, 49 Χ 1.53 cm, both surfaces with adpressed pubescence, base cuneate, apex acute to obtuse-rounded, mucronate. Racemes terminal and axillary, 2035 cm; rachises gray puberulent and hooked-hairy, 24-flowered at each node. Pedicel ca. 1 cm, hooked-hairy. Calyx 23.5 mm; lobes nearly equal. Corolla purple to violet; standard broadly obovate or orbicular, 5.57 Χ 56 mm, clawed; wings broadly obovate, 4.56 Χ ca. 3 mm, long clawed. Ovary hairy, 5- or 6-ovuled. Pod narrowly oblong, 46-jointed; lower suture deeply constricted near upper suture, upper suture thickened and nearly straight or slightly undulate, sparsely minute-hooked-hairy. Fl. Sep-Oct, fr. Oct.
Grasslands, mountain slopes, thickets; ca. 1300 m. Guangxi, S Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal].
??Chinese name
Hedysarum intortum Mill., Gard. Dict. ed. 8. Hedysarum no. 11, 1768; Desmodium nantouensis Liu & Lu.
Herbs perennial, scandent, up to 3 m long. Stems triangular, with white spongy pith, densely yellowish uncinate-hispid and pilose or sometimes nearly glabrous. Leaves 3-foliolate; stipules ovate, 412 mm, acuminate or caudate, often remaining; petiole 39 cm, hairy as stems; terminal leaflet blade ovate or sometimes broadly elliptic, 513 Χ 27 cm, papery, both surfaces appressed pilose, base rounded to truncate, apex acute. Racemes terminal or axillary, to 30 cm, rachises with dense appressed to patent hooked hairs, 2-flowered at each node. Pedicel filiform, 610 mm. Calyx 2.53 mm, 5-parted; lowest lobe longest. Corolla purplish red to violet becoming bluish or greenish white, 911 mm. Pods shortly stipitate, narrowly oblong, 24.5 cm Χ 34 mm, densely brownish hooked-hairy, 510-jointed, abaxial suture deeply constricted, adaxial suture thickened, slightly sinuate; stipe ca. 2 mm; articles semicircular or rhombic, 45 mm. Fl. Jul-Oct, fr. Oct-Nov. 2n = 22, 24.
100-1400 m. Taiwan [Introduced from Central and South America].
大叶山蚂蝗 da ye shan ma huang
Hedysarum gangeticum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 746. 1753; Desmodium cavalerieri H. Lιveillι.
Shrubs, erect or nearly so, to 1 m tall, much branched, pilose. Leaves 1-foliolate, variable in shape and size; petiole 12 cm; blade narrowly elliptic-ovate, sometimes ovate or lanceolate, 313 Χ 27 cm, abaxially sparsely gray villous, adaxially glabrous except for hairy midvein, base rounded, apex acute. Racemes terminal and axillary or sometimes panicles, 1030 cm, 26-flowered at each node. Pedicel 25 mm, hairy. Calyx ca. 2 mm, 4-lobed; lobes slightly longer than tube. Corolla green-white, 34 mm; standard obovate; wings oblong, base auriculate, shortly clawed; keel-petals narrowly obovate, not auriculate. Ovary hairy. Pod linear, slightly curved, 1.22 Χ ca. 0.25 cm; lower suture deeply undulate, upper suture slightly constricted between seeds, hooked-pubescent, 68-jointed. Fl. Apr-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 22.
Waste grasslands, secondary forests; 300900 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, SC Taiwan, S and SE Yunnan [Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Kashmir, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; tropical Africa, Australia].
心叶山蚂蝗 xin ye shan ma huang
Desmodium cordifoliolatum P. C. Li, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 11: 301. 1989.
Subshrubs. Branchlets sparsely villous. Leaves 1-foliolate; stipules 56 mm; petiole 78 mm, sparsely villous; blade ovate, 23.5 cm, abaxially villous, adaxially glabrous. Racemes 1015 cm; rachises sparsely villous, densely hooked-pubescent, 24-flowered, clustered??. Pedicel ca. 2 mm. Calyx broadly campanulate, ca. 1.5 mm. Corolla purple; standard broadly obovate, 4.54.7 Χ ca. 3.5 mm, base shortly clawed; wings oblong, ca. 3 Χ 1.5 mm, auriculate, clawed; keel-petals falcate-oblong, longer than wings. Pod narrowly oblong, 0.81.8 cm Χ 22.5 mm, 37-jointed; articles broadly ovoid, hooked-pubescent, reticulate-veined.
