FABACEAE Subfam. CAESALPINIOIDEAE Taubert in Engler & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 3(3): 125. 1894. [Draft]

云实亚科 yun shi ya ke

Chen Dezhao (Chen Te-chao)^[1]; Kai Larsen^[2], Supee Saksuwan Larsen^[3], Ding Hou^[4], Michael A. Vincent^[5]

Trees, shrubs, or climbers, rarely herbs. Leaves alternate, pinnate or bipinnate, rarely simple (or simple leaflets); stipules often caducous; with or without stipels. Flowers bisexual, rarely unisexual, usually ± zygomorphic, rarely actinomorphic. Inflorescences racemes or panicles, rarely spikes; bracteoles small or large, sepaloid, bracts reduced when bracteoles enclose flower bud; hypanthium very short or cup-shaped or elongated to tubular. Sepals (4 or)5, free or connate on lower part. Petals usually 5, rarely 1 or absent, as are sepals imbricate in flower bud, uppermost (adaxially) one smaller, covered by adjoining, sublateral 2. Stamens 10 or fewer, rarely numerous; filaments free or connate; anthers 2-celled, usually opening by lateral slits, rarely by apical pores, pollen singular. Ovary stalked or sessile, free or adnate to inner wall of hypanthium; ovules anatropous, 1 to numerous; style slender; stigma terminal. Pod dehiscent or indehiscent, drupelike or samara-like; seeds sometimes with aril, cotyledons fleshy or leaflike, radicle straight.

About 180 genera and 3000 species: tropical and subtropical regions, a few genera (Gleditsia and Gymnocladus) in temperate zone; 23 genera and about 113 species (cultivated and naturalized) in China, mainly in the South and Southwest.

Chen, Te-chao. 1988. Fabaceae Subfam. Caesalpinoideae. In: Chen, Te-chao, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 39: 74–218.

 

Key to genera (I)

1a.     Leaves usually bipinnate; hypanthium discoid (Tribe 1. Caesalpineae).

2a.    Flowers polygamous or dioecious; deciduous trees.

3a.     Plants unarmed; flowers larger, in terminal panicles; pod turgid .............  1. Gymnocladus

3b.     Plants often armed with branched spines; flowers smaller, in axillary spicate racemes; pod flat              2. Gleditsia

2b.    Flowers bisexual.

4a.     Plants unarmed, trees.

5a.     Flowers large, more than 7 cm in diam., showy; pod large, strap-shaped, valves thick, woody            5. Delonix

5b.     Flowers small or medium, not over 3 cm in diam.

6a.    Stamens 5; flowers scarlet; pod narrowly winged along ventral suture  3. Acrocarpus

6b.    Stamens 10; flowers yellow or yellowish green; pod otherwise.

7a.     Pod with broad wings on both sutures; flowers more than 15 mm in diam.; stamens slightly shorter than petals .................................................................  4. Peltophorum

7b.     Pod without wing; flowers less than 5 mm in diam.; stamens ca. 2 × as long as petals             10. Erythrophleum

4b.     Plants usually armed with prickles; climbers or trees.

8a.     Flowers irregular, zygomorphic; ovules 2 or more.

9a.    Pod ovate, oblong, or lanceolate, smooth or spiny, leathery or woody; albumen absent      6. Caesalpinia

9b.    Pod linear, torulose, thinly leathery; seeds with endosperm .............  9. Parkinsonia

8b.     Flowers subregular; ovules 1.

10a. Ovary sessile; pod winged, indehiscent ...........................................  7. Pterolobium

10b. Ovary shortly stalked; pod not winged, splitting along middle of valves (cultivated)  8. Haematoxylon

1b.     Leaves pinnate or 1-foliolate or simple.

11a.   Calyx spathaceous in flower bud; leaves simple, entire or 2-lobed, sometimes divided and 2-foliolate (Tribe 3. Cercideae).

12a.   Pod narrowly winged along ventral suture; perfect stamens 10; flowers purplish red or pink      16. Cercis

12b.   Pod without wing; perfect stamens usually 3 or 5, if 10 then flowers white, light yellow or green            17. Bauhinia

11b.   Sepals free to base in flower bud; leaves usually pinnate, sometimes only with 1 pair of leaflets or 1-foliolate.

13a.   Anthers basifixed, rarely dorsifixed, thecae opening by pores or lateral short slits; petals usually 5, sometimes 3, rarely absent (Tribe 2. Cassieae).

14a.   Petals absent ....................................................................................  11. Ceratonia

14b.   Petals present.

15a.   Leaves odd-pinnate; leaflets alternate ...................................................  12. Zenia

15b.   Leaves abruptly pinnate; leaflets opposite.

16a.   Petioles and rachis of leaves without glands; stamens 10, filaments of 3 abaxially, antisepalous stamens sigmoidally curved, usually longer than their anthers; pod indehiscent  13. Cassia

16b.   Petioles and rachis of leaves with or without glands; stamens 10 or 5 fertile, filaments straight.

17a.   Bracteoles absent; petals subequal; pod either indehiscent or inertlydehiscent through 1 or both sutures, in last case not coiling, or valves breaking up in 1-seeded joint  14. Senna

17b.   Bracteoles present; petals unequal; pod elastically dehiscent, valves coiling 15. Chamaecrista

13b.   Anthers dorsifixed, thecae opening by lateral slits.

18a.   Bracteoles sepaloid or petaloid, enclosing flower bud before flowering; stalk of ovary adnate to hypanthium (Tribe 5. Amherstieae) ..................................................  23. Tamarindus

18b.   Bracteoles not sepaloid or petaloid, imbricate, often caducous; ovary inserted at center and free from hypanthium (Tribe 4. Detarieae).

19a.   Petals absent; calyx lobes petaloid ......................................................  19. Saraca

19b.   Petals present.

20a.   Petals 5 or 3.

21a.   Flowers purplish red or pink; perfect stamens 2; leaves abruptly pinnate; leaflets 3–5 pairs ..............................................................................................  18. Lysidice

21b.   Flowers white; perfect stamens 10; leaflets paired ................. 21. Hymenaea

20b.   Petals 1, rarely 2.

