Wei Zhi[1]; Michael J. Lock[2]
Chinese name
Evergreen shrubs. Leaves digitally 3-or 1-foliolate, stipules subulate, mostly adnate to petiole; leaflets entire, argent tomentose. Flowers in short racemes terminating branchlets; bracts small, deciduous, calyx bell-shaped, 5-toothed, subglabrous; corolla yellow, petals subequal, clawed; stamens 10, filaments free, anthers uniform; ovary stipitate, several ovules, style glabrous. Pod linear oblong, flat, dehiscent; seed reniform, compressed, strophiolate.
Two species: China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia; two species in China.
1a. Leaflets rhombic-elliptic or broadly lanceolate, apex
acute or obtuse, retuse; usually 3-foliolate, rarely single, veins
inconspicuous; pod flat, sutures straight
1.
A. mongolicus
1b. Leaflets ovate or broadly
elliptic, apex rounded, mucronate; usually 1-foliolate, rarely 3, veins
triternate above the base, obvious; pod rugose, sutures undulate
2. A. nanus
Chinese name
Piptanthus mongolicus Maximowicz ex Komarov, Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 18: 56. 1933.
Evergreen shrubs, 1.52 m, strong; bark yellowish green, timber brown. Stems branched, terete, ridged, gray puberulent at first, then glabrescent. 3-foliolate, rarely single, stipules small, triangular, adnate to petiole, argent tomentose; petiole 515 mm; leaflets rhombic-elliptic or broadly lanceolate, 23.5 Χ 0.62 cm, densely argent tomentose, veins inconspicuous. Flowers 812 crowded alternately in racemes terminal; bracts ovate, 56 mm, deciduous; pedicels 1 cm, subglabrous, 2 bracteoles at the middle; calyx 57 mm, corolla yellow, 2 cm, petals long clawed; ovary stipitate, glabrous. Pod linear-oblong, 58 Χ 1.52 cm, flat, acute, base with 810 mm stipe, seeds 25. Seed round reniform, 6 mm in diam. Fl. AprMay, fr. MayJun.
Sand dunes, platforms beside ravines. Gansu, Nei Mongol, Ningxia [S Mongolia].
Chinese name
Piptanthus nanus Popov, Bull. Appl. Bot. Genet. Pl. Breed. 26: 1. 1931.
Evergreen shrubs, branched, canopy rounded; bark flavescent, gray tomentose at first. Leaves 1-foliolate, rarely 3; stipules minute, subulate; petioles thicken, 47 mm; leaflets broadly elliptic to ovate, 1.54 Χ 12.4 cm, base wide cuneate or rotund, apex obtuse, mucronate, veins triternate above the base, densely argent pubescent. Flowers 415 congested in short racemes terminal, bracts deciduous, 2 bracteoles at the middle of pedicels. Pod linear-oblong, 35 Χ 11.5 cm, obtuse, base stipitate, inflated with seed, contracted between seeds, suture puberulent, seeds 24. Fl. Jun, fr. JulAug.
Gravel slopes. W Xinjiang (Ka-shen), [Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan].
Chinese name
Shrubs, 14 m. leaves digitally 3-foliolate, entire; stipules large, opposite petiole, base fused two third or more embrace stem, free blade acute. Racemes terminal, flowers 23 at node in whorls; bracts stipule-like, base connect in sheath, deciduous; bracteole absent; calyx 5-toothed, proximal 2 mostly connect with bifid tip, after flowering the calyx fell from articulator joint surrounding perigynous line; corolla yellow, petals subequal; stamens free, anthers uniform; ovary stipitate, ovules 210. Pod wide linear, stipitate, thin leathery, compressed, continuous inside; seeds lens-shaped, obliquely ellipsoid, with a minute strophiole.
Three species: Bhutan, China, India, Kashmir, Nepal; three species (two endemic) in China.
1a. Flower 2.53 cm; pod 1618 mm in width; stems and calyces white wooly; leaflets yellow pilose abaxially when young .................................................................................................. 1. P. nepalensis
1b. Flowers 1.82.2 cm; pod 812(14) mm in width; stems and calyces appressed pubescent.
2a. Leaflets glabrous or sparsely puberulent adaxially; pod
appressed pubescent
..................................................................................................................... 2.
P. concolor
2b. Leaflets densely tomentose on both surfaces; pod rusty tomentose ............. 3. P. tomentosus
Chinese name
Baptisia nepalensis Hooker, Exot. Fl. 2: 131. 1824.