* Meadows; elevation??. Sichuan.
Desmodium cordifoliolatum was described from a specimen from Dechang, Sichuan. It differs from D. flexuosum in having smaller stipules, leaflets, and petioles. The first author regarded the former as a variety of the latter. However, Ohashi regarded D. cordifoliolatum as a synonym of D. gangeticum (Linnaeus) de Candolle (J. Jap. Bot. 70(2): 113. 1995).
The typical variety occurs in Myanmar and Thailand. It is a subshrub, 3050 cm tall, with leaves 1-foliolate; petiole 36 cm; blade (3)4.57.5 Χ (2.5)47.2 cm; stipules 0.91.2 cm.
长圆叶山蚂蝗 chang yuan ye shan ma huang
Shrubs, erect, 70150 cm tall, much branched, sparsely hooked-hairy. Leaves 1-foliolate; petiole 11.4 cm, densely minutely hooked and adpressed straight hairy; blade oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 712 Χ 2.54.5 cm, abaxially densely adpressed pubescent, veins sparsely minutely hooked hairy, adaxially glabrous except for hairy veins. Panicles terminal or axillary, 1030 cm, laxly flowered, 2-flowered at each node. Pedicel ca. 1.2 cm, elongated to 1.7 cm at fruiting. Calyx ca. 3 mm; lobes ca. as long as tube. Corolla purple or violet, 810 mm; standard nearly orbicular to broadly obovate, shortly clawed; wings obliquely oblong, auriculate, shortly clawed; keel-petals clawed. Stamens monadelphous. Ovary adpressed pubescent, 69-ovuled. Pod narrowly oblong, 1.53 Χ ca. 0.3 cm; lower suture crenate, upper suture deeply constricted, subglabrous, glabrescent, 57-jointed. Fl. and fr. Aug-Nov.
Broad-leaved forests or thickets; 10001900 m. Guangxi, Yunnan [Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam].
绒毛山蚂蝗 rong mao shan ma huang
Shrubs or subshrubs, to 150 cm tall. Young branches densely yellow-brown velutinous and shortly hooked-hairy. Leaves 1-foliolate, rarely intermixed with 3-foliolate leaves; petiole 1.51.8 cm, densely yellow velutinous; blade ovate, ovate-lanceolate, triangular-ovate, or broadly ovate, 417 Χ 2.511.5 cm, both surfaces yellow velutinous, indumentum denser and longer abaxially. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, racemose or paniculate, 410 cm, terminal ones often broadly paniculate, to 20 cm, 25-flowered at each node; bracts subulate or lanceolate, 2.512 Χ 0.30.7 mm. Pedicel ca. 1.5 mm. Calyx 23 mm, 4-lobed. Corolla purple or pink, 35 mm; standard obovate-orbicular; wings narrowly elliptic, auriculate; keel-petals narrow, not auriculate. Pod narrowly oblong, 12 cm Χ 23 mm; lower suture incised between seeds, upper suture nearly straight, with dense yellow straight hairs intermixed with short hooked hairs, 57-jointed. Fl. and fr. Aug-Nov. 2n = 22.
Sunny grassy slopes, streamsides, thickets, mixed forests; 1001400 m. Guangdong, SW Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, S Taiwan, S and SW Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; tropical Africa].
1a.. Bracts subulate, 2.53.5 Χ ca. 0.3 mm, sparsely hirsute; terminal inflorescences racemose or paniculate, 410 cm .................................................................................................... 14a. subsp. velutinum
1b.. Bracts lanceolate, 710 Χ ca. 0.7 mm, densely hirsute; terminal inflorescences paniculate, to 20 cm 14b. subsp. longibracteatum
绒毛山蚂蝗(原变种) romg mao shan ma huang (yuan bian zhong)
Hedysarum velutinum Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 3(2): 1174. 1802; Desmodium lasiocarpum (Beauvois) A. de Candolle; D. latifolium (Ker-Gauler) A. de Candolle; D. latifolium var. plukenetii Wight & Arnott; D. latifolium var. virgatum Miquel; D. plukenettii (Wight & Arnott) Merrill & Chun; D. velutinum var. plukenetii (Wight & Arnott) Schindler; D. virgatum Prain; H. lasiocarpum Beauvois; H. latifolium Roxburgh ex Ker-Gawler.