22a.   Petals with long claw, exceeding above sepals; pod oblong; seeds with horny aril at base    20. Afzelia

22b.   Petals without claws, enclosed in uppermost calyx lobe; pod orbicular or elliptic; seeds with fleshy aril at base ....................................................................  22. Sindora

 

Key to genera (II)

1a.     Leaves simple, with palmate veins; apex acuminate, emarginate or divided to 2-lobed.

2a.    Pod narrowly winged along ventral suture; perfect stamens 10; flowers purplish red or pink  16. Cercis

2b.    Pod without wings; perfect stamens usually 3–10; flowers white, light yellow, or light green (not including Bauhinia monandra) ..................................................................................  17. Bauhinia

1b.     Leaves compound.

3a.    Leaves with 1 pair of leaflets.

4a.     Trees; perfect stamens 10; pod drupelike, obovate or oblong, indehiscent; valves woody  21. Hymenaea

4b.     Climbers; perfect stamens 3; pod usually compressed, linear or linear-oblong, mostly dehiscent; valves leathery ..................................................................................................  17. Bauhinia

3b.    Leaves pinnate, with 2 or more pairs of leaflets.

5a.     Leaves bipinnate.

6a.     Stems, branches, or rachis of leaves armed with prickles.

7a.    Pod samaroid, upper part producing an oblique oblong or falcate, membranous wing  7. Pterolobium

7b.    Pod not winged or narrowly winged.

8a.     Rachis of leaves and pinnae flattened; pod torulose ...................  9. Parkinsonia

8b.     Rachis of leaves not flattened; pod not torulose.

9a.     Flowers polygamous or dioecious, subregular, usually light green or greenish white; leaflets margin serrulate or crenate ......................................................  2. Gleditsia

9b.     Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, usually yellow, sometimes red; leaflets entire  6. Caesalpinia

6b.     Trees unarmed.

10a.   Leaflets alternate; pod turgid, full of pulp inside between seeds; stamens 10, alternately shorter and longer.

11a.   Flowers polygamous or dioecious; leaflets 20–24, rounded on both ends, slightly oblique at base ............................................................................................  1. Gymnocladus

11b.   Flowers bisexual; leaflets 8–12, apex acuminate, base oblique  10. Erythrophleum

10b.   Leaflets opposite; pod without pulp; stamens 5 or 10, subequal.

12a.   Pod 30–40 cm, not winged; valves thick, woody; flowers bright red to orange red       5. Delonix

12b.   Pod less than 15 cm, winged, valves thin, leathery.

13a.   Flowers scarlet; stamens 5; ovary long stalked; pod narrowly winged along ventral suture  3. Acrocarpus

13b.   Flowers yellow; stamens 10; ovary sessile; pod with wings on both sutures 4. Peltophorum

5b.     Leaves pinnate.

14a.   Petals absent.

15a.   Flowers small, reddish; leaves with leaflets in 2–4 pairs ...................  11. Ceratonia

15b.   Flowers larger, yellowish to deep red; leaves with leaflets in 4–6 pairs ..  19. Saraca

14b.   Petals present.

16a.   Petals 1, rarely 2.

17a.   Petals obovate, with long claw, exceeding above sepals; pod compressed, oblong; seeds with horny aril at base ...........................................................................  20. Afzelia

17b.   Petals without claws, enclosed in uppermost calyx lobe; pod orbicular or elliptic; seeds with fleshy aril at base ........................................................................  22. Sindora

16b.   Petals 3–5.

18a.   Stems and branches armed with branched, robust spines; leaflets usually serrate or crenate on margin ........................................................................................  2. Gleditsia

18b.   Plants unarmed; leaflets entire.

19a.   Leaves odd-pinnate; pod narrowly winged along ventral suture ......  12. Zenia

19b.   Leaves abruptly pinnate; pod not winged.

20a.   Petioles or rachis of leaves with glands.

21a.   Flowers without bracteoles; petals subequal; pod indehiscent or inertly dehiscent, valves not coiling or valves breaking up in 1-seeded joints ..............  14. Senna

21b.   Flowers with bracteoles; petals unequal; pod elastically dehiscent, valves coiling        15. Chamaecrista

20b.   Petioles and rachis of leaves without glands.

22a.   Stamens 10, anther thecae opening by pores or lateral short slits, filaments of 3 abaxial, antesepalous stamens sigmoidally curved, remaining 7 filaments straight and short; pod indehiscent ......................................................................  13. Cassia

22b.   Stamens 10, anther thecae opening by lateral slits, filaments equal, all straight.

23a.   Petals only upper 3 developed, lower 2 reduced, scalelike; leaflets 10–20 pairs; pod narrowly terete, indehiscent, mesocarp fleshy, sour, edible  23. Tamarindus

23b.   Petals 5; leaflets 2–5 pairs; pod compressed, dehiscent.

24a.   Flowers yellow; bracts not obvious, perfect stamens 10; pod membranous        19. Haematoxylon

24b.   Flowers purplish red or pink; bracts obvious, red or white; perfect stamens 2; pod thick leathery or woody .........................................  18. Lysidice

 

Chen, Te-chao. 1988. Fabaceae Subfam. Caesalpinoideae. In: Chen, Te-chao, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 39: 74–218.

1. CAESALPINIEAE Engler, Syll. Pflanzenfam. 1: 238. 1936.

??add Chinese characters throughout  yun shi zu

Leaves abruptly bipinnate or rarely abruptly pinnate. Flowers actinomorphic or zygomorphic. Receptacle discoid. Sepals inserted on margin of receptacle, often unequal, the lowest larger, on outside, hooded or navicular. Petals usually 5, rarely 4, slightly unequal. Stamens free, subequal; anthers basifixed or dorsifixed, opening by lateral slits. Ovary or stalk inserted at base of receptacle; ovules 2 to numerous, rarely one.

About 47 genera; ten genera cultivated and naturalized in China.