Shrubs, 1.53 m. stems terete, ridged, white wooly. Stipules ovate, 714 mm; petioles 13 cm, with wide groove adaxially; leaflets lanceolate, oblong-elliptic, or linear-ovate, 614 Χ 1.54 cm, papery, base cuneate, apex acuminate, glabrous adaxially, dark green, yellow silky and white appressed pubescent abaxially, shedding off gradually, become glaucous, flat on both surfaces. Racemes terminal, 58 cm, with flowers in 24 whorls, densely white wooly; bracts wide ovate, 1.2 cm, acute; pedicels 22.5 cm; calyx bell-shaped, 1.21.6 cm, white wooly; corolla brightly yellow, 2.53 cm, vexillum broadly cordate, with 6 mm claw, wings shorter, keel equal or slightly longer than vexillum; ovary stipitate. Pod broadly linear, flat, 815 Χ 1.61.8 cm, base with 1.6 cm stipe, apex sharp-pointed, valves membranous, reticulate, many seeded. Seed reniform, 45 Χ 33.5 mm, compressed, brown. Fl. AprJun, fr. JunJul.
Coniferous forest margins, thickets, meadows; 18003300 m. Xizang [Bhutan, ??India, Kashmir, Nepal].
[India was in generic distribution, but was not here; presumably it should be added??]
[FOC does not treat forms except in synonymy or in notes following a species, so these three should either be synonymized, discussed in a note, or treated at a higher rank.]
1a. Ovary densely yellow sericeous, ovules 48; pod hairy; petals glabrous ............... 1a. f. nepalensis
1b. Ovary glabrous or ciliate on sutures, ovules 810; pod glabrous.
2a. Petals glabrous ............................................................................................. 1b. f. leiocarpus
2b. Petals shiny puberulent on apical margins................................................... 1c. f. sericopetalus
Chinese name
Petals glabrous; ovary densely yellow sericeous, ovules 48; pod hairy.
Coniferous forest margins, thickets, meadows; 18003000 m. Xizang [Bhutan, ??India, Kashmir, Nepal].
Chinese name
Piptanthus leiocarpus Stapf, Bot. Mag. 154: t. 9234. 1931.
Petals glabrous; ovary glabrous or ciliate on sutures, ovules 810; pod glabrous.
Distribution and habitat as mentioned above.
[Perhaps not exactly the same??]
Chinese name
Piptanthus leiocarpus var. sericopetalus P. C. Li, Fl. Xizang. 2: 719. 1985.
Petals shiny puberulent on apical margins; ovary glabrous, ovules 810; pod glabrous.
* Thickets on rocky slopes; ca. 3300 m. S Xizang.
Chinese name
Piptanthus bicolor Craib; P. bombycinus Marq.; P. concolor subsp. harrowii Stapf; P. concolor subsp. yunnanensis Stapf; P. forrestii Craib.
Shrubs, 14 m, bark dark brown, scattered obscurely lenticels. Stems terete, ridged, white appressed pubescent when young, becoming glabrescent. Stipules lanceolate to ovate, 711 mm, margins ciliate; petioles 1.52.5 cm, leaflets elliptic, oblong-lanceolate, to oblanceolate, asymmetric, 410 Χ 1.53 cm, papery, base cuneate, apex acute or acuminate, glabrous or sparsely hairy along the midrib adaxially, appressed pubescent abaxially, sometimes margins ciliate, lateral veins 68 pairs. Racemes terminal, sparsely hairy with flowers in 37 whorls, axis elongated in anthesis, internodes to 3 cm; bracts ovate or obovate, 712 mm, deciduous; pedicels 1.51.8 cm; calyx 11.4 cm, densely appressed villous; corolla yellow, 1.82 cm, with dark brown spot at center, vexillum orbicular, with 4 mm claw, wings short, keel longer than vexillum, to 2.2 cm; ovary short stipitate, ovules 810. Pod linear, 70120 Χ 912(15) mm, sparsely pubescent, with glabrous stipe, apex acuminate. Seed reniform, dark brown, 5 Χ 4 mm, compress. Fl. AprJul, fr. JulSep.
* Woodland margins, thickets; 16004000 m. Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.