Shrubs or subshrubs. Leaves 1-foliolate, rarely intermixed with 3-foliolate leaves; blade ovate-lanceolate, triangular-ovate, or broadly ovate, 411 Χ 2.58 cm. Terminal inflorescences racemose or paniculate, 410 cm; bracts subulate, 2.53.5 Χ ca. 0.3 mm, sparsely hirsute. Corolla ca. 3 mm. Fl. and fr. Sep-Nov. 2n = 22.
Sunny grassy slopes, streamsides, thickets; 100900 m. Guangdong, SW Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, S Taiwan, S Yunnan [Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; tropical Africa].
长苞绒毛山蚂蝗 chang bao rong mao shan ma huang
Desmodium longibracteatum Schindler, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 21: 7. 1925; D. rufihirsutum Craib; D. velutinum var. longibracteatum (Schindler) van Meeuwen.
Shrubs. Leaves 1-foliolate; blade usually ovate, ca. 17 Χ 11.5 cm. Terminal inflorescences paniculate, to 20 cm; bracts lanceolate, 710 Χ ca. 0.7 mm, densely hirsute. Corolla ca. 5 mm. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct.
Thickets, mixed forests; 2001400 m. Guizhou, S and SW Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].
These subspecies were recognized at the rank of variety in the FRPS 41 (1995).
疏果山蚂蝗 shu guo shan ma huang
Desmodium griffithianum var. leiocarpum X. F. Gao & C. Chen; D. oxalidifolium H. Lιveillι.
Subshrubs or herbs, prostrate or ascending, 3060 cm tall. Branches spreading yellow-brown or rust-colored pubescent. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 0.62.6 cm, densely hairy as branches; leaflet blade obtriangular-ovate or obovate, 12.5 Χ 11.6 cm, abaxially adpressed puberulent, adaxially subglabrous, base cuneate, apex truncate. Racemes terminal, ca. 10 cm, rachises hairy as branches. Flowers dichotomous. Pedicel 35 mm, hairy as branches. Calyx 33.5 mm; tube 11.3 mm; lower lobes triangular, upper lobes distinctly 2-toothed at apex. Corolla purple-red, ca. 7 mm; standard nearly orbicular, clawed; wings oblong, shortly clawed; keel-petals smaller than wings, clawed. Ovary strigose; style glabrous. Pod deflexed, nearly oblong, 11.5 cm Χ 2.53.5 mm, lower suture constricted, upper suture straight, 3- or 4-jointed; articles nearly quadrate, hooked and straight rigidly hairy. Fl. and fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 22.
Grassy slopes, roadsides, pine forests; 15002300 m. Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan [India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].
假地豆 jia di dou
Shrubs or subshrubs, erect or prostrate, 30150 cm tall, much branched from base of stem. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 12 cm, slightly pubescent; terminal leaflet blade elliptic, narrowly elliptic, or broadly obovate, 2.56 Χ 1.33 cm, abaxially adpressed white pubescent, adaxially glabrous, base obtuse, apex rounded or obtuse, emarginate, mucronate. Racemes terminal or axillary, 2.57 cm; rachises densely yellowish hooked-hairy or adpressed white strigose, densely flowered. Pedicel 34 mm. Calyx 1.52 mm, 4-lobed; upper lobes slightly 2-toothed at apex. Corolla purple, purple-red, or white, ca. 5 mm; standard obovate-oblong, shortly clawed; wings obovate, auriculate, clawed; keel-petals extremely curved, apex obtuse. Infructescence crowded. Pod erect, narrowly oblong, 1.22 cm Χ 2.53 mm, upper suture shallowly undulate, both sutures hooked-hairy, 47-jointed; articles quadrate. Fl. Jul-Oct, fr. Oct-Dec. 2n = 22@.
Grasslands, grassy slopes, watersides, thickets, forests; 3001800 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bhutan, Cambodia, India, S Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Australia, Pacific islands].
1a.. Rachises with dense yellowish hooked hairs .......................................... 16a. var. heterocarpon
1b.. Rachises densely adpressed white strigose .................................................. 16b. var. strigosum
假地豆(原变种) jia di dou (yuan bian zhong )
Hedysarum heterocarpon Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 747. 1753; Desmodium buergeri Miquel; D. heterocarpon var. buergeri (Miquel) Hosokawa.
