1. ANTHEROPORUM Gagnep. In Lecomte, Not. Syst. 3: 180. 1915.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Evergreen trees. Leaves imparipinnate; stipules and stipellae absent, petiole and petiolule often basally thickened; l leaflets 5-9(-11), opposite. Racemes many-flowered, 2-5 axillary at the top of branchlets; bracts and bracteoles small. Flowers 8-10 mm; pedicel slender, 3-4 mm; calyx cup-shaped, teeth inconspicuous; corolla white to pale pink, petals subequal, all long clawed, glabrous, vexillum obovate, without callose; stamens monadelphous; ovary hairy, stipitate; ovules 2; style subulate, short. Pod oblong-rhomboid, inflate, dehiscent, valves woody, vacuous inside. Seeds compressed-spheric, shining, with a round hilum 3 mm in diam.

Three species in S China, Thailand and Vietnam. Two species in China.

1a. Branchlets and leaves glabrous; inflorescences tawny pubescent; leaflets broadly elliptic-ovate, base tapering to petiolule, glaucous abaxially; petiolule blacken when dry 1. A. glaucum

1b. Branchlets, leaves and inflorescences yellowish hairy; leaflets oblong, base rounded, asymmetric, densely appressed silky abaxially; petiolule grayish hairy 2. A. harmandii

1. Antheroporum glaucum Z. Wei in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 19: 351. 1981.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Trees. All parts glabrous except the inflorescences, which are tawny pubescent. Branchlets smooth, olive green becoming gray. Leaflets 7, broadly elliptic-ovate, 12-22 ´ 4-7 cm, base tapering, apex acuminate to caudate, shining adaxially, glaucous abaxially, lateral veins 8-10 pairs, petiolule 5-10 mm, blacken when dry. Racemes 7-10 cm, usually 2-5 axillary at the top of branchlets, peduncles unequal in length, 1-2-flowered knobs congested at the axes. Flowers white, 10 mm, vexillum suborbicular, base tapering to long claw; wings oblong; keel subovate; ovary linear, hairy, style subulate, glabrous, stigma terminal, minute; ovules 2-4. Fl. Mar-Aug, fr. Jun-Aug.

· Seasonal rain-forest; 500-1300 m. S Yunnan.

2. Antheroporum harmandii Gagnep. op. cit. 181.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Trees, up to 10 m. branchlets yellowish velvety, scattered minute lenticels. Leaflets 7-9(-13), oblong, 11-18 ´ 3-5 cm, coriaceous, base rounded, asymmetric, apex acute, shining adaxially, densely sericeous abaxially, lateral veins 5-8 pairs, petiolule 6-9 mm, grayish velvety. Racemes 7-15 cm, 2-5 axillary or congested at the top of branches to compose large panicle, velvety. Flowers pale pink, 8 mm; pedicel 3 mm, calyx 4 ´ 3 mm, puberulous; vexillum obcordate; ovary hairy, ovules 2. Pod oblong-rhomboid, 8 ´ 3.5 cm, apex shortly straight beaked, densely yellow velvety, seeds 1-2. Seed chestnut-brown, 1.8 ´ 1.4 cm, shining. Fl. Mar-Oct, fr. Jul-Nov.

Mixed woods in valleys; 200-1000 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, [Vietnam].

2. AFGEKIA Craib, Bull. Misc. Inf. Kew 1927: 195. 1927.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Scandent shrubs. Leaves imparipinnate, alternate; stipules evident, caducous; leaflets 9-19, opposite; stipellae present. Inflorescences in axillary racemes or elongated panicles, often cauliflorous towards the trunk, with large imbricate tailed silky bracts in bud; bracteoles minute. Flowers 20-25 mm, calyx shortly 5-toothed; vexillum with 2 curved laminal calloses at the base, wings equal to the keel, both clawed; stamens diadelphous; ovary stipitate, hairy, 2 ovules. Pod tardily dehiscent, inflate, valves thick woody; seeds 1-2, ellipsoid, shining, hilum extend half the seed.

Three species in SW China, Myanmar and Thailand. One species and one variant in China.

1. Afgekia filipes (Dunn) Geesink, Scala Millettiearum 77. 1984.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Adinobotrys filipes Dunn, Bull. Misc. Inf. Kew 1911: 195.; Padbruggea filipes (Dunn) Craib; Whitfordiodendron filipes (Dunn) Dunn.

Large scandent shrubs, to 20 m. stems terete, sericeous with scarlet strigose when young, become glabrescent, yellow bark split longitudinally. Leaves (13-)17-19-foliolate, 25-35 cm, include petiole 5-8 cm; stipules narrowly triangulate, 6 mm, stipellae filiform, caducous; petiolule 3-4 mm; leaflet oblong, 6-10 ´ 2-3.5 cm, base rounded, asymmetric, lateral veins 7-9 pairs. Panicles cauliflorous, rough with scars of fallen bracts; bracts membranous, 2 cm, silky. Flowers 25 mm, pedicel 20 mm, calyx cup-shaped, hairy, pair of adaxial teeth united; corolla lilac, puberulous abaxially; vexillary stamen free. Pod spindle-like, 17 ´ 9 cm, velvety, single seeded, the indehiscent pod hang on trunk persistently. Seed as the shape of pig's kidney, 8 ´ 4.5 cm, dark brown, smooth and shining, hilum extend 3.5-4 cm. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Sep-Nov.

1a. Leaflets papery, silvering pubescent on both surfaces at first, then glabrescent 1a. var. filipes

1b. Leaflets coriaceous; abaxial surface, petiolule, and axis densely bright brown hirsute; adaxial surface rough, dark green 1b. var. tomentosum

1a. Afgekia filipes var. filipes.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Leaflets papery, silvering pubescent on both surfaces at first, then glabrescent.

· Sparse thickets; 250-1300 m. Guangxi, Yunnan.

1b. Afgekia filipes var. tomentosum Z. Wei in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 27: 75. 1989.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Leaflets coriaceous, abaxial surface, petiolule, and axis densely bright brown hirsute, adaxial surface rough, dark green.

· Edge of evergreen forest; 1100-1300 m. S Yunnan.

3. FORDIA Hemsley in J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 23: 160. 1886.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Shrubs. Bud supra-axillary, covered with many striking subulate cataphylls. Leaves spirally arranged and imparipinnate, stipules subulate, stipellae filiform in chinese species, persistent; leaflets up to 25, long acuminate, opposite, rather larger pairs at the middle of leaf-axis, basal one or two pairs are rather smaller. Racemes cauliflorous or axillary on branchlets of previous year; calyx indistinct 5-toothed, petals clawed, silky at basal and apical margins, callose absent, vexillary stamen free, ovary sessile, hairy, ovules 2. Pod clavate, flat, thin woody. Seeds 1-2, orbicular, lens-shaped.

12 species in continent and islands of SE Asia. Two species in China.

1a. Stipules falcate, persistent; leaflets 23-25, oblong, 4-12 ´ 2.5-3 cm; racemes 15-40 cm, flower 11-13 mm; pod 7-10 ´ 2-2.5 cm 1. F. cauliflora

1b. Stipules triangular-lanceolate, caducous; leaflets 17-21, ovate-lanceolate, 2.5-6 ´ 1.5 cm; racemes 8-13 cm, flower 8-10 mm; pod 3.5-6 ´ 1.5 cm 2. F. microphylla

1. Fordia cauliflora Hemsley op. cit.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Millettia cauliflora (Hemsley) Gagnep.

Shrubs, 2-4 m. Stems rusty tomentose, become glabrescent, rough with round traces of fallen leaves; buds covered many subulate cataphylls of 13-19 mm. Leaves to 50 cm, include petiole 10 cm, stipules 2-2.5 cm, falcate, persistent; leaflets (19-)23-25, oblong to ovate-oblong, 4-12 ´ 2.5-3 cm, base rounded, apex acuminate, densely pubescent abaxially. Racemes thick and straight, 15-40 cm, usually 2-3 get together, knobs wart-like, 3-6(-10)-flowered, bracts and bracteoles minute. Flowers roseate to purple, 11-13 mm. Pod clavate, 7-10 ´ 2-2.5 cm, shortly beaked, glabrescent. Seed orbicular, 1 cm, lens-shaped, dark brown, smooth. Fl. May-Sep, fr. Jun-Nov.

· Thickets on hills; 0-500 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, S Yunnan.

2. Fordia microphylla Dunn ex Z. Wei in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 27: 75. 1989.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Erect shrubs, up to 2 m. Stems yellowish tomentose. Leaves gathered at the top of branchlets, 15-20 cm; stipules triangular-lanceolate, caducous; leaflets 17-21, ovate-lanceolate, 2.5-6 ´ 1.5 cm; densely pubescent or tomentose abaxially. Stipellae filiform, 1.5 mm, racemes 8-13 cm, at the base of branchlets of previous year, knobs obscure, 2-5-flowered; flowers mauve or purple, 8-10 mm. Pop clavate, 3.5-6 ´ 1.5 cm, flat, dehiscent, seed 1, rare 2, orbicular, smooth. Fl. Apr-Jun, fr. Jul-Sep.

· Rocky slope in valleys; 800-2000 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan.

4. MILLETTIA Wight & Arnott, Prodr. Fl. Pen. Ind. Or. 1: 263. 1834.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Callerya Endl.; Imbralyx Geesink.

Trees, shrubs, or lians. Leaves imparipinnate, alternate; stipules present, persistent or caducous; leaflets 3 to many, entire, opposite; l stipellae present or absent. Inflorescences paniculate, but often racemose by contraction of flower-bearing branchlets reduce to knobs or brachyblasts; bracts and bracteoles present; calyx-tube broad, shortly 5-toothed, the adaxial 2 more or less connate; vexillum large, nude or callose at base, vexillary stamen free in bud and become adherent to the other 9 when mature; ovary linear, ovules (2-)4-10(-12), style straight or inflexed, stigma small, capitate. Pod 2-valved, flat, sometimes cylindric and tardily dehiscent; seeds numerous, rarely reduced to 1, lens-shaped or globule, funicle fleshy, swelling at the proximal side, surround the hilum a short ring-like aril clasping the funicle.

About 200 species in sub- and tropical Africa, Asia, and Australia. 36 species and 11 varieties in China.

Many species used in China for medicinal drugs, insecticide, or stupefy fish. A few species are cultivated as ornamental.

1a. Lateral flower-bearing branchlets reduced to mere knobs, wart-like or shortly cylindric, 2-5 flowers clustered.

2a. Petals glabrous; stipellae absent.

3a. Leaf-rhachis and leaflets glabrous.

4a. Leaflets sub-alternate, oblique ovate, base asymmetric; pod stipitate 1. M. ichthyochtona

4b. Leaflets opposite, oblong-lanceolate, base rounded; pod sessile.

5a. Leaflets 12-25 cm, lateral veins 11-13 pairs; seed flat; trees 3. M. leptobotrya

5b. Leaflets 9-12 cm, lateral veins 9-12 pairs; seed reniform; lians 12. M. entadoides

3b. Leaf-rhachis and leaflets at least hairy abaxially.

6a. Leaflets 7-11; pod flat; trees.

7a. Leaflets yellow tomentose abaxially; pod with 4 woody wings on the sides of suture 2. M. tetraptera

7b. Leaflets scarlet strigose on the midrib and margins abaxially; pod thicken on suture 4. M. erythrocalyx

6b. Leaflets 13-17, brown sericeous abaxially; pod inflat, woody, rough with densely warts; lians 11. M. pachycarpa

2b. Petals hairy.

8a. Stipellae absent.

9a. Leaflets puberulous or glabrescent; inflorescence shorter subtending leaf; trees.

10a. Leaflets puberulous on both surfaces, broadly elliptic, apex acute, papery; pod flat 5. M. pubinervis

10b. Leaflets glabrous, oblong or oblong-lanceolate, apex caudate, subcoriaceous; pod inflat 6. M. austro-yunnanensis

9b. Leaflets yellow velvety abaxially; lians.

11a. Leaflets lanceolate, lateral veins 9-12 pairs; inflorescence longer than subtending leaf, flower small, 10 mm 10. M. sapindiifolia

11b. Leaflets ovate, lateral veins 4-5 pairs; inflorescence shorter than subtending leaf, flower large, 24 mm 18. M. bonatiana

8b. Stipellae present.

12a. Leaflets 11 or less than.

13a. Leaflets glabrous adaxially.

14a. Leaflets 5; stem slender, without lenticels; lians 8. M. lantsangensis

14b. Leaflets 7-11; stem thick, with sparse lenticels.

15a. Leaflets coriaceous, shining adaxially, densely yellow silky abaxially, lateral veins 13-17 pairs; lians 9. M. pachyloba

15b. Leaflets chartaceous, lateral veins 8-10 pairs.

16a. Leaflets glabrous; inflorescence longer than subtending leaf, flower 19 mm; trees 13. M. macrostachya

16b. Leaflets yellow pubescent at least on the veins abaxially; inflorescence shorter than subtending leaf, flower 10 mm; erect shrubs 14. M. griffithi

13b. Leaflets densely hairy on both surfaces 17. M. oraria

12b. Leaflets 15-23.

17a. Stipules 8 mm, acuminate, woody, persistent; branchlets red brown tomentose; trees 7. M. cubitti

17b. Stipules 2 mm, caducous; branchlets gray yellow hairy.

18a. Leaflets densely velutinous abaxially; flower 16 mm; pod tomentose; treelets 15. M. velutina

18b. Leaflets puberulous to tomentose; flower 11 mm; pod glabrescent; erect shrubs 16. M. pulchra

1b. Panicles terminal, with long floriferous branchlets, or racemes axillary, flowers solitary.

19a. Petyxs glabrous; stipellae present.

20a. Calyx densely hairy, ovary silky.

21a. Leaflets 3, lateral leaflets unequal; pod inflat, seeds globoid 19. M. unijuga

21b. Leaflets 7-13; pod nearly flat, seed lens-shaped.

22a. Leaflets 7-13, olive green when dry; flower 3 cm 20. M. speciosa

22b. Leaflets 7, black when dry; flower less than 2 cm 21. M. fordii

20b. Calyx sparsely pubescent, ovary glabrous.

23a. Pair of downward spur beneath the base of stipules evidently; flower purple.

24a. Calyx and pedicel pubescent; pod oblong, convex, carmine when dry, suture thickened; leaflets large, 8 cm or more 22. M. eurybotrya

24b. Calyx and pedicel glabrescent; pod linear, flat, blacken when dry, suture not thicken; leaflets small, less than 6 cm 23. M. reticulata

23b Pair of downward spur beneath the base of stipules obscurely; flower white or green.

25a. Panicle terminal, branchlets straight; flower green 24. M. championi

25b. Racemes axillary, pendulous; flower white 25. M. kiangsiensis

19b. Vexillum densely silky abaxially.

26a. Leaflets 3.

27a. Stipellae absent; leaflets coriaceous 26. M. tsui

27b. Stipellae present; leaflets papery 31. M. sphaerosperma

26b. Leaflets 5(-7).

28a. Pod inflat, seed globoid or reniform.

29a. Branchlets, leaf-rhachis, and leaflets abaxially dense hairy, never shed; pod densely brown tomentose.

30a. Leaflets 4-8 cm wide, brown tomentose abaxially; pod more than 2.5 cm wide 27. M. oosperma

30b. Leaflets 1.5-3 cm wide, rusty hirsute abaxially; pod less than 2 cm wide 32. M. sericosema

29b. Branchlets, leaf-rhachis, and leaflets abaxially glabrescent or sparsely hairy; pod gray tomentose.

31a. Panicles lax, branchlets spread out; pod contracted between seeds, seeds separated.

32a. Floriferous branchlets slender; leaflets obovate, petiolules and stipellae 4 mm 28. M. cinerea

32b. Floriferous branchlets straight; leaflets oblong, petiolules 2-3 mm, stipellae 1 mm 29. M. gentiliana

31b. Panicles tight, branchlets congested; pod inflat, not contract, seeds contiguous 30. M. dorwardi

28b. Pod flat, seed lens-shaped.