1. GYMNOCLADUS Lamarck, Encycl. 1: 737. 1783.

fei zuo jia shu

Trees, deciduous, unarmed. Branches robust. Leaves abruptly bipinnate; stipules caducous, small. Inflorescences racemes or corymbose panicles, terminal. Flowers whitish, actinomorphic, polygamous or plants dioecious. Receptacle discoid. Sepals 5, subequal, narrow. Petals 4 or 5, slightly longer than sepals, oblong, imbricate, innermost one sometimes absent. Stamens 10, free, shorter than corolla, alternately shorter and longer; filaments thick, slightly villous; anthers dorsifixed, opening by lateral slits. Ovary in male flowers reduced or absent, in female or bisexual flowers sessile, 7- or 8-ovuled; style straight, slightly thick and compressed; stigma oblique. Pod sessile, turgid, subterete, 2-valved, full of pulp inside between seeds. Seeds large; testa leathery; radicle erect, short.

About three or four species: North America and S Asia; one species in China.

??Gymnocladus guangxiensis P. C. Huang & Q. W. Yao, J. Nanjing Tech. Coll. For. Prod. 1: 126. 1980.

1. Gymnocladus chinensis Baillon, Bull. Mens. Soc. Linn. Paris 1: 34. 1875.

fei zou jia

Trees, 5–12 m tall. Bark grayish brown, with conspicuous whitish lenticels. Branchlets of current year ferruginous or whitish puberulous, glabrescent. Leaves 20–25 cm, without stipules; rachis sulcate, puberulous; pinnae opposite, subopposite, or alternate, 5–10 pairs; leaflets alternate, 8–12 pairs, subsessile, with subulate stipules; blades oblong, 2.5–5 × 1–1.5 cm, both surfaces silky pubescent, both ends rounded, base slightly oblique, apex sometimes emarginate. Racemes puberulous. Flowers polygamous, pendulous, whitish or tinged with purple, long pedicellate. Bracts small or absent. Receptacle deeply concave, 5–6 mm, puberulous. Sepals subulate, slightly shorter than receptacle. Petals oblong, slightly longer than sepals, hairy, apex obtuse. Filaments pubescent. Ovary sessile, glabrous, 4-ovuled; style short, thick; stigma capitate. Pod oblong, 7–10 × 3–4 cm, compressed or turgid, glabrous, apex shortly beaked. Seeds 2–4, blackish, subglobose, slightly compressed, ca. 2 cm in diam., glabrous. ?Fl., fr. Aug. 2n = 28*.

* Slopes, mountain sides, mixed forests, sides of rocks, near villages, beside houses; 100–1500 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, ?Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, ?Yunnan, Zhejiang.

2. GLEDITSIA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1056. 1753.

zue jia shu

Trees or shrubs, deciduous. Trunk and branches usually with stout, simple or branched spines. Leaves alternate, often clustered, simply paripinnate and bipinnate often on same plant; rachis of leaves and pinnae sulcate; leaflets numerous, subopposite or alternate, base oblique or subsymmetrical, margin serrulate or crenate, rarely entire; stipules caducous, small. Inflorescences axillary, rarely terminal, spikes or racemes, rarely panicles. Flowers polygamous or plants dioecious, light green or greenish white. Receptacle campanulate, outside pubescent. Calyx 3–5-lobed; lobes subequal. Petals 3–5, slightly unequal, ca. as long as or slightly longer than calyx lobes. Stamens 6–10, exserted, slightly flat, broad, with crisped hairs from middle downward; anthers dorsifixed. Ovary sessile or shortly stalked; ovules one to numerous; style short; stigma terminal. Pod ovoid or elliptic, flat or subterete.

About 16 species: C and SE Asia, and North and South America; six species in China (three endemic).

??Gleditsia medogensis Z. C. Ni, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 25: 231 1987.

??Gleditsia rolfei Vidal, Revis. Pl. Vasc. Filip. 115. 1886 (see Fl. Taiwan)

1a.     Leaflets 6–24 mm, margin entire, upper leaflets smaller than those in lower part; pod 3–6 cm, with 1–3 seeds                                                                                                                    1. G. microphylla

1b.     Leaflets more than 25 mm, margin irregularly serrate; pod more than 6 cm, with numerous seeds.

2a.    Pod densely yellowish green velutinous .......................................................  6. G. japonica

2b.    Pod glabrous or puberulous.

3a.     Leaflets obliquely oblong or rhombic-lanceolate, midvein conspicuous at base; calyx lobes and petals 5; stamens 10; ovary densely silky.

4a.     Leaves pinnate or bipinnate; leaflets with reticulate veinlets adaxially obscure; racemes often comprising panicles; pod 6–12 cm, swollen opposite seeds ...................  2. G. australis

4b.     Leaves pinnate; leaflets with reticulate veinlets conspicuously raised; racemes simple; pod 13.5–26 cm, not swollen opposite seeds .......................................................................  3. G. fera

3b.     Leaflets ovate, ovate-lanceolate, or oblong, midvein at middle or slightly oblique; calyx lobes and petals 3 or 4; stamens 6–8(or 9); ovary not silky.

5a.     Leaflets 11–18 pairs, elliptic-lanceolate, apex acute; ovary hoary .....  4. G. triacanthos

5b.     Leaflets 3–10 pairs, ovate or elliptic, apex obtuse or emarginate; ovary glabrous or only sutures and base pubescent.