Rachises with spreading white hooked hairs. Fl. Jul-Oct, fr. Oct-Dec.
Grasslands, watersides, thickets, forests; 3001800 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Australia; Pacific islands].
The whole plant is used as medicine for reducing fever, and for treating contusions and strains.
糙毛假地豆 cao mao jia di dou
Desmodium nervosum Vogel; D. polycarpum (Poiret) de Candolle, p.p.; D. polycarpum f. hirsutum Pampanini; D. polycarpum var. trichocaulon Baker; D. siliquosum (Burm. f.) A. de Candolle; Hedysarum polycarpum Poiret; H. siliquosum Burm. f.
Rachises with dense appressed straight yellowish or white hairs. Fl. Jul-Oct, fr. Oct-Nov.
Sparse thickets, grassy slopes, streamsides; 400900 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, S Yunnan [India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam; Africa, Australia, Pacific islands].
Ohashis circumscription of Desmodium heterocarpon differs from the first author. Ohashi (J. Jap. Bot. 66: 14-25. 1991) recognized eight infraspecific taxa, including subsp. angustifolium H. Ohashi which corresponds to D. reticulatum Champ. ex Benth. in this treatment, and subsp. heterocarpon comprising var. heterocarpon and var. strigosum.
垂果山蚂蝗 chui guo shan ma huang
Desmodium pendenticarpum C. Z. Gao & Q. R. Lai, Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 9(4): 41. 1989.
Subshrubs, prostrate or ascending, to 1 m tall. Young branchlets adpressed white villous. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 0.71.8 cm, villous; leaflet blade elliptic, narrowly elliptic, or obovate-elliptic, 1.74 Χ 1.12 cm, abaxially densely white villous, adaxially glabrous, base broadly cuneate or orbicular, apex orbicular or obtuse. Racemes terminal, 2.57.5 cm; rachises villous, densely flowered. Pedicel 2.53 mm. Calyx ca. 2 mm. Corolla purple, ca. 6 mm; standard broadly ovate-orbicular or orbicular; wings auriculate at base; keel-petals nearly spatulate, curved. Pod pendent, 0.92 cm Χ ca. 2 mm, adpressed gray-white villous, conferted, lower suture undulate, upper suture straight, 38-jointed. Fl. Aug, fr. Oct.
* Mountain slopes; ca. 100 m. S Guangxi.
Ohashi (J. Jap. Bot. 70(2): 115. 1995) reduced Desmodium pendenticarpum to the synonymy of D. strigillosum. However the first author treats it as a variety of D. strigillosum based on the difference in indumentum of the branchlets, petioles, leaflets abaxially and the pods, as well as the difference in corolla color between both species.
The typical variety occurs in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. It is an erect shrub or subshrub, to 60 cm tall, with branchlets, petioles, and leaflets abaxially densely with appressed gray or silver silky hairs; rachises of the inflorescence with dense appressed white or silver silky hairs, intermixed with hooked hairs; corolla blue; pod densely with minute hooked hairs and long straight white hairs.
显脉山绿豆 xian mai shan liu dou
Desmodium heterocarpon subsp. angustifolium H. Ohashi; D. polycarpum A. de Candolle var. angustifolium Craib, nom. nud.
Subshrubs, erect, 3060 cm tall. Leaves 3- or sometimes 1-foliolate near lower stem; petiole 1.53 cm, sparsely hairy; terminal leaflet blade narrowly ovate or ovate-elliptic to narrowly elliptic, 35 Χ 12 cm, lucid, abaxially adpressed pilose, adaxially glabrous, base slightly cordate, both ends obtuse or apex acute. Racemes terminal, 1015 cm or longer; rachises densely hooked-hairy, remotely 2-flowered at each node. Pedicel ca. 3 mm, glabrous. Calyx 4-lobed; lobes ca. as long as tube. Corolla pink or blue, ca. 6 mm; standard ovate-orbicular; wings obovate-oblong, wings and keel-petals distinctly curved. Pod oblong, 12 cm Χ ca. 2.5 mm, subglabrous or hooked-pubescent, lower suture undulate, upper suture straight, 37-jointed. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Sep-Oct.
Thickets, grassy slopes; 200-1300 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, S Yunnan [Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].