33a. Panicles straight, branchlets contiguous, flowers closely arranged.

34a. Flowers purple, pod stipitate, brown tomentose; leaflets ovate-lanceolate or oblong, subcoriaceous, stipellae 2 mm, subulate 34. M. nitida

34b. Flowers white; pod sessile, gray hirsute; stipellae 5-6 mm, filiform 35. M. congestiflora

33b. Panicles spread, branchlets slender, flowers laxly arranged; pod sessile, gray hirsute.

35a. Leaflets usually 7, apex caudate; long pedunculate 33. M. longipedunculata

35b. Leaflets 5, apex acute; peduncle obscure 36. M. dielsiana

1. Millettia ichthyochtona Drake in Morot, J. Bot. 5: 187. 1891.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Trees, 10-15 m. Branchlets flexuous, glabrous, with longitudinal ridges; buds rounded, scales 6-8, broadly ovate. Leaflets 5-9, obliquely ovate, 5-8 ´ 1.5-2.5 cm, chartaceous, base cuneate, asymmetric, apex acuminate. Pseudoracemes axillary, the main axis often repeated branches, white crisp-hairy; flowers 1.5 cm, pedicel 10-15 mm, slender; calyx 5-6 mm, teeth triangular; vexillum broadly ovate, callus absent; filaments monadelphous; ovary stipitate, glabrous; ovules 2. Pod falcate-oblanceolate, flat, 11-14 ´ 2-3 cm, shortly beaked, stipe 1 cm, thin woody, smooth. Seeds 1-2, elliptic, light brown, 13 ´ 10 mm, flat, shining; hilum white. Fl. Feb-Apr.

Sandy river shores; 150-750 m. S Yunnan. [Vietnam].

Wood light, nearly white, used for construction works. Plant poisonous, seeds to stupefy fish, stem or root soaked in water applied to relieve the itch.

2. Millettia tetraptera Kurz in J. As. Soc. Beng. 42: 69. 1873.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Trees, 15-26 m. Branchlets grayish yellow, rough, yellowish tomentose, become glabrescent. Leaflets 7-11(-13), elliptic-obovate, 8-13 ´ 2.5-3.5 cm, chartaceous, base rounded or subcordate, apex obtuse, acute, or retuse, yellow tomentose abaxially, stipellae absent. Pseudoracemes axillary at the top of branches, flowers 2-5 clustered on knob, pedicel 7 mm; calyx 2-2.5 mm, teeth shortly triangular, corolla lilac, vexillum broadly orbicular; filaments monadelphous; ovary villose, ovules 4. Pod linear or oblong, flat, 15-27 ´ 3-3.5 cm, tapering to the base, stipe 2 cm, on both sides of suture protruded 4 woody wings, 1 cm. Seeds 1-2, broadly orbicular, black, 1 cm. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Sep-Jan.

Seasonal rain-forest; 780 m. S Yunnan [Myanmar].

3. Millettia leptobotrya Dunn in J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 41: 189. 1912.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Imbralyx leptobotrya (Dunn) Geesink.

Trees, 18-25 m. Bark gray, rough. Branchlets brown pubescent, become glabrescent, brittle. Leaflets 7-9, oblong-lanceolate, 12-25 ´ 5-8 cm, papery, base cuneate or obtuse, apex acuminate. Pseudoracemes axillary, straight, prolongate 35-50 cm, brown pubescent; flowers 1.1-1.3 cm, pedicel 2 mm; calyx 5 mm, pubescent; corolla white, vexillum orbicular, callus absent, petals subequal; filaments monadelphous; ovary silky, ovules 3-5. Pod linear-oblong, flat, 7-20 ´ 3.5-4 cm, apex beaked, base obtuse, sutures obscure, valves coriaceous. Seeds 1-3, light yellow, broadly orbicular, lens-shaped, shining. Fl. Apr, fr. Oct-Jan.

· Woodlands on slope; 300-1000 m. S Yunnan.

4. Millettia erythrocalyx Gagnep. in Lecomte, Not. Syst. 2: 356. 1913.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Trees, bark gray. Branchlets rusty strigose, become glabrescent, spotted lenticels prominent. Leaflets 7-11, ovate- or elliptic-lanceolate, papery, 3-6 ´ 1.5-2 cm, base narrowly cordate, apex caudate, glabrous and shining adaxially, scarlet strigose on midrib and margins abaxially. Pseudoracemes axillary on the tip of branches, 6-7 cm, densely dark brown strigose; flower 8-9 mm, calyx 3 mm, deep red, sparsely hairy, teeth truncate, ciliated; corolla lilac, vexillum glabrous, round tapering at base, with 2 minute callus; ovary villose, ovules 4-5. Pod linear-oblong, 9-10 ´ 2 cm, flat, slightly curved, tapering to the base, brown tomentose when young, become glabrescent, valves woody, spirally twisted. Seeds 2-3, chestnut brown, 13 ´ 10 mm, lens-shaped, smooth. Fl. Mar-Jun.

Evergreen broad-leaf forest; 650 m. S Yunnan, [Cambodia, Laos].

5. Millettia pubinervis Kurz in J. As. Soc. Beng. 42: 68. 1873.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Treelets, up to 8 m, bark gray, rough. Branchlets pubescent, become glabrescent. Leaflets 7-11, broadly elliptic, 6-14 ´ 3-5 cm, membranous, base broadly cuneate, apex acute, appressed pubescent on both surfaces, but sparse adaxially. Pseudoracemes axillary or supra-axillary, 10-15 cm, include peduncle 4-5 cm, brachyblast 1 mm, 1-2-flowered; pedicel filiform, 4-5 mm, flower 10 mm, calyx 3 mm, densely brown pubescent; corolla pale red, vexillum orbicular, fine wooly abaxially, base auriculate, callus absent; ovary pubescent, ovules 2-6. Pod linear, 9-12 ´ 1.3-2 cm, flat, base rounded, apex abruptly beaked, yellow tomentose, valves thin coriaceous, twisted; seeds 1-3, oblate, dark brown. Fl. Apr-Aug, fr. Sep.

Thickets on margins of forest; 500-800 m. S Yunnan, [Myanmar, Thailand].

6. Millettia austro-yunnanensis Y. Y. Qian in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 35: 183. 1997.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Treelets, 4-6 m, bark gray, rough. Branchlets pubescent. Leaflets 7-9, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, subcoriaceous, 4-20 ´ 1.3-5 cm, base cuneate, apex caudate, glabrous adaxially, sparsely strigose abaxially, lateral veins 7-11 pairs. Pseudoracemes axillary 4-14 cm, 1-2-flowered; pedicel 1-2 mm, flower 10-15 mm, calyx 5-6 mm, densely yellow pubescent; corolla white, vexillum orbicular, puberulous abaxially, callus and auricle absent; ovary villose, stipitate, ovules 7-9. Pod linear, 10-15 ´ 1.8-2.8 cm, inflated, base stipitate, apex beaked, gray tomentose, woody; seeds 3-5, extruded ovoid, 2-2.5 cm. Fl. Apr, fr. Sep-Dec.

· Sparse woodland; 2000 m. S Yunnan.

7. Millettia cubitti Dunn in J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 41: 188. 1912.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Trees, 8-10 m. Branchlets ridged, scarlets tomentose, with evident leaf traces. Stipules subulate, 8 mm, sturdy and straight, persistent. Leaflets 13-17, oblong-lanceolate, 8-11 ´ 2.2-3 cm, subcoriaceous, base rounded, apex acuminate, asymmetric, appressed brown pubescent on the midrib of both surfaces. Pseudoracemes axillary, gathered at the tip of branches, 15-25 cm, laxly arranged 2-4-flowered knobs; flower 2.2 cm, pedicel 1 cm, calyx 6-7 mm; corolla purple, vexillum orbicular, base auriculate, near the claw 2 columnar callus; ovary densely red villose, ovules numerous. Pod linear-oblong, 18-22 ´ 2.5-3 cm, flat, brown tomentose, valves woody; seeds 5.

Woodlands by river shore; 350-1000 m. S Yunnan, [Myanmar].

8. Millettia lantsangensis Z. Wei in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23: 277. 1985.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Lians, 2-4 m. Branches soft, ridged longitudinally, without lenticels; young branchlets, leaf-rhachis, and inflorescence appressed retrose hirsute, yellowish green. Leaves 25-35 cm, include petiole 8-13 cm, stipules linear, acuminate, 4 mm; leaflets 5, rhombic-ovate, 8-18 ´ 3.5-6 cm, papery, base broadly cuneate, asymmetric, apex acuminate, pilose on midrib adaxially, densely hirsute abaxially, stipellae setose, 4 mm. Pseudoracemes axillary, slender, 30-50 cm, include peduncle 6-10 cm; flowers 3-4 clustered on knobs, densely gathered at apical part. Flower 8 mm, pedicel 1 mm, calyx 6 ´ 4 mm, densely hirsute, teeth longer than the tube, the adaxial pair of teeth connate; corolla pale pink, vexillum orbicular, with short claw, callus absent, densely silky abaxially; vexillary stamen free; ovary silky, shortly stipitate; ovules 10-12. Pod rhombic-oblong or clavate, 7 ´ 3 cm, inflat, base tapering to short stipe, apex beaked, brown tomentose; seed usually 1, dark brown, ellipsoid, 2.5 ´ 2 cm, shining. Fl. May, fr. Jul.

· Thickets on slopes; 1200-1600 m. SW Yunnan.

9. Milletia pachyloba Drake in Morot, J. Bot. 5: 187. 1891.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

M. lasiopetala (Hayata) Merril; M. obovata Gagnep.

Lians, up to 20 m, bark yellow, split longitudinally. Branches straight, densely brown sericeous, become glabrescent, sparsely scattered large lenticels, hollow. Leaflets 9, elliptic- or obovate-oblong, 7-17 ´ 3-5.5 cm, chartaceous, base rounded, apex acute or obtuse, sometimes emarginate, yellow sericeous abaxially, lateral veins 13-17 pairs, stipellae setose, 3 mm. Pseudoracemes axillary at the tip of branches, 20-30 cm, brown sericeous, brachyblasts 4-5 mm, flowers 3-7 clustered; flower 1.2-1.5 cm, pedicel 2-3 mm, calyx 3 ´ 4-5 mm, silky; corolla lilac, oblate, vexillum sericeous abaxially, callus absent; ovary silky, ovules 4-6. Pod rhombic-oblong, 5-8 ´ 3-4 cm, inflat, woody, base rounded, apex beaked, yellow tomentose; seed 1-4, dark brown, ovoid, shining. Fl. Apr-Jun, fr. Jul-Nov.

Evergreen broad-leaved forest in valleys; 300-2000 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, S Guizhou, Hainan, Yunnan, [Vietnam].

10. Millettia sapindiifolia T. Chen in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 3: 361. 1954.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Lians. Branchlets yellow tomentose. Leaflets 7-11, oblong- or lanceolate-elliptic, 6.5-11 ´ 2.8-3.5 cm, papery, base broadly cuneate, apex caudate, shining and sparsely pilose adaxially, brown tomentose abaxially, lateral veins 9-12 pairs. Pseudoracemes axillary at the tip of branches, 15-27 cm, yellow tomentose, brachyblasts 2-3 mm, flowers 3-5 clustered; flower 1.2 cm, pedicel 2-3 mm, calyx 5 mm; corolla white, vexillum obovate, apex emarginate, brown silky abaxially; vexillary stamen free; ovary silky, shortly stipitate, ovules 3-4. Pod oblong, inflat, base tapering to the stipe, apex beaked, densely yellow villose. Fl. Jun-Jul.

· Thickets on slopes; 1150 m. Guangxi, Guizhou.

11. Millettia pachycarpa Benth. In Miq. Pl. Jungh. 250. 1855.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Whitfordiodendron taiwaniana (Hayata) Ohwi.

Lians, up to 15 m. Branchlets brown, yellow tomentose when young, become glabrescent, blacken and hollow, scattered with brown lenticels. Leaflets 13-17, elliptic- to lanceolate-oblong, 10-18 ´ 3.5-4.5 cm, chartaceous, base cuneate or rounded, apex acute, appressed silky abaxially. Pseudoracemes repeated 2-6 branches beneath new stems, 15-30 cm, brown tomentose, brachyblasts 1-3 mm, flowers 2-5 clustered; flower 2.1-2.3 cm, pedicel 6-8 mm, calyx 6 mm; corolla lilac, vexillum obovate, glabrous or ciliate at the apical margin, callus absent; ovary tomentose, ovules 5-7. Pod dark brown, inflat, oblong or ovoid when single seed, 5-25 ´ 4 cm, glabrescent, densely covered pale yellow warts, valves woody, thick; seeds 1-5, dark brown, reniform. Fl. Apr-Jun, fr. Jul-Nov.

Evergreen broadleaved forest in valleys; 120-2000 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan, S Zhejiang, [Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam].

Seeds and root to grind powder used for insecticide; bark fiber for rough ropes.

12. Millettia entadoides Z. Wei in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23: 278. 1985.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Lians. Branchlets yellow, trailed, glabrous, densely prominent tiny lenticels. Leaflets 7-13, oblanceolate to oblong, 9-12 ´ 2-3 cm, chartaceous, base broadly cuneate, apex caudate, glabrous, lateral veins 9-12 pairs. Pseudoracemes axillary or cauliflorous, 12-15 cm, glabrescent, 2-3 flowers clustered on knobs; calyx 4 ´ 5 mm, teeth obscure; petals unknown. Pod yellow, linear-oblong, 20 ´ 4 cm, glabrous, woody, both ends rounded, sutures thicken, contracted between seeds, inflat; seeds 2-4, dark brown, reniform, 3 ´ 2.6 cm. Fl. Apr, fr. Aug-Nov.

· Thickets on slope of uplands; 1500-2600 m. SW Yunnan.

13. Millettia macrostachya Coll. & Hemsley in J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 28: 41. 1890.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

M. macrostachya var. multifoliolata Y. Y. Qian.

Trees, 10 m. Branchlets dark brown, ridged, glabrous, scattered with fine lenticels. Leaflets 7-11(-13), broadly oblong or obovate-elliptic, papery, 8-16 ´ 4-8 cm, base broadly cuneate, slight asymmetric, apex acute, glabrescent on both surfaces, lateral veins 8-10 pairs. Pseudoracemes axillary, thick and straight, 35-50 cm, longer than subtending leaf, slightly puberulous, brachyblast 2-4 mm, whorled on axis, 3-7 flowers clustered; flower 1.8 cm; pedicel 4-5 mm, brown puberulous; corolla pale red to lilac, vexillum orbicular, apex purple striped, puberulous, base auriculate, callus absent; ovary hairy, ovules numerous. Pod linear, 8-22 ´ 1.5 cm, coriaceous, suture thicken, apex beaked, seeds 5-8. Fl. Mar, fr. Jun-Aug.

Thickets on slopes; 840 m. S Yunnan, [Myanmar].

Occasionally cultivated in courtyard.

14. Millettia griffithi Dunn in J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 41: 146. 1912.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Erect shrubs. Branchlets yellow pubescent when young, become glabrescent, gray brown, scattered with lenticels. Leaflets 7-13, oblong-lanceolate, 7-16 ´ 4-5 cm, papery, base cuneate, apex acute, glabrescent adaxially, densely brown hairy especially on the veins abaxially, lateral veins 8-10 pairs. Pseudoracemes gathered at the tip of branches axillary, knobs sparse and short, 1-3 flowers clustered; flower 1 cm, pedicel 1.5-2 mm, fine puberulous; corolla pale pink, vexillum orbicular, apex puberulous abaxially; ovary hairy, stipitate, ovules 3. Pod linear, 9-10 ´ 1.5 cm, flat, apex rounded with a short beak, suture obviously thicken, appressed creamy pubescent, valves thin coriaceous, twisted; seeds 3, oblate. Fl. May-Jul, fr. Aug-Nov.

Sparse woods on slopes or near village; 1100 m. S Yunnan, [Myanmar].