6a.    Spines terete; leaflets with reticulate veinlets adaxially conspicuously raised, margin densely finely serrate; ovary pubescent at base and along sutures; pod thick, not twisted, straight, or curved       5. G. sinensis

6b.    Spines flat at least at base; leaflets with reticulate veinlets obscure, margin entire or sparsely, shallowly crenate; ovary glabrous; pod flat, irregularly twisted or curved, falcate  6. G. japonica

 

1. Gleditsia microphylla D. Gordon ex Isely, Mem. NY Bot. Gard. 25: 214. 1975.

ye zao jia

Shrubs or small trees, 2–4 m tall. Branches grayish white to light brown; young branchlets puberulous, glabrescent when old. Spines not robust, long needlelike, 1.5–6.5 cm, with few, short branches. Leaves pinnate or bipinnate (pinnae 2–4 pairs) 7–16 cm; petiolules short, ca. 1 mm, puberulous; leaflets 5–12 pairs, obliquely ovate to oblong, 6–24 × 3–10 cm, thinly leathery, upper leaflets much smaller than lower ones, abaxially puberulous, adaxially glabrous, veins obscure on both surfaces, base oblique, broadly cuneate, margin entire, apex rounded. Flowers polygamous, greenish white, subsessile, fascicled, in spikes or terminal panicles. Inflorescence 5–12 cm, puberulous; bracts 3, lowest one lanceolate, ca. 1.5 mm, upper two ovate, ca. 1 mm, pubescent. Male flowers: ca. 5 mm in diam.; receptacle ca. 1.5 mm.; sepals 3 or 4, lanceolate, 2.5–3 mm; petals 3 or 4, ovate-oblong, ca. 3 mm, as are the calyx lobes puberulous outside, villous inside; stamens 6–8. Bisexual flowers: ca. 4 mm in diam.; calyx lobes 4, triangular-lanceolate, 1.5–2 mm, both sides puberulous; petals 4, ovate-oblong, ca. 2 mm, outside puberulous, inside villous; stamens 4, opposite to sepals; ovary long stalked, glabrous, 1–3-ovuled. Pod reddish brown to deep brown, obliquely elliptic or obliquely oblong, flat, thin, 3–6 × 1–2 cm, glabrous, with slender beak at apex; stipe 1–2 cm. Seeds 1–3, brownish, compressed, ovoid or oblong, 7–10 × 6–7 mm, smooth. Fl. Jun–Jul, fr. Jul–Oct.

* Sunny slopes, roadsides; 100–1300 m. Anhui, ?Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi.

2. Gleditsia australis Hemsley, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 23: 208. 1887.

xiao guo zao jia

Gleditsia microcarpa Metcalf.

Trees, 3–20 m tall. Branches brownish gray, with robust spines. Spines brownish purple, conical, 3–5 cm, branched. Leaves pinnate or bipinnate (pinnae 2–6 pairs), 10–18 cm; petiolules ca. 1 mm; leaflets 5–9 pairs, adaxially shiny, obliquely elliptic to rhombic-oblong, 2.5–4 × 1–2 cm, papery to thinly leathery, abaxially glabrous, adaxially slightly puberulous on veins, reticulate veinlets slightly lax, obscure, base obliquely acute or obliquely cuneate, margin obtusely serrate or subentire, apex rounded, often emarginate. Flowers polygamous, pale green or greenish white; pedicels 1–2.5 mm. Male flowers: 4–5 mm in diam., several fascicled or in cymules, cymules in dense racemes again, several racemes comprising a panicle to 28 cm, puberulous, axillary or terminal; sepals 5, lanceolate, ca. as long as receptacle, outside densely puberulous. Petals 5, elliptic, ca. 2 mm, outside densely puberulous, inside pubescent. Inflorescence of bisexual flowers as male inflorescence, with scattered flowers. Bisexual flowers: 7–9 mm in diam.; calyx tube ca. 2 mm, glabrous; lobes 5 or 6, lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, outside puberulous, inside as are the petals densely light brown crisped pubescent. Petals 5 or 6, elliptic, outside velutinous. Stamens 5, not exserted. Ovary sessile, densely light brown silky. Pod subsessile, brownish black when dry, compressed, strap-shaped, (4–)6–12 × 1–-2.5 cm, straight or slightly curved, valve leathery, conspicuously swollen opposite the seeds, apex mucronate. Seeds 5–12, deep brown to brownish black, slightly compressed, elliptic to oblong, 7–11 × 4–5 mm, smooth. Fl. Jun–Oct, fr. Nov–Apr.

Gentle slopes, mountain valleys, forests, near roads, by streams, sunny places; ?elevation. Guangdong, Guangxi [Vietnam].

3. Gleditsia fera (Loureiro) Merrill, Philipp. J. Sci. 13: 141. 1918.

hua nan zao jia

Mimosa fera Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 2: 652. 1790; Gleditsia formosana Hayata; G. thorelii Gagnepain.

Trees, 3–24 m tall. Branches grayish brown. Spines robust, branched, terete at base, to 13 cm. Leaves pinnate, 11–18 cm; rachis sulcate, glabrous or pilose; petiolules ca. 1 mm; leaflets 5–9 pairs, adaxially deep brown, shiny, obliquely elliptic to rhombic-oblong, 2–7(–12) × 1–3(–5) cm, papery to thinly leathery, abaxially glabrous, adaxially glabrous or sometimes pubescent on midvein, midvein inclined to one side at base of blade, reticulate veinlets crowded, slender, conspicuously raised, base obliquely cuneate or rounded and oblique, margin crenate, sometimes shallowly, obtusely serrate, apex rounded and emarginate. Flowers polygamous, greenish white, several in cymules, the latter in axillary or terminal, 7–16 cm racemes. Male flowers: 6–7 mm in diam.; receptacle ca. 2.5 mm; sepals 5, triangular-lanceolate, 2.5–3 mm, outside densely puberulous; petals 5, oblong, both sides puberulous; stamens 10; rudimentary pistil linear-terete, 4–5 mm, villous. Bisexual flowers: 8–10 mm in diam.; calyx and petals similar to those of male flowers, but calyx with a villous ring inside at base; stamens 5 or 6; anthers acute at apex; ovary densely brownish yellow silky, many ovuled. Pod compressed, 13.5–26(–41) × 2.5–3(–6.5) cm, straight or slightly curved, occasionally twisted, valves leathery, densely brownish yellow puberulous when young, glabrescent and becoming deep brown to blackish brown when old, apex with beak 2–5 mm; stipe 5–10 mm. Seeds numerous, brown to blackish brown, compressed or lenticular, ovoid to oblong, 8–11(–14) × 5–6(–11) mm, smooth. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Jun–Dec.