Chinese name
Shrubs, 13 m; bark dark brown. Stems terete, ridged, young branchlets tomentose, becoming glabrescent with times. Stipules broadly ovate, 515 mm, tomentose; petiole 12 cm, furrowed adaxially; leaflets ovate-elliptic, lanceolate, to obovate-lanceolate, 2.58 Χ 13 cm, base cuneate, apex acute or obtuse, densely white silky at first adaxially, become scattered, rusty and gray mixed tomentose abaxially. Racemes terminal, elongated, 515 cm, internodes 1.52 cm, usually 3 whorls; bracts wide ovate, 11.5 cm, acute; pedicels 1.5 cm; calyx 11.2 cm, rusty tomentose; corolla lemon yellow, 1.82.2 cm, vexillum orbicular or wide cordate, with 6 mm claw, wings short, keel slightly shorter than vexillum, ovary densely rusty tomentose, with 5 mm stipe, ovules 48. Pod linear, 4590 Χ 910 mm, compressed, apex acute, rusty tomentose, seeds 26. Seed reniform, brown, 56 Χ 45 mm. Fl. AprJul, fr. AugSep.
* Thickets by woodlands, meadows on slopes; 30003800 m. SW Sichuan, W Yunnan.
Chinese name
Perennial herbs. Rhizome creeping, raising annual erect stems, basal stipules connect into sheath, thin and scarious, 3-fid. Leaves digitally 3-foliolate, pedicellate, stipules large, leaflike and free. Racemes leaf-opposite or terminal, bracts connate with lateral stipules, becoming 3-or rarely 6-fid, persistent; bracteoles absent; calyx bell-shaped, or gibbous on the proximal side like bag, 5-toothed; corolla yellow, rarely purple, petals clawed; 10 stamens free, ovules 422. Pod linear-oblong or ovate, straight or curved, leathery; seed reniform or orbicular, hilum small, white.
Twenty-five species: C and E Asia and North America; 12 species (four endemic) in China.
1a. Flowers alternate; petioles subequal to stipules; stems more than 50 cm.
2a. Leaflets 48 cm; stipules broadly ovate, obtuse or mucronate; pod inclined extrorse, valves papery, sparsely villous ............................................................................................ 1. T. lupinoides
2b. Leaflets 24 cm; stipules lanceolate, acuminate; pod pressed close to the stem, valves thin woody, appressed hirsute .......................................................................................... 2. T. chinensis
1b. Flowers opposite or verticillate; petioles shorter than stipules; stems less than 30 cm.
3a. Calyx not gibbous, base tapering, the distal tooth twice to the tube; flowers yellow or purple, plant densely villous.
4a. Flowers purple ........................................................................................... 11. T. barbata
4b. Flowers yellow ................................................................................... 12. T. gyirongensis
3b. Calyx gibbous proximally, the distal tooth subequal to the tube; flowers yellow.
5a. Pod elliptic or narrowly elliptic, inflated; leaflets obovate or broadly obovate; plant usually 715(18) cm.
6a. Pod stipitate, equal to the calyx-tube, beak exert from dorsal suture, down-curved, ovules 1217; seeds reniform; wings narrow than keel; leaflets broadly obovate, apex acute, both sides asymmetric .................................................................................................................... 9. T. inflata
6b. Pod without stipe, base tapering, apex rounded, mucronate; ovules 35; seeds ellipsoid; wings wide as keel; leaflets obovate to narrowly elliptic, apex rounded ......................... 10. T. smithiana
5b. Pod linear to oblong, compressed; leaflets oblanceolate, oblong, to ovate; plant usually 1530 cm.
7a. Leaflets narrowly elliptic or linear, length more 5 times of width; wings narrow to keel obviously.
8a. Leaflets glabrous adaxially, appressed pubescent abaxially; pod flat, 1013 mm in width, seeds close to dorsal suture ................................................................................ 5. T. turkestanica
8b. Leaflets appressed pubescent adaxially, rather dense
abaxially; pod prominent with seeds, 79(11) mm in width, seeds at central
line of valve
8.
T. mongolica
7b. Leaflets oblanceolate to ovate, length less 4.5 times of width; wings equal or a little narrow to keel in width.
9a. Leaflets plane, length 1.52.5 times of width, wings subequal to keel in width; ovary with 48 ovules; pod flat ...................................................................................................... 3. T. alpina
9b. Leaflets involve along margins, length 2.54.5 times of width; wings a little narrow to keel in width; ovules 1020; pod prominent with seeds.
10a. Leaflets to 7.5 cm; pod straight along suture ...................................... 4. T. lanceolata
10b. Leaflets less 4 cm; pod contract between seeds.