15. Millettia velutina Dunn, op. cit. 149.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Trees, 8-15 m. Bark rough, grayish brown. Branchlets yellow tomentose, shedding gradually, scattered with minute prominent lenticels. Leaflets 15-19, oblong-lanceolate or oblong , 4-9 ´ 1.5-2.5 cm, papery, base obtuse or broadly cuneate, apex acute, fine appressed pubescent adaxially, yellow velvety abaxially, especially on veins. Pseudoracemes axillary, 20-25 cm, shorter than subtending leaf, peduncle 3.5-8 cm, yellow tomentose, brachyblasts short and decurrent, 4-5 flowers clustered; flower 1.3-1.6 cm, pedicel 4-5 mm, calyx 5 mm, teeth cuspidate, longer than the tube; corolla white to lilac, broadly orbicular, sparsely puberulous at the tip; ovary densely silky, ovules 6-7. Pod linear, 9-14 ´ 1.3-1.6 cm, flat, thin coriaceous, apex truncate with a beak, suture prominent, brown tomentose; seeds 3-5, chestnut, oblong, 12 ´ 8 mm, compressed. Fl. May-Aug, fr. Jul-Nov.

· Thickets and woods in evergreen forest; 500-1850 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan.

16. Millettia pulchra (Benth.) Kurz in J. As. Soc. Beng. 42: 69. 1873.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Shrubs or treelets, 3-8 m. Branchlets and inflorescences gray yellow pubescent, become glabrescent. Leaflets 13-19, lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, 2-6 ´ 0.7-1.5 cm, papery to chartaceous, dark green adaxially, pale green abaxially, petiolule 2 mm, hairy, stipellae setose, 1-3 mm. Pseudoracemes axillary, 6-15 cm, flowers 3-4 clustered on knobs, pedicel 3-4 mm, flowers 9-12 mm, calyx 4 mm, teeth triangular, shorter than the tube; corolla pale red to scarlet, vexillum oblong, apex retuse; ovary pubescent, ovules 5. Pod linear, 5-10 ´ 1-1.5 cm, flat, gray pubescent, shedding glabrescent, valves subcoriaceous; seeds 2-4, brown, elliptic, 10 mm. Fl. Apr-Aug, fr. Jun-Oct.

1a. Leaflets pubescent adaxially.

2a. Leaflets rather large and wide, more than 5 cm.

3a. Leaflets lanceolate-elliptic, apex acuminate, lateral veins 7-10 pairs.

4a. Leaflets appressed pilose abaxially 16b. var. laxior

4b. Leaflets gray tomentose abaxially 16d. var. tomentosa

3b. Leaflets oblong, base asymmetric, apex acute, lateral veins 6-7 pairs, sunken adaxially 16e. var. yunnanensis

2b. Leaflets rather small and narrow, less than 3.5 cm.

5a. Leaflets lanceolate, lateral veins 5-6 pairs, flat adaxially 16a. var. pulchra

5b. Leaflets narrowly elliptic, lateral veins 6-7 pairs, midrib sunken adaxially 16c. var. chinensis

1b. Leaflets glabrous adaxially, but pilose on midrib and margins when young.

6a. Leaflets ovate, base asymmetric, 1.2-1.8 cm 16f. var. parvifolia

6b. Leaflets elliptic, 2-6 cm 16g. var. microphylla

16a. Millettia pulchra var. pulchra

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

M. pulchra Kurz var. typica Dunn in J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 41: 151. 1912.

Leaves and inflorescences gathered at the tip of branches; leaflets lanceolate, 2-3.5(-6) ´ 0.7-1.5 cm, apex acuminate, sparsely puberulous adaxially, appressed pubescent abaxially, lateral veins 5-6 pairs.

Open place of lowland woods; 50-1200 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Yunnan, [India, Laos, Myanmar].

16b. Millettia pulchra var. laxior (Dunn) Z. Wei in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23: 280. 1985.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

M. pulchra var. typica f. laxior Dunn op. cit.

Leaves and inflorescences scattered on branches, not as above; leaflets oblong-elliptic, 3.5-10 ´ 1.5-4 cm, apex acute, pale green and fine pubescent abaxially, lateral veins 6-7 pairs.

Thickets by riverine; 200-1100 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Yunnan, [India].

16c. Millettia pulchra var. chinensis Dunn op. cit. 152.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

M. chenkangensis Hu in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 3: 355. 1954.

Leaflets narrowly elliptic, acute both ends, sometimes retuse apically, lateral veins 8-9 pairs, curved towards the tip, margins slightly reflexed abaxially, glabrescent; calyx-teeth cuspidate.

· Grassland or sparse woods; 800-1500 m. Guangxi, Yunnan.

16d. Millettia pulchra var. tomentosa Prain in J. As. Soc. Beng. 66: 358. 1879.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Leaflets villose adaxially, become sparse, tomentose and villose abaxially; calyx densely hairy.

Thicket on dry slopes; 100-800 m. Guangxi, Yunnan, [India, Myanmar].

16e. Millettia pulchra var. yunnanensis (Pamp.) Dunn op. cit. 152.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

M. yunnanense Pamp. In Nuov. Giorn. Bot. Ital. 17: 26. 1910, excl. var.

Leaflets oblong, base obviously asymmetric, lateral veins 6-7 pairs, densely yellow villose on veins.

Thickets or sparse woods; 500-1200 m. Yunnan, [Myanmar].

16f. Millettia pulchra var. parvifolia Z. Wei in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23: 281. 1985.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Leaflets ovate, 1.2-1.8 cm, base subcordate, asymmetric.

· Thicket or margins of woodland; 1700 m. S Yunnan.

16g. Millettia pulchra var. microphylla Dunn op. cit. 512.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Leaflets elliptic, 2-6 cm, gray villose abaxially, especially on margins, lateral veins 4-5 pairs, obscurely.

· Mixed woods, S Taiwan.

17. Millettia oraria Dunn op cit. 149.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Erect shrubs or treelets, up to 5 m. Bark smooth, dark gray. Branchlets ridged, tomentose, scattered prominent lenticels. Leaves 15-20 cm, include petiole 3.5-4.5 cm, yellow tomentose, stipules lanceolate, 2-3 mm; leaflets (7-)9-13(-15), broadly ovate or elliptic, 4-5.5 ´ 2-3 cm, papery, base rounded or subcordate, apex rotund, densely pubescent adaxially, tomentose abaxially, lateral veins 6-7 pairs, reaching to margins. Pseudoracemes axillary, gathered at the tip of branches, shorter than subtending leaf, yellow tomentose; flower 8-11 mm, calyx 3 mm; corolla purple, vexillum suborbicular, puberulous abaxially; ovary sericeous, ovules 2-4. Pod linear, 5-9 ´ 1-1.5 cm, flat, brown tomentose, become sparse; seeds 2-3, orange-colored, oblate. Fl. May-Jul, fr. Nov-Dec.

· Thicket of lowland; 300-800 m. Guangdong, Guangxi.

18. Millettia bonatiana Pamp. In Nuov. Giorn. Bot. Ital. 17: 24. 1910.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Lians, up to 10 m. Branchlets densely yellow pubescent, become sparse, ridged. Leaflets 11-13, ovate or ovate-elliptic, 6-10 ´ 3-4 cm, papery, base rounded or subcordate, apex acute, villose on both surfaces, especially dense abaxially, stipellae absent. Pseudoracemes axillary, 8-12 cm, yellow pubescent; flower 2.5 cm, usually solitary on knobs, pedicel 1 cm, calyx 1.2 cm, densely silky; corolla lilac, vexillium oblong, apex retuse, densely yellow silky abaxially; ovary silky, stipitate, ovules 4-6. Pod linear-oblong, 10-11 ´ 1.8 cm, stipe 1 cm, grayish brown tomentose, coriaceous; seeds 4, brown, 1.1 cm, oblate. Fl. Apr-Jun, fr. Jun-Oct.

· Thicket on revine valleys; 1000 m. Guangxi, Yunnan.

Plant poisonous, the natives used a little amount as diaphoretic.

19. Millettia unijuga Gagnep. in Lecomte, Not. Syst. 2: 365. 1913.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Scandent shrubs. Stems terete, grayish white, rough. Branchlets cream tomentose, become glabrescent, ridged. Leaflets 3, broadly ovate, the apical ones larger, 6.5-8 ´ 3.5-4.5 cm, the laterals unequalled, 2.5-4 ´ 1.5-2.5 cm, base cordate, apex acute, papery, glabrous except the midrib villose adaxially, densely yellow hirsute abaxially. Racemes terminal or axillary, 25-30 cm, repeated 2-4 floriferous branchlets, 10 cm, brachyblasts 3-4 mm; flower 10-12 mm, pedicel 3 mm, calyx red hirsute; corolla creamy, vexillum orbicular, callus absent; ovary tomentose, ovules 10. Pod linear, 10 ´ 2 cm, stipitate, apex beaked, inflat with ovoid seeds, contracted between seeds, yellow tomentose; seeds 4-6, ovoid, 1.5 cm. Fr. Oct.

Woodland on slopes; 800 m. S Yunnan, [Vietnam].

20. Millettia speciosa Champ. In Kew J. Bot. Misc. 4: 73. 1852.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Lians, 1-3 m. Bark brown. Branchlets brown tomentose, become glabrescent. Leaflets 13, oblong- or elliptic-lanceolate, 4-8 ´ 2-3 cm, chartaceous, base rounded, apex acute, with a short tip, margins slightly reflexed abaxially, glabrous and shining adaxially, glaucous when dry, rusty pubescent or glabrescent abaxially, roseate brown when dry. Racemes axillary, usually congested at the tip with leaves to form large panicles, 30 cm, brown tomentose; flower 2.5-3.5 cm, fragrant; pedicel and calyx tomentose, corolla glabrous, white, creamy, or pale pink, vexillum orbicular, base 2 callus; ovary tomentose ovules numerous, pod linear, prolongate, 10-15 ´ 1-2 cm, flat, base tapering to short stipe, apex beaked, brown tomentose, valves woody; seeds 4-6, ovoid. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Aug-Oct.

Open places and sparse woodland; 200-1700 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Yunnan [Vietnam].

Roots are rich starch, used to make wine and as a tonic for weakness.

21. Millettia fordii Dunn op. cit. 156.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Soft lians, 1-2 m. Stems slender, dark brown, terete. Branchlets yellow pubescent when young, become glabrescent. Leaflets 7, linear-lanceolate, 4-8 ´ 1-2 cm, the terminal one rather larger, papery, base rounded or cordate, apex acuminate or caudate, a little shining on both surfaces, dark blacken when dry. Racemes axillary, 5-7 cm, shorter than subtending leaf, yellow tomentose; flowers solitary, 1.8 cm, calyx 8 mm; corolla yellow, vexillum glabrous, broadly ovate, base 2 callus; ovary stipitate, tomentose; ovules numerous. Pod linear, 10-12 ´ 1 cm, flat, apex cuspidate, brown tomentose; seeds 4-8, brown, ovoid, 7 ´ 6 mm, smooth. Fl. Sep-Oct, fr. Nov-Jan.

· Sparse woods on slope; 500 m. Guangdong, Guangxi.

22. Millettia eurybotrya Drake in Morote, J. Bot. 5: 187. 1891.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Scandent shrubs, 4-10 m. Bark smooth. Branchlets pale yellow, appressed pubescent, become glabrescent, scattered obscurely lenticels, ridged. Leaflets (5-)7, ovate-oblong to elliptic-lanceolate, papery, 6-16 ´ 2.5-8 cm, base broadly cuneate or rounded, apex acute, glabrous on both surfaces, dark green. Panicles terminal, 30 cm, floriferous branches spreading, 8-10 cm, yellowish brown tomentose; flower 1.4-1.5 cm, corolla purple, with yellow green spots in center, vexillum orbicular, base tapering to claw; ovary glabrous, style short, ovules numerous. Pod oblong, 10-11 ´ 2-3 cm, inflat, woody, suture thicken, contracted between seeds; seeds 2-7, brown, ellipsoid, 2 cm, hilum white. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Sep-Nov.

Thickets in valley or ravine; 150-1200 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan, [Laos, Vietnam].

Plants poisonous, stems used for external application to cure sores; roots treat leucorrhoea and blood in stool.

23. Millettia reticulata Benth. in Miq. Pl. Jungh. 249. 1853.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Lians, 2-10 m. Stems thick, branchy, thin ridged, brown pubescent, become glabrescent. Leaflets (5-)7-9, narrowly lanceolate to ovate-oblong, (3-)5-6(-8) ´ (0.5-)1.5-4 cm, chartaceous, base rounded to cuneate, apex obtuse, acuminate, or retuse, glabrous on both surfaces, rarely sparse puberulous. Panicles terminal, or axillary at the tip of branches, 10-20 cm, often pendulous, brown pubescent; flowers solitary on floriferous branches and densely congested, pedicel 3-5 mm, flower 1.3-1.7 mm, calyx 3-4 ´ 5 mm, teeth short, margins yellow ciliated, corolla purple, vexillum ovate-oblong, short clawed, glabrous, callus absent; ovary glabrous, style short, upright; ovules numerous. Pod linear, 15 ´ 1-1.5 cm, flat, thin coriaceous; seeds 3-6, oblong. Fl. Apr-Aug, fr. Jun-Nov.

1a. Leaflets ovate-elliptic or oblong, 1.5-4 cm wide, base rounded 23a. var. reticulata

1b. Leaflets linear or narrowly lanceolate, 0.5-1.2 cm wide, base tapering to wedge-shaped 23b. var. stenophylla

23a. Millettia reticulata var. reticulata

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Leaflets ovate-elliptic or oblong, 5-6(-8) ´ 1.5-4 cm, base rounded.

Thickets on slope and valleys; 100-950 m. Provinces S of the Chang Jiang, [Vietnam].

23b. Millettia reticulata var. stenophylla Merr. & Chun in Sunyatsenia 5: 83. 1940.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Leaflets linear or narrowly lanceolate, (3-)3.5-5 ´ 0.5-1.2 cm, base tapering to wedge-shaped.

· Thicket by stream; 250-1200 m. Hainan.

24. Millettia championi Benth. in Kew J. Bot. 4: 74. 1852.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Lians, up to 2 m. Stems red brown, scattered with lenticels, glabrous except inflorescences. Leaflets 5(-7), ovate or ovate-oblong, (3-)4-6 ´ 1.5-2(-3) cm, papery, base rounded, apex acuminate to caudate, glabrous on both surfaces, shining. Panicles terminal, 15-20 cm, floriferous branches 6-8 cm, straight and solid, puberulous; flowers solitary, congested, corolla 1.2 cm, yellowish white, with pink halo; vexillum orbicular, callus absent; ovary glabrous, ovules numerous. Pod linear, narrowly prolongate, 6-12 ´ 0.5-1.2 cm, flat, valves thin; seeds 2-3, lens-shaped. Fl. May-Aug, fr. Jul-Oct.

· Thickets by ravine of rocky valleys; 200-800 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi.

Stem and root poisonous, the natives used to cure injuries from falls.

25. Millettia kiangsiensis Z. Wei in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23: 283. 1985.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Lians. Stems slender, terete, red brown, densely minute lenticels. Leaflets 7-9, ovate, (1.5-)3-5(-6) ´ 1-2.5 cm, papery, base rounded, apex acute, glabrous on both surfaces, dark green adaxially, pale green abaxially, gloomy when dry. Racemes axillary, 8-12 cm, equal to subtending leaf, puberulous, flowers solitary, 1.2-1.5 cm, corolla white, a little roseate at the margin apically, vexillum oblong, glabrous, callus absent; ovary glabrous, stipitate, ovules numerous. Pod linear, straight, 10 ´ 1.2 cm, flat, base tapering to 3 mm stipe, apex with a short hooked beak; seeds 5-9, lens-shaped. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Sep-Oct.

1a. Flowers white 25a. var. kiangsiensis

1b. Flowers purple 25b. var. purpurea

25a. Millettia kiangsiensis var. kiangsiensis

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Flowers white.

· Open air and sparse thickets; 200-600 m. Anhui, Fujian, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang.