* Gentle slopes, mountain valleys, forests, beside villages, near roads, sunny places, occasionally cultivated; 300–1000 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, ?Guizhou, ?Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Taiwan, ?Yunnan.

The fruit contains saponin that can be used as soap and as an insecticide.

4. Gleditsia triacanthos Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1056. 1753.

mei guo zao jia

Trees or small trees, to 45 m tall. Bark grayish black, 1–2 cm thick, with deep cracks and narrow, long ridges. Branchlets deep brown, rough, slightly sulcate, with small, orbicular lenticels. Spines deep brown, slightly flat, robust, often branched, 2.5–10 cm, rarely branchlets unarmed. Leaves pinnate or bipinnate (pinnae 4–14 pairs), 11–22 cm; petiolules ca. 1 mm, pubescent; leaflets 11–18 pairs, abaxially yellowish green, adaxially dark green, shiny, elliptic-lanceolate, 1.5–3.5 cm × 4–8 mm, papery, abaxially puberulous on midvein, adaxially glabrous, base cuneate or slightly rounded and oblique, margin sparsely undulate-dentate, apex acute, sometimes slightly obtuse. Flowers yellowish green. Pedicels 1–2 mm. Male flowers: 6–7 mm in diam., solitary or several clustered in racemes; inflorescences terminal or often several fascicled in axils of leaves, 5–13 cm, puberulous; receptacle ca. 2 mm; sepals 2 or 3, lanceolate, 2–2.5 mm; petals 3 or 4, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, ca. 2.5 mm, as are the sepals puberulous on both surfaces. Stamens 6–9. Female flowers: in slender, few flowered racemes, racemes solitary and ca. as long as male inflorescence; ovary hoary. Pod compressed, strap-shaped, 30–50 cm, falcately curved or irregularly twisted, valves thin and rough, dark brown, pilose. Seeds numerous, compressed, ovoid or elliptic, ca. 8 mm, divided by thick pulp. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Oct–Dec. 2n = 28.

Along streams on moist sites, fertile soils; ?elevation. Jiangsu (Shanghai, cultivated) [native to the Americas].

This species is cultivated in temperate regions as an ornamental, used as a wayside tree and hedge. The wood is durable, and used for buildings and for props.

5. Gleditsia sinensis Lamarck, Encycl. 2: 465. 1786.

zao jia

Gleditsia horrida Willdenow; G. macracantha Desfontaines; G. officinalis Hemsley.

Trees or small trees, to 30 m tall. Branches grayish to deep brown. Spines robust, terete, conical, to 16 cm, often branched. Leaves pinnate, 10–18(–26) cm; petiolules 1–2(–5) mm, puberulous; leaflets (2 or)3–9 pairs, ovate-lanceolate to oblong, 2–8.5(–12.5) × 1–4(–6) cm, papery, abaxially slightly pubescent on midvein, adaxially puberulous, reticulate veinlets conspicuously raised on both surfaces, base rounded or cuneate, sometimes slightly oblique, margin serrate, apex acute or acuminate, tip rounded, mucronate. Flowers polygamous, yellowish white, in axillary or terminal, puberulous racemes 5–14 cm. Male flowers: 9–10 mm in diam.; pedicels 2–8(–10) mm; receptacle deep brown, 2.5–3 mm, outside pubescent; sepals 4, triangular-lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, both sides pubescent; petals 4, oblong, 4–5 mm, puberulous; stamens (6–)8; rudimentary pistil ca. 2.5 mm. Bisexual flowers: 10–12 mm in diam.; pedicels 2–5 mm; sepals and petals similar to those of the male flowers but longer; stamens 8; ovary hairy at base and on sutures; ovules numerous; stigma 2-lobed. Pod brown or reddish brown, curved, strap-shaped, 12–37 × 2–4 cm, straight or twisted, with slightly thick pulp, swollen on both surfaces, some pods shorter and smaller, ± terete, 5–13 × 1–1.5 cm, without seeds; stipe 1–3.5 cm; valves leathery, often farinose. Seeds numerous, brown, shiny, oblong or elliptic, 11–13 × 8–9 mm. Fl. Mar–May, fr. May–Dec. 2n = 28*.

* Mountain slopes, forests, valleys, near roads; 200–2500 m. Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, ?Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang.

Specimens from Sichuan called "zhu ya zao" named as Gleditsia officinalis, with curved, small fruit without seeds are an abnormal type and are referable to this species.

6. Gleditsia japonica Miquel, Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi 3: 54. 1867.

shan zao jia

Trees or small trees, to 25 m tall. Branchlets purplish brown or grayish green when bark falls off, slightly ribbed, with scattered whitish lenticels, smooth and glabrous. Spines purplish brown to brownish black, slightly flat, robust, 2–15.5 cm, often branched. Leaves pinnate or bipinnate (pinnae 2–6 pairs), 11–25 cm; petiolules very short; leaflets 3–10 pairs, adaxially sometimes shiny, ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate to oblong, 2–7(–9) × 1–3(–4) cm (leaflets of bipinnate leaves obviously smaller), papery to thickly papery, abaxially puberulous on midvein and at base, glabrescent when old, adaxially puberulous or glabrous, slightly scabrous, reticulate veinlets obscure, base broadly cuneate or rounded, slightly oblique, margin entire or repand-crenate, apex rounded, sometimes emarginate. Flowers yellowish green, in axillary or terminal, puberulous spikes. Male inflorescence 8–20 cm; female inflorescence 5–16 cm. Male flowers: 5–6 mm in diam.; receptacle deep brown, ca. 1.5 mm, outside densely brown puberulous; sepals 3 or 4, triangular-lanceolate, ca. 2 mm, both surfaces pubescent; petals 4, elliptic, ca. 2 mm, pubescent; stamens 6–8(or 9). Female flowers: 5–8(–9) mm in diam.; receptacle ca. 2 mm; sepals and petals 4 or 5, similar to those of male flowers in shape, ca. 3 mm, both surfaces densely pubescent; staminodes 4–8; ovary glabrous, ovules numerous; style short, incurved; stigma inflated, 2-lobed. Pod brown or brownish black, compressed, strap-shaped, 20–54 × 2–7 cm, irregularly twisted or falcate, apex with beak 5–15 mm; stipe 1.5–3.5(–5) cm; valves leathery, often bullate, glabrous or velutinous, shiny. Seeds numerous, deep brown, elliptic, 9–10 × 5–7 mm, smooth. [?Fl., ?fr.] 2n = 28*.