This is a species similar to Desmodium heterocarpon, but it differs from the latter by the terminal leaflets usually narrowly elliptic, narrower, thicker, lucid adaxially; inflorescences longer and laxly flowered. Ohashi considers it as a subspecies of D. heterocarpon due to fundamental similarity in having erect or ascending loments comprising quadrate articles of 2.53 mm long.
赤山蚂蝗 chi shan ma huang
Orinithopus ruber Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 2: 452. 1790; Desmodium carlesii Schindler.
Subshrubs, prostrate or erect, 3050 cm tall, much branched. Leaves often 1-foliolate, rarely 3-foliolate; petiole 410 mm, densely adpressed pubescent; blade elliptic, sometimes narrowly elliptic to nearly orbicular, 12.2 cm Χ 712 mm, abaxially sparsely adpressed pubescent, adaxially glabrous, base narrowly cordate, both ends obtuse or apex slightly emarginate. Racemes terminal, 525 cm; rachises yellow hooked-hairy. Flowers extremely lax. Pedicel 23 mm, elongated to 7 mm at fruiting. Calyx often red; lobes nearly equal. Corolla blue or pink, 56 mm; standard obcordate, ca. as long as keel-petals; wings obliquely ovate, shorter, auriculate, wholly clawed. Pod narrowly oblong, ca. 2 cm, slightly curved, glabrous, lower suture constricted, upper suture straight, 27-jointed; articles nearly quadrate, distinctly reticulately veined. Fl. and fr. Apr-Jun.
Waste places, sandy sites at seasides; sea level. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan [Vietnam].
Because of its long taproot-system, it is used for protecting river banks.
广东金钱草 guang dong jin qian cao
Hedysarum styracifolium Osbeck, Dagb. Ostind. Resa 247. 1757; Desmodium capitatum (N. L. Burman) A. de Candolle; D. retroflexum (Linnaeus) A. de Candolle; D. rotundifolium Wallich; H. capitatum N. L. Burman; H. retroflexum Linnaeus; Nicolsonia styracifolia Desvaux; Pseudarthria capitata Hasskarl; Uraria retroflexa Drake.
Herbs, subshrub-like, erect, 30100 cm tall, much branched. Young branches with dense white or yellowish hairs. Leaves often 1-, sometimes 3-foliolate; petiole 12 cm, densely sericeous; blade orbicular or nearly so to broadly obovate, 24.5 Χ 24.5 cm, abaxially densely adpressed white sericeous, adaxially glabrous, lateral veins 810, base rounded or cordate, apex rounded or emarginate. Racemes short, 13 cm; rachises densely sericeous, densely flowered, 2-flowered at each node. Pedicel 23 mm, drooping at fruiting. Calyx 4-lobed; lobes nearly equal. Corolla purple-red, ca. 4 mm; standard obovate or nearly orbicular, clawed; wings obovate, shortly clawed; keel-petals longer than wings, extremely curved, long clawed. Ovary linear, hairy. Pod 12 cm Χ ca. 2.5 mm, pubescent and minutely hooked-hairy, lower suture undulate, upper suture straight, 36-jointed, reticulate-veined. Fl. and fr. Jun-Sep.
Mountain slopes, grasslands, thickets; below 1000 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hubei, S Yunnan [Cambodia, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].
The whole plant is used as medicine for curing nephritis-dropsy, urethra-inflammation, jaundice-hematosis, and irritation from nettle.
肾叶山蚂蝗 shen ye shan ma huang
Hedysarum renifolium Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. (ed. 10), 2: 1169. 1759; Desmodium reniforme (Linnaeus) A. de Candolle; H. reniforme Linnaeus.
Subshrubs, 3050 cm tall, much branched, often glabrous. Leaves 1-foliolate; petiole 12 cm; blade reniform or compressed-rhombic, often broader than long, 1.53.5 Χ 2.55 cm, lateral veins 3 or 4, both ends truncate or base broadly cuneate or apex emarginate. Panicles terminal or racemes axillary, 515 cm, laxly flowered, 25-flowered at each node. Pedicel 28 mm, elongated to 1.3 cm at fruiting. Calyx 4-lobed; lobes triangular, ca. as long as tube. Corolla white to pale yellow or purple, ca. 5 mm; standard obovate, base broadly shortly clawed, apex slightly emarginate; wings narrowly oblong, long clawed; keel-petals narrowly elliptic, long clawed. Stamens monadelphous, 3.24.2 mm. Ovary adpressed puberulent. Pod narrowly oblong, 23 Χ 0.250.4 cm, puberulent, becoming glabrescent, lower suture deeply or slightly constricted, upper suture straight or slightly constricted, 25-jointed. Fl. and fr. Sep-Nov.