25b. Millettia kiangsiensis var. purpurea Z. H. Chen in J. Zhej. For. Coll. 4: 70. 1987.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Flowers purple.

· Thicket on slopes. Zhejiang.

26. Millettia tsui Metcalf in Liangnan Sci. Journ. 19: 554. 1940.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Lians, 3-10 m. Stems dark brown, terete, straight, fine ridged, brown tomentose, become glabrescent, without lenticels. Leaflets 3, rarely 5, broadly elliptic or elliptic, (6-)10-18 ´ 5-8 cm, sub-coriaceous, base obtuse to broadly cuneate, apex rounded with a cusp, glabrous on both surfaces, shining, near-network prominent. Panicles terminal, 15-30 cm, floriferous branches spreading, often leafy at base, brown tomentose; flowers 1.5-2.5 cm, solitary, congested, corolla pale yellow with a little red or lilac, vexillum oblong, densely sericeous abaxially; ovary silky, stipitate, ovules 4-7. Pod inflat, elliptic with single seed, 5.5 ´ 4 cm, linear-oblong with 2-3 seeds, 7 ´ 3 cm, brown tomentose, shed generally, base tapering to the 5 mm stipe, apex with a hard hooked beak, contracted between seeds. Seeds subglobose or oblate spheroid, 2-2.5 ´ 1-2.5 cm. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Oct-Dec.

· Thicket or woodland in valleys; 200-1600 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan, Guizhou, Yunnan.

Stem and root used as drug for stimulation the circulation of blood; bast fiber rather tough; seeds edible after stewing.

27. Millettia oosperma Dunn op. cit. 157.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Lians, up to 20 m. Stem brown, terete, strong and ridged, brown tomentose, shed generally. Leaflets 5, elliptic-lanceolate or ovate-oblong, 8-20 ´ 4-8 cm, chartaceous, usually the basal pair more smaller, base cuneate or rounded, apex obtuse, sometimes retuse, glabrous or sparsely villose adaxially, densely brown velvety abaxially. Panicles terminal, 10-20 cm, brown tomentose, floriferous branches spreading; flowers 1.5-2 cm, solitary, corolla scarlet, vexillum broadly ovate, base with 2 callus and auriculate, densely silky abaxially; ovary densely silky, ovules 5-6. Pod inflat, ovoid with single seed, cylinder with many seeds, 6-13 ´ 2-2.5 cm, brown tomentose, apex beaked, tardily dehiscent; seeds 2-4, ovoid, 2-3 cm in diam. Fl. May-Jul, fr. Aug-Nov.

Sparse woods in valleys; 200-1700 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Yunnan, [Vietnam].

Seeds poisonous, used as insecticide.

28. Millettia cinerea Benth. in Miq. Pl. Jungh. 249. 1852.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Scandent shrubs, up to 6 m. Stems terete, rough, ridged, glabrescent. Leaflets 5, obovate-elliptic, chartaceous, the terminal larger, 15 ´ 7 cm, laterals rather small, the basal pair smallest, 5.5 ´ 3 cm, base broadly cuneate to rounded, rarely subcordate, apex acute, glabrous adaxially except the midrib, sparsely hirsute abaxially, evident on veins. Panicle terminal, 10-15 cm, floriferous branches spreading to 6 cm, densely appressed hairy; flowers 1.2-1.6 cm, solitary, corolla red or mauve, vexillum ovate, rusty silky abaxially; ovary tomentose, shortly stipitate, ovules 5-7. Pod linear-oblong, 13 ´ 2 cm, inflat, densely gray pubescent, contracted between seeds; seeds 1-4, ellipsoid, 1.4-1.8 cm. Fl. Feb-Jul, fr. Aug-Nov.

Secondary evergreen forest by ravine; 500-1120 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, [Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal].

29. Millettia gentiliana Levl. Fl. Kouy-Tcheou 239. 1914.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Lians, 1.5-3 m. Stems grayish brown, rough, gray puberulous, become glabrescent. Leaflets 5, ovate- or oblong-elliptic, the terminal ones 18 ´ 8 cm, lateral pairs 6-8(-10) ´ 2-3(-4) cm, chartaceous, base cuneate to subcordate, apex acute to obtuse, sparsely hairy or glabrescent. Panicles terminal, 8-15 cm, floriferous branches spreading, straight, brown tomentose; flower 1.5-2 cm, solitary, corolla purple, vexillum obovate, densely silky abaxially; ovary velvety, ovules numerous. Pod linear, inflat, yellow tomentose, 8-15 ´ 1.5-2 cm, shortly stipitate, apex curved with a beak; seeds 5-6, broad ovoid, 2 ´ 1.5 cm, hilum in the middle. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Oct-Nov.

· Sparse woods of mountains, especially on limestone valleys; 1200-2500 m. Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan.

30. Millettia dorwardi Coll. & Hemsley in J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 28:40. 1890.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

M. shunningensis Hu.

Lians, up to 6 m. Stems brown, rough, without lenticels. Branchlets yellowish white pubescent, shed generally. Leaflets 3-5, broadly ovate to elliptic, 8-15(-22) ´ 3.5-6(-10) cm, papery, the basal pair usually smaller, base cuneate to rounded, rarely cordate, apex acute, glabrous adaxially, or sparsely hairy on veins, yellow to white scattered hairy abaxially, glabrescent when mature. Panicles axillary, strong, 12-18 cm, densely pubescent, floriferous branches shorter; flower 18-23 mm, solitary, corolla lilac to mauve, vexillum orbicular, densely silky abaxially, short clawed, with 2 callus; l ovary tomentose, ovules 5. Pod oblong, inflat, 9 ´ 3 cm, yellow tomentose, apex beaked; seeds 1-2, broadly ovoid, 2.5 ´ 2 cm. Fl. Apr-May, fr. Sep-Oct.

Thickets on slopes; 800-1900 m. Guizhou, Yunnan, [Myanmar].

31. Millettia sphaerosperma Z. Wei in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23: 285. 1985.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Scandent shrubs. Bark pale yellow. Stems puberulous when young, but glabrescent at once, bast brown, peeled off, sparsely scattered with minute lenticels. Leaflets 3, elliptic-lanceolate, the terminal ones 11-18 ´ 6-9 cm, lateral a pair 9-12 ´ 3.5-5 cm, papery, dark green adaxially, flat, straw green abaxially, veins prominent. Panicle terminal 12-15 cm, floriferous branches spreading, puberulous; flower 1.5 cm, solitary, corolla red to purple, vexillum oblong, densely silky abaxially, callus absent; ovary silky, ovules 6-8. Pod globoid, brown tomentose, 5-6.5 ´ 3 cm, coriaceous, suture evident, apex beaked; seeds 1-2, broadly ovoid. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Oct-Nov.

· Shady and cool in ravine valleys; 1000 m. Guangxi, Guizhou.

32. Millettia sericosema Hance in J. Bot. 20:259. 1882.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Scandent shrubs, 1.5-2 m. Branchlets brown, terete, rusty tomentose, become glabrescent. Leaflets 5, broadly lanceolate, 6-10 ´ 1.8-3 cm, papery, the basal a pair more small, base obtuse, apex acute or acuminate, appressed pubescent adaxially, rather dense on midrib and margins, rusty tomentose abaxially. Panicles terminal, 8-10 cm, floriferous branches straight, rusty tomentose; flower 1.7 cm, solitary and gathered closely; corolla lilac to pale pink, vexillum ovate, densely silky abaxially; ovary yellow tomentose, ovules 5-6. Pod linear, 4-10 ´ 1.5 cm, inflat, brown tomentose, apex beaked; seeds 1-4, ovoid to oblate. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Aug-Oct.

· Open place or sparse thicket in rivering valleys; 500-1280 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan.

33. Millettia longipedunculata Z. Wei op. cit. 287.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Lians. Branchlets brown, smooth and slender, without lenticels, yellow tomentose, become glabrescent. Leaflets (5-)7, lanceolate, the terminal one larger, 12-20 ´ 3.5-6 cm, basal a pair more small, 4-8 ´ 2.5-3.5 cm, papery, base broadly cuneate to narrowly subcordate, apex caudate, appressed pubescent adaxially, densely villose abaxially. Panicles terminal, prolongate and slender, 20-40 cm, peduncle rather long, yellow tomentose; flower 1.5-1.7 cm, scattered on rhachis; corolla red, vexillum obovate, densely silky abaxially; ovary tomentose, ovules 6. Pod rhomboid to oblong, 3.5-8 ´ 2.2 cm, dark brown tomentose, shed gradually, slightly contracted between seeds, apex with a hooked beak; seeds 1-3, red brown, oblate, 1.5 ´ 2 cm. Fl. May-Aug, fr. Jul-Oct.

· Shady place in evergreen forest of valleys; 1400 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan.

34. Millettia nitida Benth. in Lond. J. Bot. 1: 484. 1842.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Callerya nitida (Benth.) Geesink; M. kueichouensis Hu.

Scandent shrubs, 2-10 m. Stems rusty brown, fine puberulous, become glabrescent. Leaflets 5, ovate, oblong, or lanceolate, (3.5-)5-9(-11) ´ (2-)3-4 cm, chartaceous, base obtuse or rounded, apex cuspidate, acute, or acuminate, lateral veins 5-6 pairs, near the margins curved upwards, prominent on both surfaces. Panicles terminal, thicken, 10-12 cm, rusty tomentose, floriferous branches straight, 6-10 cm; l flower 1.6-2.4 cm, solitary, pedicels and calyx tomentose; l corolla violet to purple, vexillum oblong, base 2 callus, densely silky abaxially; ovary tomentose, stipitate, ovules 4-8. Pod linear-oblong, 10-14 ´ 1.5-2 cm, brown tomentose, base stipitate, apex beaked; seeds 4-5, chestnut brown, obliquely oblong, 10 ´ 12 mm. Fl. May-Sep, fr. Jul-Nov.

1a. Leaflets 5-9(-11) ´ 3-4 cm, apex acute or cuspidate, glabrous and shining adaxially, sometimes sparsely puberulous on midrib, glabrous or sparsely puberulous abaxially; flower 2.2-2.4 cm 34a. var. nitida

1b. Leaflets 3.5-5.5 ´ 2-3 cm, apex acuminate or cuspidate; flower 1.6-1.8 cm.

2a. Leaflets lanceolate, apex acuminate, glabrous or glabrescent on both surfaces 34b. var. minor

2b. Leaflets ovate, apex cuspidate, opaque and blacken adaxially, densely red brown hirsute abaxially 34c. var. hirsutissima

34a. Millettia nitida var. nitida

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Leaflets large, nearly glabrous on both surfaces; flower rather large.

· Coastal thickets or lowland sparse woods; 50-800 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Jiangxi, Taiwan.

34b. Millettia nitida var. minor Z. Wei in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23: 288. 1985.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Leaflets small and narrow, rhachis slender, apex acuminate; flower small.

· Thickets or forest margins; 800-1500 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang.

34c. Millettia nitida var. hirsutissima Z. Wei op. cit.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Leaflets ovate, opaque and rough adaxially, densely red brown hirsute abaxially, blacken when dry.

· Thicket and open place on slopes; 500-1000 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi.

Roots as drugs used for invigorating blood.

35. Millettia congestiflora T. Chen in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 3: 362. 1954.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Lians, up to 5 m. Stems yellowish brown, terete, ridged, villose densely, become glabrescent. Leaflets 5, broadly elliptic to ovate, 11-13 ´ 6-8 cm, papery, base obtuse or broadly cuneate, apex acute, basal a pair more small, glabrous adaxially, except the midrib, sparsely villose abaxially. Panicles terminal, 14-16 cm, floriferous branches 2-3 gathered, densely yellow villose; flower 1.6 cm, solitary, crowded one another; corolla white to pale pink, vexillum broadly ovate, with calyx densely silky abaxially; ovary densely villose, ovules 6-7. Pod linear, 10-12 ´ 1.2-1.4 cm, flat, densely brown sericeous, base tapering, apex with a prolonged hooked beak, contracted between seeds; seeds 3-6, chestnut brown, oblong. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Sep-Oct.

· Mountain woodlands; 500-1200 m. Anhui, Guangdong, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan.

36. Millettia dielsiana Harms in Bot. Jahrb. 29: 412. 1900.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Scandent shrubs, 2-5 m. Stems grayish yellow, splitting, glabrous or puberulous. Leaflets 5, lanceolate, oblong, or narrowly oblong, 5-15 ´ 1.5-6 cm, base rounded, sometimes subcordate, apex acute, acuminate, rarely obtuse, lateral veins 6-9 pairs, midrib sunken adaxially, raise abaxially, network of nerves evident on both surfaces. Panicles terminal, up to 40 cm, floriferous branches spreading, 6-15 cm, yellow puberulous; flower 1.2-2.4 cm, solitary, approached; corolla purple, vexillum broadly ovate, base subcordate, callus absent, silvery or rusty silky abaxially; ovary linear, tomentose, ovules 8-9. Pod linear to oblong, 7-12 ´ 1.5-2 cm, flat, gray tomentose, valves thin, seeds 3-5, lens-shaped, 8 ´ 6 mm. Fl. May-Sep, fr. Jun-Nov.

1a. Leaflets papery, glabrous or sparsely puberulous.

2a. Leaflets lanceolate to narrowly oblong, shining adaxially; valves subwoody, seed oblong 36a. var. dielsiana

2n. Leaflets oblong, rough with prominent nerves networks; valves thin coriaceous, seed suborbicular 36b. var. heterocarpa

1b. Leaflets chartaceous, grayish yellow hirsute; valves coriaceous, seed suborbicular 36c. var. solida

36a. Millettia dielsiana var. dielsiana

Leaflets lanceolate or narrowly oblong, 5-10(-12) ´ 1.5-3.5 cm, papery, glabrous and shining adaxially; Panicles 10-15 cm, flower 1.2-1.8 cm; pod linear, 7-9 ´ 1.5 cm, valves subwoody, seed oblong.

Mixed woods and thicket on slopes; 800-2500 m. Anhui, Fujian, S Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, S Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang, [Laos, Vietnam].

36b. Millettia dielsiana var. heterocarpa (Chun ex T. Chen) Z. Wei op. cit. 289.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Leaflets oblong, 7-9(-13) ´ 3-4.5 cm, papery, glabrous adaxially, sparsely puberulous abaxially, network of nerves prominent; panicles 12-20 cm, flowers 1.2-1.8 cm; pod oblong, 7-11 ´ 2 cm, valves thin coriaceous, seeds suborbicular.

· Thicket in rivering valleys; 300-1900 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Jiangxi.

36c. Millettia dielsiana var. solid T. Chen ex Z. Wei op cit.

Leaflets oblong, 9-15 ´ 4-6 cm, chartaceous, grayish yellow hirsute abaxially, network of nerves prominent; panicle 15-25(-40) cm, flower 1.8-2.4 cm; pod oblong, 8-12 ´ 2 cm, valves coriaceous, seeds suborbicular.

· Open place by margins of forest; 600-1400 m. W Hunan, Guangxi.

5. ______________________________________________________

6. WISTERIA Nuttall, Gen. Amer. 2: 115. 1818.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Deciduous lians. Winter bud ovoid, scales 3-5. Leaflets 7-19, entire, stipulate. Racemes terminal, elongate, pendulous; l flowers 1.5-2.5 cm, solitary, scattered on axis; vexillum large, orbicular, reflexed, base 2 callus, glabrous or rarely slightly hairy at the base abaxially, wings free from the keel; vexillary stamen free or a little connected at middle of the sheath; ovary stipitate, hairy, ovules 5-12. Pod linear to oblanceolate, coriaceous, convex; seeds reniform, without a strophiole.

About 10 species in temperate E Asia, N America, and Oceania. 5 species in China.

Some species cultivated as shady ornamentals very common.

1a. Racemes 10-30(-35) cm; leaflets 9-13.

2a. Mature leaflets glabrescent or sparsely hairy; flower purple.