11a. Plant appressed puberulent or tomentose; leaflets narrowly obovate, rounded apex; seeds dark green ............................................................................................. 6. T. przewalskii
11b. Plant villous; leaflets linear-oblong, apex acute; seeds black ............. 7. T. yushuensis
Chinese name
Sophora lupinoides Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 374. 1753.
Perennial herbs, 5080 cm. Stems erect, vertically ridged, apical part white puberulent, basal part glabrescent. Stipules elliptic or ovate, 25 Χ 1.53 cm, equal to petioles; leaflets broadly elliptic, 3.58 Χ (2)2.53.5(4.7) cm, base cuneate, apex obtuse or acute, the terminal one rather longer, broadly lanceolate, glabrous adaxially, white pubescent abaxially. Racemes terminal, 518(25) cm, densely pubescent; flowers alternate, numerous and scattered, bracts lanceolate, 815 mm, pedicels 510 mm; calyx 10 mm, densely appressed pubescent; corolla 22.5 cm, petals subequal; ovary densely silky, ovules 1014. Pod linear, 39(12) Χ 0.50.8 cm, straight and tapering up, spreading extrorse, brown sparsely hairy. Seed reniform, compressed, 34 Χ 23 mm, dark brown. Fl. MayAug.
Sandy beaches and flood lands of ravines or marine areas. Heilongjiang, Jilin [Japan, Korea, Russia (Kamchatka, Sakhalin)].
Chinese name
Perennial herbs, 50 cm. Stems erect, ridged, spreading villous when young, become glabrescent, branched, branchlets upraised. Stipules at main stem linear-ovate, longer than petiole; at branches lanceolate, shorter than petiole; leaflets obovate or narrowly obovate, 24.5 Χ 0.82 cm, base cuneate, apex rounded, mucronate, glabrous adaxially, sparsely villous abaxially. Racemes 1030 cm, flowers alternate; bracts ovate, 1.21.9 cm; calyx 813 mm, sparsely puberulent; corolla yellow, 2.42.8 cm, petals long clawed; ovary densely silky, ovules 1622. Pod linear lanceolate, 57 Χ 0.70.8 cm, upraise close to stem, thin woody, beaked, appressed flavescent hirsute, seeds 1520. Seed reniform, 2.5 Χ 2 mm, red brown, densely glandular. Fl. AprMay, fr. JunJul.
Stream banks, waste fields, roadsides. Anhui, Fujian, Hebei, Hubei, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Zhejiang [Japan].
Chinese name
Sophora alpina Pallas, Sp. Astrag. 121. 1800.
Perennial herbs, 1230 cm, rhizome developable. Stems erect, unitary or little branched, white spreading villous at least on the nodes. Stipules ovate or broadly lanceolate, 23.5 cm, base cuneate or rounded, apex acute; leaflets linear-obovate to ovate, 25.5 Χ 0.82.5 cm, acute, glabrous or villous along midrib and margins adaxially, usually dense villous abaxially. Racemes terminal, 515 cm, flowers 23 verticillate in 23 whorls, bracts 1018 mm, villous; calyx 1017 mm, slightly gibbous; corolla yellow, 22.8 cm, petals with long claw; ovary with 25 mm stipe, ovules 48. Pod ovate-oblong, 25(6) Χ 12 cm, cuspidate with long beak, bright brown, flat, white villous, prominent with seeds, usually curved downwards, seeds 34. Seed reniform, brown, 56 Χ 34 mm, compressed, hilum gray. Fl. MayJul, fr. JulAug.
Sandy river beaches, alpine tundra, gravel deserts; 24004800 m. N, NE, and NW China[??which provinces], Sichuan, Xizang [Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia].
Chinese name
Thermopsis dahurica Czefranova; T. sibirica Czefranova.
Perennial herbs, 1240 cm. Stems erect, ridged, cream pubescent. Stipules ovate-lanceolate, 1.53 cm, acuminate; petioles 38 mm; leaflets linear-oblong, oblanceolate to linear, 2.57.5 Χ 0.51.6 cm, glabrous adaxially, appressed puberulent abaxially. Racemes terminal, 617 cm, flowers 23 verticillate in 26 whorls; bracts 820 mm, persistent; calyx 1.52.2 cm, gibbous, densely hairy; corolla yellow, 2.52.8 cm, petals with long claw; ovary densely hairy, with 23 mm stipe, ovules 1220. Pod linear, 59 Χ 0.71.2 cm, puberulent, beaked, brown, seeds 614, at central line of valve. Seed reniform, 35 Χ 2.53.5 mm, black with grayish waxy, smooth. Fl. MayJul, fr. JunOct.