Sunny slopes, valleys, streamsides, near roads, forests; 100–2500 m. Anhui, ?Fujian, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Shandong, ?Shanxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].

1a.     Pod densely yellowish green velutinous .........................................................  6b. var. velutina

1b.     Pod glabrous.

2a.    Pod 20–35 × 2–4 cm, female flowers 5–6 mm in diam. ............................  6a. var. japonica

2b.    Pod 30–54 × 4.5–7 cm; female flowers 7–8(–9) in diam. ..........................  6c. var. delavayi

 

6a. Gleditsia japonica var. japonica

shan zao jia (yuan bian zhong)

Fagara horrida Thunberg; Gleditsia melanacantha T. Tang & F. T. Wang.

Female flowers 5–6 mm in diam. Pod 20–35 × 2–4 cm, glabrous.

Sunny slopes, valleys, streamsides, near roads; 100–1000 m. Anhui, Hebei, Henan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Shandong, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].

This species is commonly cultivated in China. The wood is durable, the heartwood with a beautiful pink color, and can be used for prop, carpentry work and building; the seeds are used medicinally; and the young leaves are edible.

6b. Gleditsia japonica var. velutina L. C. Li, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 20: 228. 1982.

rong mao zao jia

Gleditsia horrida subsp. velutina (L. C. Li) Paclt; G. vestita W. Y. Chun & F. C. How ex B. G. Li.

Pod densely yellowish green velutinous.

* Mountain slopes, open forests, near roads; ca. 1000 m. Hunan (Hengshan).

6c. Gleditsia japonica var. delavayi (Franchet) L. C. Li, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 20: 228. 1982.

dian zao jia

Gleditsia delavayi Franchet, Pl. Delavay. 189. 1890; G. horrida subsp. delavayi (Franchet) Paclt.

Female flowers 7–8(–9) mm in diam. Pod 30–54 × 4.5–7 cm, glabrous.

* Mountain slopes in forests, beside villages, near roads; 1200–2500 m. Guizhou, Yunnan.

Occasionally cultivated.

3. ACROCARPUS Wight ex Arnott, Mag. Zool. Bot. 2: 547. 1838 [or 1839??].

Chinese characters??  ding guo shu shu

Chen Dezhao (Chen Te-chao); Ding Hou

Trees, buttressed, to 50 m tall or more, unarmed. Leaves alternate, abruptly bipinnate; pinnae opposite; leaflets opposite, petiolulate. Inflorescences racemes, solitary in axils of leaves, or 2 or 3 at apices of short branches; bracts and bracteoles caducous, small. Flowers hermaphroditic. Receptacle campanulate. Sepals 5, subequal, imbricate. Petals 5, equal in size, ca. 2 × as long as sepals. Stamens 5; filaments straight and much more exserted from corolla; anthers dorsifixed, opening by lateral slits. Ovary stalked; ovules numerous; style incurved, short; stigma terminal, small. Pod long stipitate, compressed, strap-shaped, narrowly winged along ventral suture. Seeds numerous, flat, obovoid, with endosperm.

About two species: S and SE Asia; one species in China.

1. Acrocarpus fraxinifolius Wight ex Arnott, Mag. Zool. Bot. 2: 547. 1838 [or 1839??].

ding guo shu

Acrocarpus fraxinifolius var. guangxiensis S. L. Mo & Y. Wei.

Trees, large, to 30 m tall before tree forks. Leaves 30–40 cm, lower leaves with 3–8 pairs of pinnae, leaves at apices of branches pinnate; rachis of leaves and of pinnae yellowish brown puberulous, glabrescent; leaflets 4–8 pairs, ovate or ovate-oblong, 7–13 × 4–7 cm, subleathery, lateral veins 8–12 pairs, base slightly oblique, broadly cuneate or rounded, margin entire, apex acuminate or acute. Racemes axillary, 20–25 cm, densely flowered; rachis pubescent at apex. Flowers erect at first, drooping later, scarlet, large. Pedicels 6–8 mm, pubescent. Petals lanceolate, ca. 2 × as long as and alternate with sepals, as are the receptacles and sepals yellowish brown puberulous. Stamens alternate with petals; filaments long, ca. 2 × as long as and much more exserted from corolla. Ovary long stalked, compressed. Pod purplish brown, flat, 8–15 × 1–2 cm, narrowly winged along ventral suture; wing 3–5 mm wide. Seeds 14–18, light brown. 2n = 24*.

Sparse forests; 1000–1200 m. Guangxi, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand; tropical Africa (introduced in Tanzania and Uganda)].

4. PELTOPHORUM (Vogel) Bentham, Hooker’s J. Bot. 2: 75. 1840, nom. cons.

dun zhu mu shu

Chen Dezhao (Chen Te-chao); Ding Hou

Caesalpinia sect. Peltophorum Vogel, Linnaea 11: 406. 1837.

Trees, deciduous, unarmed. Leaves abruptly bipinnate; pinnae opposite; leaflets numerous, sessile. Inflorescences panicles or racemes, axillary or terminal; bracts caducous or persistent, small; bracteoles absent. Flowers hermaphroditic, yellow; receptacle short. Sepals 5, subequal. Petals 5, as are the sepals imbricate. Stamens 10, free; filaments slightly exserted, with pilose tuft at bases; anthers oblong, dorsifixed. Ovary sessile, free from receptacle, 2- or more ovuled; style filiform, long, or discoid; stigma broadly peltate, capitate, or discoid, large. Pod compressed, lanceolate-oblong, rarely elongated, indehiscent, veined at middle, with broad wing on each suture. Seeds 2–8, compressed, without endosperm.