3a. Flower 2-2.5 cm, blooming almost at the same time; pedicel 2-3 cm; vexillum glabrous, apex truncate; the distal calyx-tooth more longer 1. W. sinensis

3b. Flower 1.5 cm, blooming in sequence from basal to apical; pedicel 0.6-1.2 cm; vexillum emarginate, base slightly hairy; distal calyx-tooth equal to the laterals 2. W. brevidentata

2b. Mature leaflets hairy on both surfaces, especially dense on abaxial; flower violet or white.

4a. Racemes 30 cm, densely gray villose; flower violet; leaflets villose, especially abaxial 3. W. Villosa

4b. Racemes 10-20 cm, yellow tomentose; flower white; leaflets appressed pubescent adaxially, sericeous abaxially 4. W. venusta

1b. Racemes 30-90 cm, leaflets 13-19 ; flower lilac to blue, 1.5-2 cm, blooming in sequence from basal to apical; cultivated 5. W. floribunda

1. Wisteria sinensis (Sims) Sweet, Hort. Brit. 121. 1827.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Glycine sinensis Sims in Curtis's Bot. Mag. 44: t. 2083. 1819.

Large lians, up to 25 m. Stems twined leftwards, white villose when young, shed at once. Leaflets 7-13, elliptic- to lanceolate-ovate, 5-8 ´ 2-4 cm, pairs larger apically, basal pair the smallest, base rotund or cuneate, somewhat asymmetric, appressed pubescent on both surfaces when young, become glabrescent. Racemes terminal or axillary from the twigs of previous year, 15-30 ´ 8-10 cm, white villous; flower 2-2.5 cm, fragrant; pedicel slender, 2-3 cm; vexillum orbicular, truncate at tip, sometimes retuse, glabrous; ovary tomentose, ovules 6-8. Pod oblanceolate, 10-15 ´ 1.5-2 cm, tomentose, hanging on branches persistently; seeds 1-3, brown, orbicular, 1.5 cm, shining, lens-shaped. Fl. Apr-May, fr. May-Aug.

1a. Flower purple 1a. f. sinensis

1b. Flower white 1b. f. alba

1a. Wisteria sinensis f. sinensis

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Flower purple.

Mountain forest; 500-1800 m. Provinces S of the Huang He (Yellow River), but cultivated Hebei, Liaoning, Gansu, [Japan].

1b. Wisteria sinensis f. alba (Lindl.) Rehd. & Wils. in Man. Cult. Tree & Shrubs ed. 2, 507. 1940.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

W. sinensis var. alba Lindl. in J. Hort. Soc. Lond. 4: 221. 1849.

Flower white.

· Hubei. Common cultivated elsewhere in China.

2. Wisteria brevidentata Rehd. in J. Arn. Arb. 7: 163. 1926.

Lians. Stems appressed villose, become glabrescent and gray yellow in second year. Leaflets 9-11(-13), elliptic to ovate-oblong, 2.5-5 ´ 1-1.8 cm, base broadly cuneate or rounded, apex obtuse and apiculate, sparsely hirsute on both surfaces, especially on midrib and petiolule. Racemes 10-18 cm, flowers scattered and blooming from basal to apical in sequence; flower 1.5 cm; pedicel 6-12 mm, villose; corolla purple, vexillum suborbicular, apex emarginate, base sub-cordate, sparsely villose abaxially; ovary tomentose. Pod not seen.

· Fujian, Yunnan. Cultivated.

3. Wisteria villosa Rehd. op. cit. 162.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Lians. Stems thick, densely gray villose. Leaflets 9-11, ovate- or elliptic-oblong, 5-10 ´ 2.5-3.5 cm, from the basal pairs to apical turns into smaller gradually, base broadly cuneate or rounded, apex acute or acuminate, white villose on both surfaces, sparsely adaxially, dense abaxially, persistent. Racemes terminal, pendulous, 30-35 ´ 8-10 cm, blooming in sequence from basal to apical; flower 2.2-2.5 cm, fragrant, pedicel straight, 1.5-2.5 cm; calyx violet, tomentose inside and outside; corolla violet, vexillum orbicular, glabrous; ovary tomentose, ovules 5. Pod oblanceolate, 18-24 ´ 2.5 cm, brown tomentose, seeds 3, dark brown, orbicular, 1.5 cm, flat. Fl. Apr-May, fr. Jul-Oct.

· Thicket and roadside on slopes. Anhui, Hebei, Henan, Jiangsu, Shandong.

4. Wisteria venusta Rehd. & Wils. in Sarg. Pl. Wils. 2: 514. 1916.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

W. brachybotrys Sieb. & Zucc. var. alba W. Miller.

Lians, 2-10 m. Stems densely appressed yellow pubescent when young, become glabrescent. Leaflets 9-11, ovate- to lanceolate-oblong, the pair at middle of axis rather larger, 6-10 ´ 2.5-5 cm, base truncate or subcordate, asymmetric, apex acute, appressed pubescent on both surfaces, more dense abaxially, especially on the midrib and margins. Racemes terminal, emerged with the leaf at same time, 15 ´ 10 cm, blooming of the whole at one time, yellow tomentose; flower 2 cm, pedicel 2.5-3(-3.5) cm, straight, intersect to the axis horizontally; corolla white, vexillum suborbicular, apex truncate with a cuspid; ovary hairy, ovules 12. Pod oblanceolate, yellow tomentose, flat. Fl. Apr-Jun, fr. Aug-Sep.

· Mountain valleys. Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi.

Usually cultivated as shady ornamentals.

5. Wisteria floribunda (Willd.) DC. Prodr. 2: 390. 1825.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Glycine floribunda Willd. Sp. Pl. 3: 1066. 1800.

Lians. Bark red brown. Stems twined rightwards, densely branchy, leafy, brown puberulous when young, become glabrescent. Leaflets 11-19, ovate-lanceolate, 4-8 ´ 1-2.5 cm, every pairs nearly equal or slightly reduce in sequence from basal to apical, base obtuse and asymmetric, apex acuminate, appressed pubescent when young, become glabrescent. Racemes terminal, 30-90 ´ 5-7 cm, densely white hairy; flower 1.5-2 cm, blooming in sequence from basal to apical; corolla purple to mauve, vexillum orbicular, base subcordate, apex rounded; ovary tomentose, ovules 8. Pod oblanceolate, 12-19 ´ 1.5-2 cm, flat, tomentose; seeds 3-6, dark brown, orbicular, shining, 1-1.4 cm. Fl. Apr-May, fr. May-Jul.

Introduced from Japan, cultivated.

7. _______________________________________________________

8. CRASPEDOLOBIUM Harms in Fedde, Repert. 17: 135. 1921.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Scandent shrubs. Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate, stipules and stipellae present. Flowers glomerulate in mostly elongated pseudo-racemes, terminal and axillary near the tip of branches; bracts and bracteoles minute, pedicels short, calyx teeth 5, about equal long; corolla red, petals equal in length, vexillum orbicular, shortly clawed, callus absent; vexillary stamen free; ovary hairy, stipitate, ovules 5-8. Pod linear, flat, chartaceous, dehiscent, ventral suture narrowly winged, continuous within: seeds 3-5(-7), reniform.

One species in SW China.

1. Craspedolobium schochii Harms op. cit.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Scandent shrubs, up to 3 m. Stems pithy, appressed puberulous when young, glabrescent at mature, dark brown, ridged, densely brown lenticels. Leaflets 3, obovate to broadly elliptic, 5-9 ´ 3-6 cm, base broadly cuneate or rounded, the lateral ones asymmetric, apex obtuse and with a cuspid, appressed puberulous, sometimes glabrescent adaxially, especially dense on veins abaxially, stipellae needlelike. Pseudoracemes usually congested on the tip of branches, 15-25 cm, flowers 3-5 clustered on knobs; pedicels, calyces, and bracteoles yellow sericeous; corolla red, glabrous. Pod brown tomentose, 6-9 ´ 1.2 cm, base rounded, apex acute, shortly beaked; seed reniform, lens-shaped. Fl. Jun-Sep, fr. Sep-Oct.

· Sparse woods on humify soil and roadsides; 600-2000 m. Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan.

9. ____________________________________________________

10. TEPHROSIA Pers. Syn. Pl. 2: 328. 1807.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Herbs with woody base, hairs usually silky. Leaves imparipinnate with numerous leaflets, stipules present, caducous, stipellae absent, leaflet entire, lateral veins closely parallel up to 50 pairs, often silky abaxially. Pseudoracemes terminal or axillary, sometimes leaf-opposite, bracts usually caducous, bracteoles absent; flowers mauve to creamy, vexillum suborbicular, reflexed, villose or sericeous abaxially; vexillary stamen free; ovary hairy, sessile, ovules numerous. Pod flat, dehiscent, valves twisted, apex beaked; seeds oblong to ellipsoid.

Over 400 species in tropical regions of the world, except Europe, most species in Africa. 11 species in China.

1a. Flower 1-2.5 cm, style pubescent or hairy on one edge; pod 6-13 ´ 0.5-1.4 cm.

2a. Flowers 2-2.5 cm; pod longer than 8 cm; leaflets oblong to lanceolate.

3a. Pedicel 2-2.3 cm, densely rusty villose; pod 10-13 ´ 1.4 cm, densely creamy villose 1. T. Vogelii

3b. Pedicel 0.5-1 cm, densely white silky or villose; pod 8-10 ´ 0.6-0.8 cm, yellow or brown hairy.

4a. Calyx-teeth obtuse, 1 mm; leaflets 6-14 mm in width, oblong, lateral veins 30-50 pairs; pedicel 10 mm, densely villose; pod brown tomentose 2. T. candida

4b. Calyx-teeth acute, 5 mm; leaflets 15-20 mm in width, oblong-lanceolate, lateral veins 20 pairs; pedicel 5 mm, densely silky; pod yellow silky 3. T. kerrii

2b. Flower 1-1.7 cm; pod about 6 cm; leaflets obovate to elliptic-oblanceolate.

5a. Inflorescence 3-7 cm, flowers gathered; corolla white; leaflets velvety abaxially, lateral veins 15-20 pairs 4. T. vestita

5b. Inflorescence up to 25 cm, flowers scattered; corolla red; leaflets silvery sericeous abaxially, lateral veins 9-10 pairs 5. T. Coccinea var. stenophylla

1b. Flower less than 1 cm, style glabrous; pod 2-5 ´ 0.35-0.4(-0.6) cm.

6a. Inflorescence 10-25 cm (except var. glabra), flowers scattered.

7a. Calyx-teeth subequal; pod sparsely appressed hairy . 6. T. purpurea

7b. Calyx-teeth broad and short proximally, the distal one narrow and longer; pod densely brown tomentose 7. T. noctiflora

6b. Inflorescence 1-5 cm, flowers crowded.

8a. Pod with seeds 7-14.

9a. Inflorescence with 1-3 flowers; pod with hooked beak downward at the tip.

10a Corolla pale yellow, pedicel thick; pod 3.5-4 cm, leaflets truncate or obtuse 8. T. pumila

10b. Corolla mauve, pedicel slender; pod 2.5-2.8 cm; leaflets abruptly pointed, with s stiff cuspid 9. T. filipes

9b. Inflorescence with 4-8 flowers; pod with a short straight beak at the tip 10. T. luzonensis

8b. Pod with seeds 5-7.

11a. Leaflets 6-8 pairs, oblanceolate, sparsely pubescent abaxially, lateral veins 9 pairs, mauve, conspicuous; pod slightly curved at the tip, 3.5-4 cm 11. T. ionophlebia

11b. Leaflets 5-6 pairs, obovate, densely silky on both surfaces, lateral veins 5-8 pairs, almost inconspicuous; pod straight, 2-2.5 cm 12. T. obovata

1. Tephrosia vogelii J. D. Hooker in Hook. Fl. Niger. 296. 1849.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Erect woody herb, branchy. Stems tomentose with short and long white and yellow hairs, hairs about 1.5 mm. Leaflets 13-29, oblong- or lanceolate-elliptic, 3-7 ´ 0.9-1.8 cm, appressed white silky adaxially, densely mixed white and yellow tomentose abaxially, lateral veins 12-15 pairs. Pseudoracemes terminal or axillary near the tip of branches, 10-15 cm, rusty tomentose, long pedunculate; flowers 2.5 cm, pedicel 2-2.3 cm, calyx 12 ´ 10 mm, brown tomentose, teeth oblong, round at tip, the distal one narrowly acute, 10 mm; corolla white, occasionally violet, vexillum orbicular, silky; ovary silky, style flat, bearded on both side, ovules numerous. Pod linear, 10-13 ´ 1.2-1.4 cm, straight, yellow white tomentose, rusty on suture, apex beaked; seeds 12-16, black, broadly ovate, 7 ´ 4.5 mm, smooth.

Cultivated in S Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan.

2. Tephrosia candida DC. Prodr. 2: 249. 1825.

Shrubby herb with a woody base, 1-3.5 m. Stems grayish white tomentose, hairs 0.75-1 mm, ridged. Leaflets 17-25, oblong, 3-6 ´ 0.6-1.4 cm, glabrous adaxially, densely sericeous abaxially, lateral veins 30-50 pairs. Pseudoracemes terminal or lateral, 15-20 cm; flower 2 cm, pedicel 1 cm, calyx 5 ´ 5 mm, teeth equal, 1 mm, apex rounded; corolla white, rarely yellow or pale pink, vexillum densely silky abaxially; ovary tomentose, ovules numerous. Pod linear, 8-10 ´ 0.75-0.85 cm, straight, brown mixed long and short tomentose, apex truncate, with a straight 1 cm beak; seeds 10-15, olive green with dark patches, 5 ´ 3.5 mm, elliptic, smooth. Fl. Oct-Nov, fr. Dec.

Cultivated or escaped on grassland, open places, and slopes. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan.

3. Tephrosia kerrii Drummond & Craib in Kew Bull. 3: 149. 1912.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Perennial herbs, up to 3 m, densely yellow spreading villose. Stems erect, sturdy, ridged, branchy near the tip. Leaflets 11-17, petiole 5 mm, oblong-lanceolate, 5-8 ´ 1.5-2 cm, base obtuse to cuneate, apex acute with a cuspid, olive green and glabrous adaxially, densely silvery silky abaxially, lateral veins 20 pairs, conspicuous. Pseudoracemes terminal, cone-shaped at first, covered by bracts, at flowering time elongated to 10 cm; flower 2.2 cm, pedicel 5 mm; calyx 8 ´ 6 mm, teeth narrowly triangular, the distal one longest; corolla red, vexillum obovate, yellow silky abaxially; ovary silky, ovules numerous. Pod linear, 8-10 ´ 0.6-0.8 cm, straight, spreading a little downward, yellow sericeous, with 1 cm beak, stick up; seeds 10-12. Fl. Oct, fr. Dec.

Humid place in valley, open place, and roadside; 700-950 m. S Yunnan, [Laos, Thailand].

4. Tephrosia vestita Vogel in Nov. Act. Acad. Nat. Curr. 19 (Suppl.), 1: 15. 1842.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Soft herb, 1-2 m, woody and branchy, yellowish white velvety. Stems ascending zigzag, ridged. Leaflets 7-11(-13), obovate- to narrowly elliptic, 2-4 ´ 1-1.8 cm, base cuneate, apex rounded or retuse, rough and glabrous adaxially, velvety abaxially, lateral veins 15-20 pairs. Pseudoracemes terminal, or opposite the leaf at tip of branches, 3-7 cm; flowers 1.7 cm, pedicel 2 mm, calyx 3 ´ 4 cm; corolla white, fragrant, vexillum suborbicular, yellow velvety abaxially; ovary silky, ovules numerous. Pod linear, 5.5-6 ´ 0.5 cm, straight, flat, densely yellow velvety, apex abruptly pointed, with 1 cm beak; seeds 10-12, black, reniform, 3 ´ 2.5 mm. Fl. Jun-Oct, fr. Jul-Nov.

Sparse woods, open airs, and grassland. Guangdong, Jiangxi, [Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Vietnam].