Grasslands, ravines, waste fields. N and NE China[??which provinces] [Mongolia, Russia].
Chinese name
Thermopsis kaxgarica C. Y. Yang.
Perennial herbs, 3050 cm. Stems erect, ridged, branched, appressed puberulent at apical part, glabrescent basal part. Stipules lanceolate, 1.83.2(4) cm; petioles short or sessile; leaflets narrowly lanceolate, (2)3.58 Χ 0.51 cm, tapering at both ends, glabrous adaxially, densely puberulent abaxially. Racemes terminal, 4.515(20) cm, flowers in 56 whorls; bracts lanceolate; calyx 1520 mm, slightly gibbous; corolla yellow, 2.32.5(2.8) cm, petals long clawed; ovary with 25 mm stipe, ovules 1218. Pod linear, 4.57 Χ 0.81.3 cm, cuspidate, densely white pubescent, flat, prominent with seeds, seeds close to dorsal suture, ventral suture undulate. Seeds ellipsoid, 3.54.5 Χ 33.5 mm, dark green, opaque, hilum gray. Fl. MayJul, fr. JulAug.
Slopes, sandy ravine beaches; 12001800 m. Xinjiang (Tian Shan) [Mongolia (Altai), Russia (Siberia); C Asia].
Chinese name
Thermopsis kuenlunica Czefranova; T. lagyginii Czefranova; T. tibetica Czefranova.
Perennial herbs, 1018(35) cm. Stems erect, branched, ridged, densely pale yellow appressed pubescent or tomentose. Stipules lanceolate, 1.72.4(3.2) cm; petioles 37 mm; leaflets linear-obovate, 1.73.8(4.2) Χ 0.71.2 cm, the length 2.53 times of width, base cuneate, apex rounded, glabrous adaxially, appressed pubescent abaxially. Racemes terminal, lax, 511(20) cm, flowers in 36 whorls, usually shorter racemes at basal branchlets; bracts ovate, acute, 1.52.2 cm; calyx 1.82.1 mm; corolla yellow, 2.22.7 cm; ovary densely hairy, with 48 mm stipe, ovules 1018. Pod straight, linear, 3.55 Χ 0.81.5 cm, apex abruptly to long beak, thin tomentose, spreading from horizontal, prominent with seeds, contract between seeds, seeds 612. Seed orbicular or rounded, 3.54.5 Χ 34 mm, dark green, hilum gray. Fl. MayJul.
* Thickets or grasslands by ravines, valleys, and lakes, often mixed with Thermopsis alpina; 15002000(4600) m. Gansu, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Xizang.
Chinese name
Perennial herbs, 512 cm. Stems erect, branched, ridged, densely pale yellow villous. Stipules narrowly ovate, 712 mm, acute; petiole 34 mm; leaflets narrowly oblong, 1420 Χ 35 mm, base cuneate, apex acute, glabrous adaxially, densely pale yellow villous abaxially, especially dense on midrib and margins. Racemes lax, terminal, 45 cm, with flowers in 24 whorls; bracts persistent, ovate, 1012 mm, acute; calyx 1013 mm, gibbous; corolla yellow, 22.4 cm, petals subequal; ovary white villous, with 3 mm stipe, ovules 1416. Pod linear, slight curved, 56.2 Χ 0.70.9 cm, upraised close axis, acute with long beak, undulate along ventral suture, prominent with seeds, seeds close to dorsal suture. Seed suborbicular, 44.5 Χ 33.5 mm, black, hilum white.
* River banks, ravine beaches; ca. 4200 m. Qinghai.
Chinese name
Thermopsis hirsutissima Czefranova; T. saurensis C. Y. Yang; T. schischkinii Czefranova.
Perennial herbs, 2030(40) cm. Stems erect, unitary or branched, ridged, white pubescent. Leaflets linear-lanceolate to linear, 37 Χ 0.62.2 cm, base cuneate, apex acute, densely white appressed pubescent on both surfaces, especially dense and long hairs abaxially. Racemes lax, terminal, 518 cm; bracts narrowly ovate, 1.22(3) cm, acuminate, densely silky; calyx 1.42 cm, slightly gibbous; corolla yellow; ovary densely silky, short stipitate, ovules 914. Pod linear, straight or slightly curved, 48 Χ 0.71 cm, acute, spreading horizontally, right angle to axis, seeds at central line of valve, prominent, white pubescent, seeds 512. Seed reniform, 3.54.5 Χ 33.5 mm, dark brown, spotted, hilum white. Fl. JunJul, fr. AugSep.