Sunny grasslands, thickets, forest margins, broad-leaved forests; 1001000 m. Hainan, Taiwan, S Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam; Australia].
小叶三点金 xiao ye san dian jin
Hedysarum microphyllum Thunberg, Fl. Jap. 284. 1784; Codariocalyx microphyllus (Thunberg) H. Ohashi; Desmodium microphyllum var. longipilum Ohwi; D. parvifolium A. de Candolle; D. parvifolium f. yunnanense Pampanini.
Herbs, erect or prostrate, perennial, nearly glabrous. Leaves 3- or sometimes 1-foliolate; petiole 23 mm, when 1-foliolate 310 mm; leaflet blade narrowly obovate-elliptic or narrowly elliptic and 11.2 cm Χ 46 mm, or obovate to elliptic and 26 Χ 1.54 mm, both ends rounded. Racemes terminal or axillary, yellow-brown spreading pubescent, 610-flowered. Pedicel 58 mm. Calyx 5-parted; lobes linear-lanceolate, 34 Χ as long as tube. Corolla pink, nearly as long as calyx; standard obovate or obovate-orbicular, below middle attenuate, shortly clawed; wings obovate, auriculate and clawed; keel-petals narrowly elliptic, longer than wings. Stamens diadelphous. Ovary pubescent. Pod ca. 12 Χ 3 mm, both surfaces shallowly dentiform, often 3- or 4-jointed, sometimes 2 or 5; articles nearly orbicular, flat, minutely uncinate-hairy and ciliate or glabrescent, reticulate-veined. Fl. May-Sep, fr. Sep-Nov. 2n = 22.
Waste places, grasslands, thickets; 1002500 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, S Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Cambodia, India, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Australia].
The roots are used medicinally for reducing fever, relieving coughs, and dispelling phlegm.
Ohashi (J. Jap. Bot. 79: 126. 2004) considers this species as a member of Codariocalyx, C. microphyllus (Thunberg) H. Ohashi. This transfer is supported by molecular analysis, but we follow the treatment in the treatment in the FRPS for convenience.
异叶山蚂蝗 yi ye shan ma huang
Hedysarum heterophyllum Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 3(2): 1201. 1802.
Herbs, prostrate or ascending, 1070 cm tall. Young parts spreading pubescent. Leaves 3-foliolate, often intermixed with 1-foliolate leaves on lower part; petiole 0.51.5 cm; terminal leaflet blade broadly elliptic or broadly elliptic-obovate, 13 Χ 0.81.5 cm, base obtuse, apex rounded or nearly truncate, often emarginate. Flowers solitary or binate in leaf axils or 2- or 3-flowered in rachises. Pedicel 12.5 cm. Calyx 5-parted; upper 2 lobes deeply incised near base, villous and minutely hooked-hairy. Corolla purple-red to white, ca. 5 mm; standard broadly obovate; wings obovate or narrowly elliptic, shortly auriculate; keel-petals slightly curved, shortly clawed. Stamens diadelphous. Ovary adpressed pubescent. Pod narrowly oblong, straight or curved, 1.21.8 cm Χ ca. 3 mm, lower suture deeply undulate, upper suture straight, 35-jointed, flat; articles broadly oblong or quadrate, 3.54 mm, glabrescent, reticulate-veined. Fl. and fr. Jul-Oct. 2n = 22.
Riversides, roadsides, field margins, grasslands; 200500 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Australia, Pacific islands].
三点金 san dian jin
Hedysarum triflorum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 749. 1753; Desmodium triflorum var. adpressum Ohwi.
Herbs, perennial, prostrate, 1050 cm tall, spreading pubescent. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole ca. 5 mm; terminal leaflet blade obcordate, obtriangular, or obovate, 2.510 Χ 2.510 mm, base cuneate, apex truncate, slightly emarginate. Flower solitary or 2- or 3-flowered in leaf axils. Pedicel 38 mm, elongated to 1.3 cm at fruiting. Calyx densely villous, 5-parted; lobes narrowly lanceolate, longer than tube. Corolla purple-red, nearly as long as calyx; standard obcordate, base attenuate, long clawed; wings elliptic, shortly clawed; keel-petals slightly falcate, longer than wings, curved, long clawed. Stamens diadelphous. Pod narrowly oblong, slightly falcate, flat, 512 Χ ca. 2.5 mm, lower suture undulate, upper suture straight, 35-jointed; articles nearly quadrate, with hooked short hairs, reticulate-veined. Fl. and fr. Jun-Oct. 2n = 22.