5. Tephrosia coccinea Wall. Pl. As. Rar. t. 60. 1830.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Insert Information

1a. Insert Information 5a. var. stenophylla

1b. Insert Information 5b. var. coccinea

5a. Tephrosia coccinea var. stenophylla Hosokawa in Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. Formos. 32: 195. 1942.

Shrubby herb, 40-50 cm, branchy. Stems woody, terete, young branchlets silvery or white appressed sericeous, quadriangulate. Leaflets 5-7(-9), linear- or oblong-obolanceolate, the terminal one longest, 4-6 ´ 1 cm, basal pair smallest, gray silvery sericeous abaxially, lateral veins 9-10 pairs. Pseudoracemes terminal or opposite to the leaf, 25 cm; flowers 10 mm, pedicel 3-6 mm, calyx 5 mm; corolla red, vexillum orbicular; ovary silky, stipitate, ovules 10-12. Pod linear, 6 ´ 0.7-0.8 cm, flat, tomentose; seeds 8-12.

· Sandy fields of open air. Hainan.

5b. Tephrosia coccinea var. coccinea

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Insert Information

Occurs in India, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

6. Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers. Syn. Pl. 2: 329. 1807.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Cracca purpurea Linn. Sp. Pl. 752. 1753.

Perennial herb, 30-60(-150) cm, branchy. Stems nearly erect or spreading, with a woody base, ridged. Leaflets 9-17(-21), oblong- to obovate-elliptic, 15-35(-45) ´ 4-15 mm, base narrowly rounded, apex obtuse, truncate or retuse, with a cuspid, lateral veins 7-12 pairs. Pseudoracemes terminal, opposite to the leaf, or axillary at the tip of branches; flowers 8 mm, pedicel 2-4 mm, slender and slightly elongate in fruiting times, calyx 2-4 ´ 3 mm, teeth equal; corolla mauve, vexillum orbicular, white puberulous abaxially; ovary hairy, ovules 5-8. Pod linear, 3-5 ´ 0.35-0.4(-0.6) cm, slightly curved upwards; seeds 6, grayish brown, ellipsoid, 3 ´ 1.5 mm, lens-shaped. Fl. Mar-Oct.

1a. Plant more or less pubescent; inflorescence 10-15 cm; pod hairy, 4-5 ´ 0.4(-0.6) cm.

2a. Plant puberulous, stipule 4 mm, leaflets narrow, 4-14 mm wide, glabrous adaxially, appressed pubescent abaxially; seed grayish brown, spotted, smooth 6a. var. purpurea

2. Plant densely spreading villose, stipule 12 mm, leaflets wide, 6-15 mm in width, villose on both surfaces, densely abaxially, especially on midrib and margins; seed rough, without spots 6c. var. yunnanensis

1b Plant glabrescent; inflorescence 2 cm; pod glabrous. 3 ´ 0.35 mm 6b. var. glabra

6a. Tephrosia purpurea var. purpurea

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Leaflets oblong- to obolanceolate-elliptic, 15-35 ´ 4-14 mm, glabrous adaxially, appressed pubescent abaxially; stipule 4 mm; racemes 10 cm, slender; seeds grayish brown, spotted, smooth.

Open place and slopes. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan, [throughout the tropics and subtropic of the world].

6b. Tephrosia purpurea var. glabra Hosokawa in J. Soc. Trop. Agr. 4: 200. 1932.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Shrubby herb, glabrescent; leaflets 13; racemes shorter than subtending leaf, 2 cm; pod glabrous, 3 ´ 0.35 cm.

· Sandy grassland by sea shore. S Taiwan.

6c. Tephrosia purpurea var. yunnanensis Z. Wei in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 27: 76. 1989.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Perennial herb, densely spreading villose; stipule 12 mm; leaflets obovate-elliptic, 15-20(-45) ´ 6-15 mm, villose on both surfaces, densely abaxially; seed rough, without spots.

· Grassland by river shores; 700 m. Sichuan, Yunnan.

7. Tephrosia noctiflora Bojer ex Baker in Oliv. Fl. Trop. Afr. 2: 112. 1871.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Soft woody perennials, 50-150 cm. Stems terete, densely spreading hairy. Stipules narrowly triangular, sharp pointed, 6-11 mm, persistent. Leaflets 15-25, oblong-oblanceolate, the terminal one slightly larger, 22-32 ´ 5-8 mm, base cuneate, apex rounded or retuse, with a cuspid, glabrous adaxially, densely appressed sericeous abaxially, lateral veins 9-11 pairs. Pseudoracemes terminal, elongate, 15-25 cm, rigid and straight, scattered with flowers; flower 1 cm, pedicel 2-4 mm, calyx 5 ´ 5 mm, densely brown pubescent, the distal tooth longest, 4-6 mm; corolla yellow, violet, or white, vexillum orbicular, brown silky abaxially; ovary silky, ovules numerous. Pod linear, 4.5-5 ´ 0.5 cm, straight, apex curved up, densely brown pubescent; seeds 7-9, black, reniform, 4 ´ 2.5 mm, usually rugose transversely.

Introduced and escaped to ravine shores, coastal grasslands. 50-700 m. Guangdong, Taiwan, Yunnan, [pantropics of Africa and Asia].

8. Tephrosia pumila (Lam.) Pers. Syn. Pl. 2: 330. 1807.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Galega pumila Lam. Encycl. Meth. 2: 599. 1786.

Annual or perennial herb, procumbent or straggling, 20-30 cm. Stems thin and hard, ridged, densely spreading strigose. Stipules 3-4 mm. Leaflets 7(-13), narrowly obovate to oblanceolate, 12-20 ´ 4-8 mm, base cuneate, apex truncate or obtuse, with a cuspid, appressed pubescent adaxially, strigose abaxially, lateral veins 6-7 pairs, obscure. Pseudoracemes terminal or leaf-opposite, 2 cm, strigose, 1-3-flowered; flower 6 mm, pedicel 2.5-4 mm, calyx 3 ´ 2 mm; corolla white to yellow, rarely pale pink, vexillum orbicular, pilose abaxially; ovary hairy, ovules numerous. Pod 35-40 ´ 4 mm, shortly strigose, slightly curved upwards, tip with a beak and style remnant sharply downwards; seeds 8-14, oblong-rhomboid, mottled.

Sunny places on slope or roadside. 500 m. Guangdong, [pantropic of the world].

9. Tephrosia filipes Benth. in Fl. Austral. 2: 208. 1864.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Annual or perennial herb, 25-40 cm. Stems erect or straggling, branchy, straight and thin, densely white strigose. Stipules 3.5 mm, leaflets (7-)9-11, narrowly elliptic-obovate, 6-12 ´ 3-4 mm, base cuneate, apex abruptly acute, with a cuspid, glabrous adaxially, densely appressed white sericeous abaxially, yellowed on midrib and margins, lateral veins 5-7 pairs, conspicuous. Pseudoracemes 3-4.5 cm, peduncle straight and thin, (1-)2-3-flowered; flower 7-9 mm, pedicel 2-4 mm, calyx 3 mm, densely strigose; corolla mauve, vexillum broadly ovate, fine puberulous abaxially; ovary white silky, ovules numerous. Pod linear, 25-28 ´ 3.5-4 mm, densely yellow strigose, apex oblique truncate, with a crochet hooked beak downwards; seeds 9, brown, 3 ´ 2 mm, warty.

Coastal rocky slope. S Taiwan, [Australia, Papua New Guinea].

10. Tephrosia luzonensis Vogel in Nov. Act. Acad. Nat. Curr. 19 (Suppl.), 1: 15. 1843.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Annual herb, branchy, 10-15(-100) cm, white spreading pilose. Stems erect, procumbent, or ascendant, base slightly woody. Stipule 4 mm. Leaflets (5-)9-13(-21), narrowly oblong or oblanceolate, 10-30 ´ 3-7 mm, base cuneate, apex rounded or retuse, with a cuspid, appressed puberulous adaxially, densely gray pubescent abaxially, lateral veins 10 pairs. Pseudoracemes axillary, flowers gathered at the apical half of rhachis; flower 7 mm, pedicel 3-4 mm, corolla pale red with purple. Pod 25-35 ´ 4 mm, slightly curved, strigose, apex straightly beaked; seeds 7-12, black, subgloboid, 2 mm.

Open sandy sea shore. Coral reefs in South China Sea, [Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand].

11. Tephrosia ionophlebia Hayata Ic. Formos. 9: 21. 1920.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Shrubby herb. Stems erect or ascendant, appressed yellow puberulous. Stipules acuminate, 3-6 mm, strigose abaxially, sometimes cataphylls axillary. Leaflets 13-17(-21), oblong-oblanceolate, 15-18 ´ 5 mm, the lateral leaflets in middle of axis more longer, base broadly cuneate, apex rounded or retuse, with a cuspid, glabrescent adaxially, sparsely strigose abaxially, lateral veins 9 pairs, nerves network clearly marked, purple red, especially on the abaxial. Pseudoracemes terminal or opposite the leaf, 2-5 cm, straight, strigose, elongated in fruiting times; flower 1 cm, pedicel 4 mm, slender, calyx 5 ´ 3 mm; corolla red, vexillum broadly orbicular, pubescent abaxially; ovary linear, ovules numerous. Pod linear, 35-40 ´ 4 mm, strigose, slightly curved at the tip; seeds 5-7, ellipsoid, scabrous.

· Open or waste lands. Taiwan.

12. Tephrsia obovata Merr. in Philip. J. Sci. Bot. 5: 69. 1910.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Small perennial herb. Stems straggling, with woody base, appressed pubescent. Stipules 2-4 mm, subulate. Leaflets (9-)11-13, obovate, 14 ´ 6 mm, apex emarginate, with a cuspid, appressed silky on both surfaces, especially dense abaxially, lateral veins 5-8 pairs, obscure. Pseudoracemes short, terminal, axillary; ovary hairy. Pod linear, 20-25 ´ 4 mm, straight, densely velvety; seeds 6-7.

Open or dry soils. Taiwan, [Philippines].

__. LOTUS Linn., Sp. Pl. 773. 1753.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves 5-foliolate; stipules absent, or reduced to black spot; leaflets entire, usually sessile, 3 crowded at the tip of leaf-axis, 2 at the base, stipule-like, never adnate to the petiole. Flowers 1-5(-7) umbellate on axillary peduncles, with (1-)3 leaflet-like bracts, bracteoles absent, calyx bell-shaped, teeth 5, subequal or the distal longer, rarely connate into 2 lips; corolla yellow, pink, violet, or white; vexillary stamen free, alternate filaments dilated at the apex; anthers uniform; ovary sessile, ovules numerous, style glabrous, with serrulated appendage, stigma terminal or lateral. Pod linear, straight, terete, dehiscent; seeds subgloboid or lenticular, smooth, rarely scabrous.

100 species in N temperate Eurasia, Africa, America, and Oceania. Eight species in China.

1a. Flowers scarlet or white, more than 15 mm; stem terete; leaflets of the cauline leaves 15-20 mm.

2a. Flowers scarlet, purple when dry; pod 4-winged; plant up to 40 cm; cultivated 8. L. tetragonolobus

2b. Flowers white; pod cylindric; plant 50-80 cm 1. L. australis

1b. Flowers yellow, less than 15 mm; stems nearly quadrangular; leaflets of the cauline leaves 5-15 mm.

3a. Flowers 10-15 mm; leaflets larger, width to 10 mm, the length less three times of it, obovate-elliptic to oblanceolate, sparsely puberulous or glabrous 2. L. corniculatus

3b. Flowers 5-11 mm; leaflets smaller, width under 4 mm.

4a. Leaflets of the cauline leaves ovate or oblong-obovate, apex rounded.

5a. Plant under 20 cm, spreading white villose; peduncle 1-2 cm; bracts shorter than calyx 4. L. alpinus

5b. Plant 10-35 cm, glabrous or sparsely puberulous; peduncle 2-5 cm; bracts equal to calyx; corolla red when dry 5. L. krylovii

4b. Leaflets of the cauline leaves linear of linear-lanceolate, apex acute; corolla blue when dry.

6a. Peduncle 3-8 cm, 1-5-flowered; corolla 6-11 mm; bracts longer than calyx; calyx-teeth equal the tube; leaflets 12-15 mm 3. L. tenuis

6b. Peduncle 2.5-4 cm, 1-2-(3-) flowered; corolla 5-7 mm; bracts equal or shorter to calyx, calyx-teeth longer than the tube; leaflets 7-15 mm.

7a. Stem creeping; corolla orange; pod 20-25 mm, valve thin 6. L. angustissimus

7b. Stem erect; corolla yellow; pod 14-18 mm, valve thick 7. L. praetermissus

1. Lotus australis Andrews in Bot. Rep. Pl. t. 264. 1799.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Perennial herb, 50-80 cm, puberulous. Rootstock woody. Stem terete, strong, fleshy, decumbent with the end ascending. Leaflets 5, obovate-lanceolate to broadly linear, 1-2(-4) cm, base cuneate, apex rounded with a cuspid. Umbels axillary, peduncle 2-3 cm, 3 leaf-like bracts or 1 leaflet at the tip; flowers (3-)4(-8), 14-20 mm, pedicel short, pubescent; calyx-teeth 5, awl-shaped, longer than the tube; corolla white, occasionally pale pink or tinged with violet, dark spotted on the keel; ovary linear, glabrous. Pod cylindric, 3-5 ´ 0.2-0.3 cm, straight, valves twist; seeds numerous, globoid, smooth. Fl. Sep-Mar.

Sandy place of sea shores. Taiwan (Island Lanyu), [Australia, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), SE Asia].

2. Lotus corniculatus Linn. Sp. Pl. 775. 1753.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Perennial herb, 15-50 cm, scattered sparsely white puberulous or glabrescent. Stem nearly quadrangular, solid, decumbent or ascending. Leaflets 5, oblique-to oblanceolate-ovate, 5-15 ´ 4-8 mm, papery, basal pair stipule-like, midrib obscure. Flowers (7-)9-15 mm, in umbels rarely over 7, peduncle 3-10 cm, leaflike bracts 3, equal to the calyx, 5-7 mm, calyx-teeth equal in length, narrowly triangular; corolla yellow or aureate, usually blue when dry; ovary glabrous, ovules 35-40. Pod linear-cylindric, brown 20-25 ´ 2-4 mm; seeds small, 1 mm, ovoid, grayish brown. Fl. May-Sep, fr. Jul-Oct.

1a. Plant scattered sparsely white puberulous; flowers 3-7 in umbels; calyx-teeth equal to the tube 2a. var. corniculatus

1a. Plant glabrescent; flowers 1-3(-4) in umbels; calyx-teeth longer or equal to the tube 2b. var. japonicus

2a. Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Plant puberulous, especially obvious on the petiolule; flowers 3-7; calyx-teeth equal to tube.

Moist and weak alkaline soil of fields, grassland, and ravine. Provinces upper and middle reaches of the Chang Jiang, NW, SW China, [Eurasia, Australis, N America].

2b. Lotus corniculatus var. japonicus Regel, Ind. Sem. H. Petrop. 23. 1864.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Plant glabrescent; flowers 1-3(-4); calyx-teeth slightly longer than or equal to the tube.

Also under the autonym.

2. Lotus tenuis Waldst. & Kit. Ex Willd. Enum. Pl. Hort. Bot. Reg. Berol. 2: 797. 1809.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Perennial herb, 20-100 cm, sparsely puberulous or glabrescent. Stem slender, erect, internode rather long, hollow. Leaflets 5, linear to oblong-linear, 15-25 ´ 2-4 mm, basal pair more shorter. Flowers 8-13 mm, in umbels 1-3(-5), peduncle 3-8 mm, slender; bracts 1-3, longer than calyx 1.5-2 times; calyx 5-6 mm, teeth equal to the tube; corolla yellow with red tiny lines; stamens diadelphous, the adaxial free, remainder 5 longer and 4 shorter; ovary linear, ovules numerous, pod cylindric, 20-40 ´ 2 mm, straight; seeds globoid, 1 mm, olive green, smooth. Fl. May-Aug, fr. Jul-Sep.