Prairies, gravel deserts, saline beaches. Gansu, Nei Mongol, N Xinjiang [Kazakhstan, Russia (W Siberia)].
Chinese name
Perennial herbs, 1020 cm. Stems erect, branched, white specious. Stipules broadly obovate, acute, 1.52.5 cm; petioles 13 mm, or sessile; leaflets obovate, 12.5 Χ 1.6 cm, base cuneate, asymmetric, apex acute, glabrous adaxially, white spreading villous abaxially, especially when young. Racemes lax, 310 cm; bracts 11.5 cm, petioles 57 mm; calyx 1620 mm, slightly gibbous, white villous; corolla yellow, 2.5 cm, petals subequal; ovary linear, with 510 mm stipe, ovules 1217. Pod broadly ovate, 35 Χ 1.83 cm, bright brown, inflated, downwards curved, base with stipe equal to calyx, apex rounded, long beak exert from dorsal suture, white villous, seeds numerous. Seed reniform, 67 Χ 45 mm, black, smooth. Fl. JunJul, fr. JulAug.
Gravel meadows by lakes or streams, slopes, alpine rocky cliffs; 45005000 m. S Xinjiang, Xizang [Bhutan, NE India, Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan].
Chinese name
Thermopsis alpina (Pallas) Ledebour var. humilis Czefranova.
Perennial herbs, 712(15) cm. Stems erect, quadrangular, white villous, base articulate, with tawny membranous sheath, apex 3fid, cauline leafy, 24 branches. Stipules 1016 mm; leaflets oblong or obovate, 1.52 Χ 0.50.7 cm, base tapering, apex obtuse, rarely mucronate, glabrous adaxially, white villous abaxially. Racemes shorten, 35 cm, flowers 3 verticillate in whorls; bracts broadly ovate, acute; calyx 1.5 cm, slight gibbous; corolla bright yellow, 2 cm, petals long clawed; ovary subsessile, densely hairy, ovules 45. Pod elliptic, oblong, or obovate, 36 Χ 1.52.5 cm, base tapering, apex obtuse, short beaked, valves membranous, tawny when dry, white villous, seeds 14. Seed ellipsoid, dark scarlet, 67 Χ 5 mm. Fl. JunJul, fr. JulAug.
* Mountain slopes; 35004500 m. W Sichuan, Xizang, NW Yunnan.
Chinese name
Thermopsis atrata Czefranova.
Perennial herbs, 830 cm, densely white or brown villous, with silky shine, becoming sparsely in fruit. Stems erect, branched, ridged, leaf-blades at base 47 verticillate and connate in sheath. Stipules leafy; leaflets oblong, lanceolate, to oblanceolate, 12(3) Χ 0.30.5 (1) cm, lateral leaflets unequal, base tapering to narrow-winged petiole, apex acute, densely white villous on both surfaces. Racemes lax, 419 cm, bracts ovate, 11.5 cm, base connate in sheath; calyx 1.42(2.3) cm; corolla deep purple, sometimes become blue when dry, 2.42.8 cm, petals subequal; ovary with 48 mm stipe, villous, ovules 413. Pod long elliptic, acute, brown, 24.5 Χ 11.8 cm. Seed reniform, 78 Χ 45 mm, convex, yellow brown, hilum white. Fl. JunJul, fr. AugSep.
Valleys, slopes; 27004500 m. Qinghai, W Sichuan, Xinjiang (Tian Shan), Xizang, SW Yunnan [Kashmir, India, Nepal, Pakistan].
Chinese name
Thermopsis barbata Bentham f. chrysantha P. S. Li.
Perennial herbs, 2030 cm. Stems branched from the base, with woody articulate, 49 blades verticillate and connate in sheath, densely tawny villous. Leaflets oblong-lanceolate, 23 Χ 0.40.8 cm, lateral leaflets unequal, base tapering to narrow-winged petioles, apex acute, glabrous adaxially, tawny villous abaxially, especially on margins. Racemes lax, 810 cm, flowers in 23 whorls, bracts lanceolate, 1.22 cm, 36 connate from base; calyx 1.51.7 cm; corolla yellow, 2.62.8 cm, never become blue, keel obviously longer than the vexillum, ovary with 56 mm stipe, ovules 45. Mature pod not seed. Fl. Jun.