Waste places, grasslands, roadsides, riversides, sandy soils; 200600 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Africa, tropical America, Australia, Pacific islands].
The whole plant used medicinally for inducing sweat and promoting digestion.
饿蚂蝗 e ma huang
Desmodium dubium Lindley; D. floribundum (D. Don) Sweet ex G. Don; D. mairei Pampanini; D. sambuense (D. Don) A. de Candolle; Hedysarum floribundum D. Don; H. sambuense D. Don.
Shrubs, erect, 12 m tall, yellow to white pubescent, becoming glabrescent. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 1.54 cm, densely tomentose; terminal leaflet blade elliptic or obovate, 510 Χ 36 cm, base cuneate or nearly orbicular, apex obtuse or acute, mucronate. Inflorescences to 18 cm, terminal ones mostly panicled, axillary ones mostly racemiferous; peduncle with dense upward sericeous and minute hooked hairs, often 2-flowered at each node. Pedicel ca. 5 mm. Calyx ca. 4.5 mm, densely hooked-hairy; lobes ca. as long as tube. Corolla purple; standard elliptic, 0.81.4 cm, clawed; obovate, 811 mm; wings narrowly elliptic, 0.81.4 cm, clawed; keel-petals 710 mm, long clawed, not auriculate at base. Stamens monadelphous. Pod 1.52.4 cm, lower suture crenate, upper suture nearly straight or slightly undulate, 47-jointed; articles obovate, 34 Χ ca. 3 mm, densely adpressed brown sericeous. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Aug-Oct. 2n = 22.
Mountain slopes, grasslands, forest margins; 5002800 m. Fujian, N Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bhutan, India, Kashmir, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand].
The flowers and branches are used medicinally for reducing fever by inducing sweat.
[Chinese name: ?????]
Shrubs, up to 2 m tall. Young branches angular, densely white or brown velutinous. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 1.55 cm; leaflet blade ovate or elliptic, abaxially white or brown velutinous, adaxially velutinous then becoming sparsely so, base usually cuneately obtuse, margin entire, apex acute or mucronate, terminal leaflets 512 Χ 3.56.5 cm, lateral veins 8-10 per side of midvein, reaching margin. Inflorescences 1525 cm; terminal ones panicled, axillary ones racemose, 2- or occasionally 3-flowered at each node. Calyx 2.53 mm, 4-lobed. Corolla amethyst; standard obovate, 8.510 mm, base cuneate, apex slightly emarginate; wings longer than keel petal, 10.511.5 mm, auriculate at lamina base; keel 810.5 mm, apex acute. Stamens 8.59 mm. Pod flat, linear, 1828 Χ 47 mm, glabrous, upper suture nearly straight, lower suture indented, 6- or 7-jointed.
Mountain thickets; ca. 1800 m. Yunnan [Thailand].
圆锥山蚂蝗 yuan zhui shan ma huang
Shrubs, much branched, 12 m tall. Branches glabrescent. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 24 cm; leaflet blade variable in shape and size, nearly ovate, ovate-lanceolate, ovate-elliptic, broadly ovate, rhombic, or orbicular-rhombic, 27 Χ 1.25 cm, base obliquely obtuse or cuneate, margin entire or shallowly undulate, apex usually acute to acuminate. Inflorescences 520 cm or longer; terminal ones mostly panicled, axillary ones mostly racemiferous, often 2- or 3-flowered at each node. Calyx 34 mm, 4-lobed. Corolla purple or purple-red, 0.91.7 cm; standard broadly elliptic or obovate, base cuneate, apex slightly emarginate; wings and keel-petal clawed, wings auriculate at base. Stamens 0.71.3 cm. Pod flat, linear, 35 Χ 0.40.5 cm, hairy, lower suture crenate, upper suture nearly straight, 46-jointed. 2n = 22.
Forest margins, forests, thickets, mountain slopes, rocky places, roadsides, ditches; 10004000 m. Gansu, NW Guizhou, SW Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, NW Yunnan [Afghanistan, Bhutan, NE and SW India, Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan].