About 12 species: tropical regions; two species (one introduced, one endemic) in China.

1a.    Pedicels nearly as long as flower buds; stipules entire; flowers in panicles; stigma 3-lobed; pod veined on whole valve when mature .......................................................................  1. P. pterocarpum

1b.    Pedicels ca. 2 × as long as flower buds; stipules lobed; flowers in racemes; stigma entire; pod not veined at middle of valve when mature ......................................................................  2. P. tonkinense

 

1. Peltophorum pterocarpum (A. P. de Candolle) Baker ex K. Heyne, Nutt. Pl. Ned. Ind. ed. 2, 2: 755. 1927.

dun zhu mu

Inga pterocarpa A. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 2: 441. 1825; Caesalpinia inermis Roxburgh; Peltophorum ferrugineum (Decaisne) Bentham; P. inerme (Roxburgh) Naves ex Fern.-Vill.; P. roxburghii (G. Don) O. Degener; Poinciana roxburghii G. Don.

Trees, 4–15 m tall. Young shoots, petioles, and inflorescence ferruginous hairy; old branches with yellowish, small lenticels. Leaves 30–42 cm; petiole robust; rachis 25–35 cm; pinnae 7–15 pairs, opposite, 8–12 cm; leaflets (7–)10–21 pairs, crowded together, blade oblong-obovate, 1.2–1.7 cm × 5–7 mm, leathery, abaxially pale green, adaxially deep green, base oblique, margin entire, apex rounded, mucronate. Panicles terminal or axillary, densely ferruginous puberulous; bracts caducous, 5–8 mm. Pedicels ca. 5 mm, ca. as long as flower buds, 5–7 mm from one another. Flower buds globose, 5–8 mm in diam. Sepals ovate, 5–8 × 4–7 mm, outside ferruginous tomentose. Petals obovate, 1.5–1.7 cm × 8–10 mm, densely ferruginous pubescent at middle of both surfaces, long clawed. Filaments ca. 1.2 cm, hirsute at base; anthers ca. 3 mm, sagittate at base. Ovary stalked, hairy, 3- or 4-ovuled; style filiform, much longer than ovary, smooth; stigma discoid, 3-lobed. Pod winged, compressed, fusiform, narrowed to both ends, longitudinally veined at middle part; wings 4–5 mm wide. Seeds 2–4. 2n = 26.

Cultivated in Guangdong (Guangzhou), Guangxi, Yunnan [Bhutan (cultivated), India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Australia, N Oceania; introduced in E Africa and many other tropical countries].

2. Peltophorum tonkinense (Pierre) Gagnepain in Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 2: 192. 1913.

yin zhu

Baryxylum tonkinense Pierre, Fl. For. Cochinch. 5: t. 391. 1899; Peltophorum dasyrrhachis (Miquel) Kurz var. tonkinensis (Pierre) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen.

Trees, 12–20 m tall. Young parts and inflorescence densely ferruginous hairy, glabrescent; old branches with small ferruginous lenticels. Leaves 15–35 cm; rachis 8–25 cm; petiole robust, 3–15 cm; pinnae 6–13 pairs, opposite as leaflets; rachis 4–9 cm, sulcate, inflated at base; leaflets 5–14 pairs, abaxially pale green, adaxially deep green, oblong, 1.5–2 × 0.6–1 cm, adaxially smooth, ferruginous hairy on midvein at first, glabrescent, base attenuate, oblique, apex rounded, emarginate, or mucronate. Racemes subterminal, 8–10 cm. Flowers fragrant, yellowish, large. Pedicels 1–1.5 cm, ferruginous hairy. Receptacle discoid. Sepals subequal, oblong, 8–9 mm, lowest one narrower. Petals obovate-orbicular, ca. 1.5 cm, clawed, margin undulate, ferruginous villous on midvein on both surfaces. Filaments ca. 1 cm, inflated at base, densely ferruginous hairy; anthers oblong, ca. 3.5 mm. Ovary with short stalk, compressed, ferruginous hairy, 2- or 3-ovuled; style filiform, 2–3 × as long as ovary; stigma capitate. Pod reddish brown, fusiform, 8–13 cm, 2.5–3 cm at middle part, thinly leathery, asymmetrical at both ends, acuminate, hairy at first, smooth and glabrous when old, winged on both sides; wings 5–7 mm wide. Seeds 3 or 4, yellowish when mature, compressed, obliquely obovoid, ca. 14 × 6 mm. Fl. Mar–Jul, fr. Apr–Oct.

Sparse forests, mountain slopes; 300–400 m. Fujian, Hainan [Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam].

5. DELONIX Rafinesque, Fl. Tellur. 2: 92. 1837 ['1836'].

feng huang mu shu

Trees, unarmed. Leaves large, abruptly bipinnate, stipulate; pinnae many pairs; leaflets numerous, small. Inflorescences corymbose racemes, terminal. Flowers bisexual, white, orange, or red, large, showy. Bracts caducous, small. Receptacle discoid or turbinate. Sepals 5, obovate, subequal, valvate. Petals 5, alternating with sepals, orbicular, margin crispate, clawed. Stamens 10, free, declinate. Ovary sessile, ovules numerous; style filiform; stigma truncate. Pod pendulous, compressed, strap-shaped, 2-valved; valves thickly woody, hard. Seeds transverse, oblong.

About two or three species: from E Africa and Madagascar to tropical Asia; one species (cultivated) in China.

1. Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hooker) Rafinesque, Fl. Tellur. 2: 92. 1836 [1837].

feng huang mu

Poinciana regia Bojer ex Hooker, Curtis’s Bot. Mag. t. 2884. 1829.