Saline, poor-drained grassland of lake or swamp shores. NW China, [E, S Europe, Near East, Russia].

4. Lotus alpinus (DC.) Schleicher ex Ramond, Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat. (Paris) 13: 275. 1825.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

L. corniculatus var. alpinus Ser. In DC. Prodr. 2: 214. 1825.

Perennial herb, up to 20 cm, spreading white villose. Stems clumpy, erect or ascending, quadrangular, hollow. Leaflets 5, apex 3 obliquely obovate, 6 ´ 4-5 mm, base cuneate, apex rounded, the basal 2 obliquely cordate, asymmetric, villose on both surfaces, rough adaxially. Flowers 8-11 mm, in umbels 2-4, peduncle 10-20 mm; leaf-like bracts 3, one fourth to one third of calyx, calyx 6 mm, teeth slightly longer than the tube, villose; corolla yellow; ovary glabrous, ovules 35. Fl. Jun-Aug.

Alpine rocky slopes; 3000-3500 m. Qinghai, Xizang, [C Asia, C Europe].

5. Lotus krylovii Schischk. & Serg. In Animadv. Syst. Herb. Univ. Tomsk. 7-8: 5. 1932.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

L. frondosus (Freyn) Kuprianova.

Perennial herb, 10-35 cm, glabrous or puberulous on cauline leaves. Stem branched from the base, erect or ascending, internode short, leafy, hollow. Leaflets 5, the apical 3 obovate to obovate-elliptic, 7-13 ´ 4-6 mm, base cuneate, apex rounded, the basal 2 obliquely ovate, acute; subglabrous on both surfaces. Flowers 8-11 mm, 1-2(-3) in umbels, peduncle 2-5 cm; bracts 3 or 5, equal to calyx; l calyx 5-6 mm, teeth filiform, longer than the tube; corolla orange with red spots; ovary linear, ovules 30-35. Pod cylindric, 20-30 ´ 2-3 mm. Fl. May-Aug, fr. Jul-Oct.

Alkaline, saline swamp or lake shores. Xinjiang, [C Asia, E Europe, India, Iran, W Mongolia, Pakistan].

6. Lotus angustissimus Linn. Sp. Pl. 774. 1753.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Annual or biennial herbs, rarely short-lived perennial, (5-)20-30(-50) cm, glabrescent or sparse pilose. Stems prostrate or ascending, branchy, slender. Leaflets 5, apical 3 obovate-lanceolate, 8-15 ´ 2-3 mm, acute, basal 2 obliquely ovate, apex rounded, appressed pilose on both surfaces. Flowers 5-7(-8) mm, 1-2(-3) in umbels; peduncle 2.5-4 cm; bracts 1-3, unequal; calyx 4-5 mm, teeth filiform, usually 1.5 times longer than the tube; corolla orange, vexillum equal to the keel, wings slightly shorter. Pod cylindric, 20-25 ´ 1-1.5 mm, straight, dark brown. Fl. Jun-Oct, fr. Jul-Nov.

Moist sandy soil of grassland by ravine; 500-1200 m. Xinjiang, [C Asia, S Europe, Near East, W Siberia].

7. Lotus praetermissus Kuprianova, Not. Syst. Inst. Bot. Acad. Sci. (Leningrad) 7(1): 37. 1937.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Annual herb, 10-30 cm, glabrescent or sparsely pilose. Stems erect or ascending, branched from the base. Leaflets 5, apical 3 linear-lanceolate, 7-15 ´ 2-4 mm, basal 2 narrowly oblique-ovate, glabrescent on both surfaces. Flowers 5-7 mm, 1-2 in umbels; bract 1, shorter than calyx; calyx-teeth equal to the tube; corolla yellow, vexillum slightly longer the keel; ovary linear, ovules 18. Pod straight, 14-18 ´ 1.5-2.5 mm, yellowish brown. Fl. Jun-Sep.

Moist grassland and sandy soil by margin of swamps. Xinjiang, [C Asia, E Europe, W Siberia].

8. Lotus tetragonolobus Linn. Sp. Pl. 773. 1753.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Tetragonolobus purpureus Moench.

Annual herb, 15-40 cm. Stem fleshy, prostrate, ascending, or erect, branchy, ridged, usually spreading sparsely villose. Leaflets 5, apical 3 ovate-rhombic, 2-5 ´ 3 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate, basal 2 stipule-shaped, ovate, less than 1 cm, puberulous on both surfaces. Flowers 20 mm, 1-2 in umbels at short peduncles; bracts 3; calyx 15 mm, pubescent, often with dark purple spots, teeth longer the tube; corolla scarlet, mauve when dry; ovary glabrous, ovules numerous. Pod cylindric, (20-)30-60(-70) ´ 5-8 mm, tapering to both ends, margins thickened, 4 wings by the sides of both sutures, undulate, 2-4 mm in width; seeds subgloboid, 3.5-4.5 mm, brown, smooth.

Cultivated for use the tender pod as vegetable.

__. ONONIS Linn., Sp. Pl. 716. 1753.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Perennial herbs, rarely shrubs, usually glandular and villose, sometimes spiny. Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate, the lateral often reduced and become 1-foliolate; stipules herbaceous, mostly adnate to the petiole, the cauline stipules united at the base into a ring, bifid; stipellae absent; leaflets toothed, lateral veins extended to the teeth on margins. Flowers solitary or 2-3 on short axillary racemes, peduncles often bristle-like, the floral leaves sometimes reduced to bracts with the flowers crowded into a spike; petals with short claw and free from staminal tube; stamens monadelphous, filaments dilated at the apex, anthers dimorphic, alternately basifixed and dorsifixed; ovary shortly stipitate, 2-many ovuled. Pod oblong or ovate, turgid, 2-valved; seed reniform, smooth or punctate.

About 75 species in N and C Europe, Mediterranean regions, W Asia, Ethiopia. Four species in China, include two cultivated.

1a. Branchlets not straightly bristle-like.

2a. Flower red, short pedicel; pod ovate, shorter than the calyx 2. O. arvensis

2b. Flower yellow, rather long pedicel; pod oblong, longer than the calyx 4. O. natrix

1b. Branchlets straightly bristle-like.

3a. Flowers 6-10(-15) mm, equal or slightly longer than the calyx 1. O. antiquorum

3b. Flowers 15-20 mm, 2 times as long as the calyx 3. O. campestris

1. Ononis antiquorum Linn., Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1006. 1763.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Perennial herbs, shrubby, 50-80(-100) cm, with mixed long and short glandular hairs. Stem erect in zigzags, terete, branchy, branchlets bristle-like, usually with racemes together to formed unequal double thorn-shape. Leaves 1-foliolate, sometimes 3-foliolate at the base of stem; stipules 6-8 mm, petiole 2-3 mm, slender; leaflets oblong or ovate, 6-12 ´ 2-5 mm, base rounded, margins irregularly serrulate, apex acute, glandular on both surfaces. Flowers solitary on axillary thorn, with short pedicel; calyx 7-8 mm, teeth 2 times as long as the tube; corolla pink, with purple stripes, 6-10(-15) mm, not or slightly extend from the calyx. Pod ovoid, 5-6 mm, hidden in persistent calyx; seeds 1-2(-3). Fl. May-Aug, fr. Jul-Sep.

Sandy meadows, or margin of coniferous woods. Xinjiang, [N Africa, C and SW Asia, Near East, and S Europe].

2. Ononis arvensis Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 10(2): 1159. 1759.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Perennial herbs, shrubby, 30-80 cm, leafy, with glandular and simple hairs. Stem erect, longitudinally ridged, branchy, without bristle-like branchlets. Leaves 3-foliolate, at apical part of stem 1-foliolate; stipules 6-10 mm, equal to petiole; terminal leaflet ovate to broadly oblong, 15-30 ´ 5-15 mm, subsessile, base rounded to broadly cuneate, apex acute, lateral leaflets as half of the terminal, glandular and villose on both surfaces, more dense abaxially. Flowers 1-2 axillary, congested at the tip to form whorled inflorescence with leaves; pedicel short, calyx 8-12 mm, teeth 3-4 times as long as the tube; corolla pale red with purple stripes, rarely white, 15-20 mm. Pod broadly oblong or ovoid, 7 ´ 5-6 mm, hidden in calyx, apex tiny reflexed style; seeds 2-4, warty. Fl. And fr. Jun-Aug.

Moist sandy soils of meadow. Xinjiang, Xizang, [Afghanistan, C and SW Asia, C and N Europe, Kashmir].

3. Ononis campestris Koch & Ziz, Cat. Pl. Palat. 22. 1814.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

O. spinosa Linn.

Perennial herb, base woody, 30-60 cm, with long and short glandular hairs. Stem erect, branchy at base, 1 or sometimes 2 rows of dense glandular hairs internode, branchlets thorn-like. Leaves 3-foliolate, at the tip of stem 1-foliolate; terminal leaflet oblong-elliptic, 5-10 ´ 3-5 mm, base rounded, margin irregularly serrulate, apex acute. Flower solitary axillary, subsessile, at the tip to form sparse racemes; calyx 7-8 mm, teeth longer than tube; corolla pale red to mauve, 15-20 mm. Pod oblong to rhomboid, 7 mm, apex beaked, equal or a little extended from persistent calyx; seeds 2-3. Fl. And fr. Apr-Sep.

Cultivated as ornamentals, introduced from NW Europe.

4. Ononis natrix Linn. Sp. Pl. 717. 1753.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Evergreen subshrubs, 10-70 cm, glandular and viscose hairs. Stem erect, branchy, without thorns. Leaves 3-foliolate, at the tip often simple and at base sometimes 5 leaflets; leaflets oblong, obovate, to broadly linear, 1-6 cm, apex acute. Flower solitary axillary, at the tip to form racemes with leaves; pedicel 5-20 mm, in the middle an aristate appendage; calyx 8-12 mm, teeth linear-lanceolate, longer than tube; corolla yellow, scarlet or purple stripes abaxially, 12-20 mm. Pod linear, 10-20 ´ 3-4 mm, 2-3 times longer than the persistent calyx, beaked; seeds 6-9, globoid, warty. Fl. May-Oct.

Cultivated as ornamentals, introduced from N Mediterranean.

__. PAROCHETUS Buch.-Ham. Ex D. Don Prodr. Fl. Nepal. 240. 1825.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Monotypic genus.

1. Parochetus communis Buch.-Ham. op. cit.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Perennial herbs, prostrate, 10-20 cm. Roots fibrous, produced at the nodes, with nodule. Leaves digitally 3-foliolate, stipules ovate, 4-5 mm, membranous, entire; petiole 8-15 cm, slender, puberulous; leaflets obcordate, 8-20 ´ 10-20 mm, base narrowly cuneate, margin entire, or sometimes undulate, lateral veins 4-5 pairs, petiolule 1 mm. Inflorescence umbellate, long peduncles axillary equal to petiole, bracts 2-4, pedicels 5-10 mm; flowers 1-3, calyx 6-9 mm, densely brown puberulous, teeth subequal to tube; corolla blue to purple, rarely white or pale red, 20 mm, vexillum obovate, tapering into a short claw, wings falcate-oblong, keel broadly triangular-falcate, apex abruptly inflexed, rather acute, stamens diadelphous, filaments not dilated; ovary sessile, glabrous; ovules numerous. Pod linear, 20-25 ´ 3-4 mm, apex obliquely acute; seeds 8-12, reniform, brown, sometimes with spots, 2 ´ 1 mm, hilum small, round and lateral. Fl. and fr. Apr-Nov.

Grassland and margin of woods, thicket, or roadside; 1800-3000 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, [Bhutan, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and E Africa].

__. TRIGONELLA Linn. Gen. Pl. 351. 1737.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Annual or perennial herbs. Stem erect, spreading or prostrate, branchy. Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate, stipules conspicuous nervate, terminal leaflet usually larger, margin more or less serrulate or incised, lateral veins running out into teeth. Inflorescence axillary, shortly racemes, capitate, subumbellate, or sometimes subsolitary; peduncles prolonged at fruiting with the axis of inflorescence; pedicels short, often less 5 mm, thickened after flowering; bracts minute, bracteole absent; calyx-teeth subequal; petals free from the staminal tube, vexillum larger, keel obtuse; filaments not dilated, anther uniform. Pod straight, falcate or arcuate, compressed or terete, tapering both ends, with reticulate coat; seeds scabrous, warty or pitted.

About 70 species, most in Mediterranean, Eurasia, Africa, and Oceania. Nine species in China.

1a. Perennial; pod linear-oblong, convex; petals without tripping mechanism between wings and keel.

2a. Wings longer than keel.

3a. Pod coated oblique veins; vexillum suborbicular, equal to wings; margins of leaflets sparsely serrate 1. T. emodi

3b. Pod coated crosswise veins; vexillum long obovate, reflexed, slightly longer than wings; margins of leaflets densely double serrate 2. T. fimbriata

2b. Wings shorter than keel 3. T. cachemiriana

1b. Annual; pod cylindric or ovoid.

4a. Pod linear-cylindric, less 2 mm in diam.; petals with tripping mechanism between wings and keel; plant under 30 cm.

5a. Peduncles developed, usually over 15 mm 6. T. cancellata

5b. Peduncles failed developable, usually below 10 mm.

6a. Flowers 1-2(-3), 6-8 mm, sessile; pod over 40 mm 4. T. monantha

6b. Flowers (2-)4-5, 4-5 mm, short pedunculate; pod less than 30 mm.

7a. Pod straight, 20-30 mm 5. T. orthoceras

7b. Pod arcuate, 15-20 mm 7. T. arcuata

4b. Pod conical or ovoid, over 2.5 mm in diam.; petals without tripping mechanism between wings and keel; cultivated.

8a. Pod ovoid, 2.5-5 mm, crowded as capitate, long pedunculate 8. T. coerulea

8b. Pod conical, 70-120 mm, subsessile, solitary or pair axillary 9. T. foenum-graecum

1. Trigonella emodi Benth. in Royle, Illustr. Bot. Himal. Mt. 197. 1835.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Perennial herbs, 20-60(-80) cm. Stem erect or ascending, terete, branching at base, yellow pubescent when young. Leaves 3-foliolate, stipules broadly lanceolate, incised; leaflets broadly obovate, (7-)10-25 ´ (4-)7-15 mm, base cuneate, margins sparsely serrate, apex obtuse or truncate, apiculate, glabrous adaxially, sparsely pilose abaxially. Flowers 5-8(-10) in short racemes, peduncle slender and axillary, 1-2 cm, after flowering prolonged to 2-3 cm, straight, bracts minute, pedicels 1.5-2.5 mm; calyx 3-4 mm, teeth lanceolate, shorter than tube; corolla yellow, 6-9 mm, vexillum suborbicular, equal to wings, keel half of the length of them; ovary as long as style, ovules 8-10. Pod oblong, 14-20 ´ 4-5 mm, base rounded, apex acute, with persistent style, veins prominent obliquely, glabrous; seeds 4-6, ellipsoid, 2.5 ´ 1.5 mm, brown, smooth. Fl. and fr. Jun-Sep.

Ravine shores or meadow by woods of the Himalayan valleys; 2700-3800 m. Xizang, [India, Kashmir, Pakistan].

2. Trigonella fimbriata Royle ex Benth. op. cit.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Perennial herbs, 25-30 cm. Stem erect, spreading branchy, subquadrangular, sparsely pilose. Leaves 3-foliolate, stipules ovate-lanceolate, incised, 4-6 mm, pilose; petiole 3-5 mm; leaflets broadly obovate, 6-10(-12) ´ 3-6(-8) mm, base cuneate, margins irregularly double-serrate, glabrous adaxially, pilose at least on midrib abaxially. Flowers (3-)6-8(-12) in subumbellate heads; peduncles 20-40 mm, pilose, straight; pedicels 2 mm, calyx 3.5 mm, teeth subulate-lanceolate; corolla yellow, (5-)6-7 mm; ovary linear, sparsely pilose, ovules 7-9. Pod elliptic-oblong, 8-10 ´ 4 mm, both ends rounded, with crosswise veins, thin and conspicuous; seeds 2-4. Fl. and fr. Jul-Aug.