1a.. Leaflets densely spreading white tomentose and sericeous abaxially; pod densely hairy as leaflet abaxially .................................................................................................................... 27c. var. handelii
1b.. Leaflets densely or sparsely pubescent to glabrous abaxially; pod sparsely adpressed pubescent or puberulent.
2a.. Terminal leaflet blade ovate-elliptic, broadly ovate, rhombic, or orbicular-rhombic; pedicel 410 mm; lower calyx lobes shorter than tube .......................................................... 27a. var. elegans
2b.. Terminal leaflet blade narrowly ovate or ovate-lanceolate; pedicel 1322 mm; lower calyx lobes longer than tube .......................................................................................... 27b. var. wolohoense
圆锥山蚂蝗(原变种) yuan hui shan ma huang (yuan bian zhong)
Desmodium cinerascens Franchet; D. cinerascens var. longipes Pampanini; D. cinerascens var. microphylla Franchet; D. elegans f. albiflorum (P. C. Li) H. Ohashi; D. elegans var. albiforum P. C. Li; D. esquirolii H. Lιveillι; D. forrestii Schindler; D. franchetii Rehder; D. glaucophyllum Pampanini; D. rhabdocladum Franchet; D. spicatum Rehder; D. tiliifolium (D. Don) Wallich; D. tiliifolium var. genuinum Schindler; D. tiliifolium var. potaninii Schindler; D. tiliifolium f. rhabdocladum (Franchet) Schindler; D. tiliifolium var. subtomentosum Peter-Stibal; Hedysarum tiliifolium D. Don.
Terminal leaflet blade ovate-elliptic, broadly ovate, rhombic, or orbicular, 27 Χ 1.55 cm, abaxially densely or sparsely pubescent to nearly glabrous. Pedicel 410 mm. Lower calyx lobes shorter than tube. Pod sparsely adpressed pubescent. Fl. and fr. Jun-Oct. 2n = 22.
Margins of pine-oak forests, mountain slopes, roadsides, ditches; 10003700 m. Gansu, NW Guizhou, SW Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, NW Yunnan [Afghanistan, Bhutan, NE and SW India, Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan].
A white-flowered form has been recorded as f. albiflorum (P. C. Li) H. Ohashi (=D. elegans var. albiflorum P. C. Li, Fl. Xizang. 2: 892. 1985.).
川南山蚂蝗 chuan nan shan ma huang
Desmodium wolohoense Schindler, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 21: 1. 1925; D. elegans subsp. wolohoense (Schindler) H. Ohashi.
Terminal leaflet blade narrowly ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 34 Χ 1.22 cm, abaxially densely or sparsely pubescent or nearly glabrous. Pedicel 1.32.2 cm at anthesis, nearly glabrous. Lower calyx lobes longer than tube. Pod sparsely puberulent, glabrous at maturity.
* Forest margins, thickets; 2900-4000 m. Sichuan, NW Yunnan.
Ohashi recognizes this form as a geographical subspecies differentiated from subsp. elegans.
盐源山蚂蝗 yan yuan shan ma huang
Desmodium handelii Schindler, Anz. Akad. Wiss. Wien. Math.-Nat. 62: 234. 1925.
Terminal leaflet blade ovate-elliptic, broadly ovate, or rhombic, 27 Χ 1.55 cm, abaxially densely spreading white tomentose and sericeous. Pedicel 410 mm. Lower calyx lobes longer than tube. Pod densely hairy as leaflet abaxially, ciliate.
* Mountain slopes, rocky places, forests; 17003100 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.
美花山蚂蝗 mei hua shan mz huang
Desmodium elegans A. de Candolle subsp. callianthum (Franchet) H. Ohashi; D. elegans var. callianthum (Franchet) P. C. Li.
Shrubs, to 2 m tall, much branched, glabrescent. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 13 cm, sparsely pubescent or nearly glabrous; leaflet blade ovate-rhombic or ovate, 1.34 Χ 13 cm, base broadly cuneate, slightly oblique, apex obtuse-acute, mucronate. Racemes terminal or branched in panicles, 1522 cm, 24-flowered at each node, internodes ca. 1 cm. Pedicel filiform, glabrous or nearly glabrous. Calyx ca. 3 mm, 4-lobed; lobes triangular. Corolla purple or pink to white, 810 mm; standard elliptic, base clawed, apex rounded; wings auriculate, clawed; keel-petals with base auric