Ravine shores or meadow by woods of the Himalayan valleys; 3800-4300 m. Xizang, [India, Kashmir, Nepal].

3. Trigonella cachemiriana Cambess. In Jacq. Voy. Bot. Ind. 4: 36. 1843.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Perennial herbs, 20-40 cm. Stems erect, terete, branching from base, leafy. Leaves 3-foliolate, stipules of lower part triangular-lanceolate, 3-5 mm; leaflets obovate, (5-)7-12 ´ (4-)6-8 mm, base broadly cuneate, margins serrulate. Flowers (5-)8-10, in subumbellate heads; peduncles slender, 20-35 mm, straight after flowering; pedicels 1-2.5 mm; calyx 3-4 mm, teeth triangular; corolla yellow, (8-)10-12 mm, vexillum suborbicular, equal to the keel, wings short and narrow; ovary linear, ovules 10. Pod oblong, (10-)12-15(-18) ´ 4 mm, base stipitate, apex rounded, veins prominent obliquely; seeds 2-4, reniform to ovoid, 2.5-3 mm, brown, smooth. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.

Sandy ravine and grassland of valleys; 2400-3800 m. Xinjiang, Xizang, [Afghanistan, India, Kashmir, Pakistan].

4. Trigonella monantha C. Meyer in Verz. Pfl. Cauc. 137. 1831.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

T. geminiflora Bunge.

Annual herbs, 20-40 cm. Stems prostrate or ascending, branched at base, ridged, pilose. Leaves 3-foliolate, stipules lanceolate-hastate, 5-7 mm; petioles 1-2.5 cm; leaflets oblong-obovate to obtriangular, (3-)5-12 ´ (3-)4-8 mm, base cuneate, margins above 2/3 denticulate, apex truncate, subglabrous adaxially, pilose at least on midrib abaxially, lateral veins 5-8 pairs. Flower solitary at basal part of stem axillary, 2(-3) at apical part, sessile or developed peduncles, 6-8 mm, straight with densely pilose; corolla yellow, 6-8 mm, vexillum evidently longer than wings and keel; ovary linear, style short and flat, ovules 18-24. Pod straight, cylindric, 40-50(-80) ´ 1-2 mm. Apex hook-like, appressed pubescent, veins reticulate with square or pentagon; seeds numerous, oblong-elliptic, 2 mm, brown. Fl. May-Jul, fr. Jun-Aug.

Clay soils on desert, wilderness, or roadsides. Xinjiang, [Afghanistan, C and SW Asia, Mongolia, Pakistan].

5. Trigonella orthoceras Kar. & Kir. in Bull. Soc. Nat. Moscow 14: 39. 1841.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Annual herbs, 15-25(-40) cm. Stems prostrate or ascending, sub-quadrangular, sparsely pilose. Leaves 3-foliolate, stipules semi-hastate, 5-6 mm; leaflets obovate to obovate-triangular, 6-15 ´ 3-8 mm, base cuneate, margins above 2/3 denticulate, apex truncate, glabrous adaxially, pilose at least on midrib abaxially, lateral veins 6-9 pairs. Flowers 2-5 in subumbellate heads, peduncles undeveloped, but sometimes to 3-5 mm; corolla yellow, 4-5 mm, vexillum longer than wings and keel; ovary linear, style short and flat, ovules numerous. Pod cylindric, 20-30 ´ 1-1.5 mm, appressed pubescent, veins reticulate with longitudinal meshes; seeds numerous, oblong to ovoid, 2 ´ 1 mm, brown, warty. Fl. Apr-Jun, fr. May-Jul.

Sandy slope, grasslands; 1200-1900 m. W Xinjiang, [C and SW Asia, Russia (W Siberia), Pakistan].

6. Trigonella cancellata Desf. in Tab. Ecole Bot. 1: 190. 1804.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Annual herbs, 10-20(-40) cm. Stems prostrate or ascending, branchy, puberulous. Leaves 3-foliolate, stipules linear-lanceolate, dentate at base; leaflets obtriangular or obovate-triangular, (4-)7-10 ´ 4-7 mm, base cuneate, margins above half dentate, apex truncate, glabrous adaxially, appressed pubescent abaxially, lateral veins 5-8 pairs. Flowers 4-7 in umbellate heads, peduncles axillary, 10-18 mm, calyx 3-4 mm, 5-ridged obviously; corolla yellow, 5 mm, vexillum ovate-oblong, longer than wings and keel; ovary linear, ovules numerous. Pod cylindric, 15-20 ´ 1.5 mm, 4-5 in umbel, curved to semicircular, white pubescent, with hooked beak, veins reticulate crosswise; seeds 6-8, oblong, 2.5 ´ 1 mm, brown, coated deep brown warts. Fl. May-Aug, fr. Jun-Sep.

Alkaline soils on sandy slope or ravine shores. Xinjiang, [C and SW Asia, Russia (W Siberia)].

7. Trigonella arcuata C. Meyer in Verz. Pfl. Cauc. 136. 1831.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Annual herbs, 10-25 cm. Stems prostrate or ascending, terete, branching at base, scattered villose. Leaves 3-foliolate, stipules lanceolate, base sub-hastate; leaflets obtriangular or obovate, 5-10 ´ 3-7 mm, base broadly cuneate, margins above half dentate, apex truncate, scabrous and glabrous adaxially, scattered villose abaxially, lateral veins 5-7 pairs, running out into teeth parallel. Flower 4-6(-8) in umbellate heads, peduncles less 5 mm, thicken, densely villose; corolla yellow, 4-5 mm; ovary linear villose, ovules numerous. Pod cylindric, 15-20 ´ 1.25-1.5 mm, 4-5 in umbel, curved falcate, scattered villose, veins reticulate crosswise, with pointed beak; seeds 7-8, oblong, 2.5 mm, brown warty. Fl. Mar-Jun, fr. May-Jul.

Alkaline soil on ravines or hillsides. Xinjiang, [C Asia, Russia (Caucasia), Near East].

8. Trigonella coerulea (L.) Ser. in DC. Prodr. 2: 181. 1825.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Annual herbs, 30-60(-80) cm. Stems straight, thicken, terete, glabrescent, branchy. Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate, stipules subulate-lanceolate, petioles 1-4 cm; leaflets ovate to broadly elliptic, 15-35 ´ 4-15 mm, base cuneate or rounded, margins serrate, apex obtuse or acute, glabrous adaxially, sparsely pubescent on midrib abaxially, lateral veins 8-10 pairs. Racemes capitate or ovate, 10-25 flowered, peduncles axillary 6 cm, straight and glabrous, bracts bristle-like, 1.5 mm, pedicel 1 mm; calyx 3 mm, membranous, 5-ridged; corolla blue, 5-6 mm, vexillum longest, keel shortest; ovary ovate, glabrous, ovules 5-7. Pod ovoid, 2.5-5 ´ 2.5 mm, apex tapering and beaked, longer than the body; seeds 1-2, broadly ovoid, 2 mm, brown, tubercle. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Jul-Sep.

Cultivated or escaped on wasteland. N, NE and NW China, [Eurasia, N Africa].

9. Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn. Sp. Pl. 777. 1753.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Annual herbs, 30-80 cm. Taproot down in earth 80 cm, fibrous roots developed. Stem erect, terete, branchy. Leaves 3-foliolate, stipules entire, membranous, base adnate to petiole, apex acute; petiole spreading, 6-15 mm; leaflets narrowly obovate, ovate, to oblong-elliptic, the terminal equal to the laterals, 15-40 ´ 4-15 mm, base cuneate, margins above half dentate, glabrous adaxially, sparsely pubescent or glabrescent abaxially, lateral veins 5-6 pairs. Flowers sessile, 1-2 axillary; calyx 7-8 mm, villose; corolla creamy or pale yellow, base violet, 13-18 mm; ovary puberulous, ovules numerous. Pod long conical, 7-12 ´ 0.4-0.5 cm, straight or slightly curved, glabrescent, apex with long beak, 2 cm, distal suture thicken, veins longitudinally reticulate; seeds 10-20, oblong-ovoid, 3-5 ´ 2-3 mm, brown, surface uneven. Fl. Apr-Jul, fr. Jul-Sep.

Cultivated throughout China, and escaped to fields as semi-wild weeds in NW and SW China, [Himalayas, Iranian Plateaux, Near East].

The tender leaves and stems as vegetables, seeds used as drug for tonic medicine; dried stems, leaves and seeds mill powder mix up with flour to steam bun as fragrant agent; dried plant also used to drive out harmful insects.

__. MEDICAGO Linn. Sp. Pl. 778. 1753.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Annual or perennial herbs, rarely shrublet. Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate, stipules adnate to petiole at base; leaflets denticulate, lateral veins running out into teeth. Racemes axillary, flowers crowded into heads, bracts small and caducous, calyx 5-toothed, subequal; petals free from staminal tube, vexillum oblong to obovate, usually reflexed, wings and keel with hooked appendages make the tripping mechanism for one stroke pollination; stamens diadelphous, filaments not dilated, anthers uniform; ovary sessile or short stipitate, ovules numerous, style subulate, stigma subcapitate, oblique. Pod coiled, curved, or straightly compressed, surface reticulate, sometimes armed with spines. Seed small, reniform, usually smooth, estrophiolate.

About 60 species, Africa, C and SW Asia, Mediterranean. 13 species and one subspecies in China.

1a. Pod not spirally coiled.

2a. Pod less than 3 mm, reniform, 1 seeded; flowers to 2.5 mm 1. M. lupulina

2b. Pod more than 8 mm.

3a. Pod oblong to semilunar, more than 4 mm wide.

4a. Plant glabrous or slightly puberulous; flowers yellow with scarlet spot, more than 6 mm.

5a. Pod 7-9 mm wide; stems glabrous; leaflets rather larger 2. M. platycarpos

5b. Pod less than 6 mm wide; stems more or less puberulous; leaflets rather smaller.

6a. Flowers 4-5 in scatter thyrse; leaflets obovate to rotund; stipules hastate 3. M. archiducis-nicolai

6b. Flowers 6-9(-15) in dense fascicles; leaflets cuneate-linear to oblanceolate; stipules lanceolate 4. M. ruthenica

4b. Plant densely pubescent; flowers yellow, 5 mm 5. M. edgeworthii

3b. Pod falcate or linear, straight or curved to arcuate, less than 3 mm wide 6. M. falcata

1b. Pod spirally coiled.

7a. Perennial; pod spineless.

8a. Herbs.

9a. Pod tight coiled 2-4(-6) spirals, center solid or near so; flowers purple; leaflets glabrous 7. M. sativa

9b. Pod loose coiled 1-1.5 spirals, center hollow; flowers creamy or variegated; leaflets sometimes puberulous 8. M. varia

8b. Shurbs 9. M. arborea

7b. Annual or biennial; pod with spines or tubercles.

10a. Leaflets obviously hairy; pod globoid, less than 4.5 mm in diam.

11a. Petiole shorter than peduncle, stipule entire or obscurely serrate, leaflets densely hairy; 2-10 flowered 10. M. minima

11b. Petiole longer than peduncle, stipule small, incised, leaflets sparsely pilose; 1-2 flowered 11. M. praecox

10b. Leaflets glabrous or glabrescent; pod discoid, 4-10 mm in diam.

12a. Petiole not over 2 times longer than peduncle, stipule laciniate or lacerate; leaflets without dark blotch 12. M. polymorpha

12b. Petiole 2-5 times longer than peduncle, stipule triangular, incise to laciniate; leaflets with a dark central blotch 13. M. arabica

1. Medicago lupulina Linn. Sp. Pl. 779. 1753.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Annual or short-lived perennial herbs, 15-60 cm, pubescent or glandular. Stems prostrate or ascending, branchy, leafy. Stipules ovate-lanceolate, to 10 mm, base rotunda or hastate, often dentate, apex acuminate; petiole 1-2 cm, the cauline shorter than subtending leaflets; leaflets obovate, broadly obovate or obcordate, 5-20 ´ 4-6 mm, papery, base cuneate, margins above half obscurely serrate, apex truncate or retuse, with an apicula, pubescent on both surfaces, lateral veins to 10 pairs, even. Flowers 10-20 in small heads, peduncles slender, straight, longer than subtending leaves, densely appressed pubescent; bracts bristle-like, minute; pedicel less 1 mm, calyx 2 mm, densely hairy; corolla yellow, 2-2.2 mm, vexilum sub-orbicular, apex retuse, longer than wings and keel; ovary broadly ovate, with single ovule. Pod reniform, 3 ´ 2 mm, sculptured with concentric arcuate veins, sparsely hairy, black when ripe. Seed ovoid, brown, smooth. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Aug-Oct.

Stream bank, roadside, waste fields and margin of woods. Throughout China, [Eurasia].

2. Medicago platycarpos (L.) Trautv. Bull. Acad. Sci. Petersb. 8: 271. 1841.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Trigonella karkarensis Semen ex Vassilczenko; Turukhania platycarpos (L.) Vassilczenko.

Perennial herbs, (25-)40-80(-100) cm. Stems erect, quadrangular, base often purplish, glabrous or puberulous. Stipules broadly triangular-lanceolate, 5-8 mm, shallowly serrate, base subhastate; petiole slender, 2.5-3.5(-5) cm, more shorter apically; leaflets broadly ovate, rounded, to broadly elliptic, (15-)20-30 ´ (8-)15-25 mm, papery, base rotunda to broadly cuneate, margins irregularly dentate, apex rounded or truncate, glabrous adaxially, sparsely hairy or glabrescent abaxially, lateral veins 10 pairs, inconspicuous. Flowers (4-)5-8(-15) in umbels; peduncle shorter or equal to the subtending leaf, slender; bracts minute, ovate with apicule, 1 mm; pedicels 3-5 mm; corolla yellow with purple stripes, bluing when dry, (7-)9-12(-14) mm, vexillum oblong-spatulate, slightly constrict in the middle; ovary linear, ovules 12-14. Pod oblong-falcate to semilunar, (10-)12-18(-24) ´ 5-9 mm, flat, dorsal suture straight, apex rotunda, short beaked, veins crosswise long-reticulate, black when ripe; seeds (5-)8-12, broadly ovoid, 3 ´ 2 mm, brown, smooth. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Jul-Aug.

Ravine, meadows by margin of coniferous forest; 1200-2000 m. Xinjiang, [C Asia, Mongolia (Altai), Russia (W Siberia)].

3. Medicago archiducis-nicolai Sirj. Kew Bull. Misc. Inform. 7: 270. 1928.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Kamiella archiducis-nicolai (Sirj.) Vassilczenko.

Perennial herbs, 8-20 cm. Stems prostrate or ascending, slender, ridged, branchy, sparsely hairy, stipules hastate, 4-7(-10) mm, apex narrowly triangular, dentate, veins obvious; petiole 4-12 mm; leaflets broadly ovate to rotunda, 6-18 ´ 6-12 mm, papery, base rounded, margin obscurely irregular denticulate, apex truncate or retuse, glabrescent adaxially, puberulous abaxially, lateral veins 6-10 pairs, the apical leaflet and petiolule longest. Flowers 4-5 scattered in umbels axillary, peduncle slightly longer than subtending leaf; bracts 1 mm; pedicels slender, 2-5(-7) mm; corolla orange, with central mauve spot, 7-9(-10) m, vexillum obovate-elliptic, retuse; ovary linear, glabrous, ovules 7-9(-13). Pod oblong-semilunar, 10-15(-18) ´ 4-6 mm, flat, apex shortly beaked, veins crosswise reticulate, black when ripe; seeds 5-7, broadly ovoid, 2.5 ´ 1.5 mm, brown, smooth. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Jul-Sep.

· Alpine slopes, valleys, and grassland; (2500-)3000-4000 m. Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang.

4. Medicago ruthenica (L.) trautv. op. cit. 270.

Insert Chinese and Pin Yin

Melilotoides ruthenica (L.) Yakovl.

Perennial herbs, 20-70(-100) cm. Stems er