Trees, deciduous, large, to 20 m tall. Bark grayish brown, rough; crown hemispherical. Branches numerous, spreading; branchlets puberulous, with conspicuous lenticels. Leaves 20–60 cm; stipules in lower part conspicuously pinnatipartite, in upper part setiform; petiole 7–12 cm, glabrous to puberulous, sulcate, inflated at base; petiolules short; pinnae opposite, 15–20 pairs, 5–10 cm; leaflets 25 pairs, crowded, opposite, oblong, 4–8 × 3–4 mm, midvein conspicuous, both surfaces silky, base oblique, margin entire, apex obtuse. Corymbose racemes terminal or axillary. Flowers bright red to orange-red, 7–10 cm in diam.; pedicels 4–10 cm. Receptacle discoid or shortly turbinate. Sepals reddish inside, margin greenish yellow. Petals reflexed after anthesis, red, tinged with yellow and white spotted, spatulate, 5–7 × 3.7–4 cm; claw long, ca. 2 mm, slender. Stamens curved upward, red, unequal in length, 3–6 cm; filaments thick, woolly in lower part; anthers red, ca. 5 mm. Ovary ca. 1.3 cm; stigma small. Pod dark reddish brown, blackish brown when mature, slightly curved, 30–60 × 3.5–5 cm, apex with persistent style. Seeds 20–40, yellowish tinged with brown spots, ca. 15 × 7 mm, smooth, hard. Fl. Jun–Jul, fr. Aug–Oct.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan [native to Madagascar, often cultivated in the tropics].

This species is widely cultivated in botanical gardens and city parks in S China as an ornamental tree. The resin is soluble in water. The wood is light, soft, and springy, with a special grain, is used for craft materials.

6. CAESALPINIA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 380. 1753.

yun shi shu

Chen Dezhao (Chen Te-chao); Ding Hou

Guilandina Linnaeus; Mezoneuron Desfontaines.

Trees, shrubs, or climbers, usually with prickles. Leaves alternate, bipinnate; leaflets alternate or opposite, small or large. Inflorescences racemes or panicles, axillary or terminal. Flowers yellow or orange-yellow, medium-large or large. Receptacle concave. Sepals separate, imbricate, lowest one larger. Petals 5, often clawed, spreading, four usually orbicular, sometimes oblong, uppermost smaller, different in color, shape, and pubescence from others. Stamens 10, in 2 whorls; filaments thickened and hairy at bases; anthers ovoid or elliptic, dorsifixed and versatile. Ovary 1–7-ovuled; style terete; stigma truncate or hollow at center. Pod compressed or swollen, ovoid, oblong, or lanceolate, sometimes falcate, winged or not, smooth or spiny, leathery or woody, rarely fleshy, dehiscent or indehiscent. Seeds ovoid or globose; albumen absent.

About 100 species: pantropical distribution; 20 species in China (seven endemic).

Key based on flowering specimens:

1a.    Leaflets 2 pairs per pinna.

2a.    Leaflets glabrous, ovate-lanceolate, 2.5–3 cm wide, apex acuminate ...  18 C. yunnanensis

2b.    Leaflets abaxially hairy or on midvein.

3a.    Leaflets elliptic, 4.5–8 cm wide, apex rounded, rarely obtuse ...........  19. C. elliptifolia

3b.    Leaflets ovate-lanceolate, 2.5–3.5 cm wide, apex acuminate, acute or obtuse  6. C. sinnensis

1b.    Leaflets 3–30 pairs per pinna.

4a.    Pedicels 4.5–7 cm; filaments 5–6 cm ................................................  12. C. pulcherrima

4b.    Pedicels less than 4 cm; filaments less than 2 cm.

5a.    Leaflets 4–15 × 2.5–7 cm.

6a.    Leaflets with apex obtuse-rounded, or very obtuse, abaxially puberulous  5. C. magnifoliata

6b.    Leaflets with apex acuminate, abaxially glabrous ............................  15. C. cucullata

5b.    Leaflets usually much smaller.

7a.    Stipules large, leaflike, lobed, lobes up to 2 cm, leaflets pubescent on both surfaces  1. C. bonduc

7b.    Stipules much smaller, not lobed, or absent.

8a.    Leaflets leathery.

9a.    Pinnae 8–16 pairs; leaflets usually ovate-lanceolate, 1.2–2.5 cm × 6–12 mm, abaxially sparsely velutinous, apex acute ................................................  8. C. vernalis

9b.    Pinnae 2 or 3(or 4) pairs; leaflets ovate or elliptic, 3–6 × 1.5–3 cm, glabrous, apex obtuse-rounded ......................................................................................  7. C. crista

8b.    Leaflets papery or membranous.

10a.  Leaflets abaxially farinose-brown when dry .................................  9. C. caesia

10b.  Leaflets not as above.

11a.  Leaflets 3 or 4 pairs per pinna, slightly rhombic, glabrous; ovary 1- or 2-ovuled              20. C. rhombifolia

11b.  Leaflets more pairs per pinna, usually oblong, rarely linear.

12a.  Leaflets linear, ca. 15 × 5 mm, 12–30 pairs per pinna; ovary 4- or 5-ovuled  14. C. tortuosa

12b.  Leaflets usually oblong.

13a.  Pedicels 3–4 cm; leaflets 8–12 pairs per pinna, puberulous on both surfaces; ovary 8–10-ovuled .......................................................  11. C. decapetala

13b.  Pedicels much shorter, 1.2–2 cm.

14a.  Leaflets pilose, or ferruginous hairy or pubuscent on both surfaces.

15a.  Leaflets 15–20 pairs per pinna ...........................  4. C. millettii

15b.  Leaflets 5–9 per pinna.

16a.  Leaflets 5 or 6 pairs per pinna, 15–20 × ca. 10 mm; ovary 5–7-ovuled    17. C. hymnocarpa

16b.  Leaflets 7–9 pairs per pinna, 6–9 × ca. 3 mm; ovary 2–4-ovuled             13. C. digyna

14b.  Leaflets not as above.

17a.  Leaflets less than 1 cm, abaxially and marginally with bristles; petals suborbicular, ca. 9 mm; ovary 1- or 2-ovuled  3. C. mimosoides

17b.  Leaflets 1–4 cm, without bristles; ovary 3–8-ovuled.

18a.  Leaflets with apex shortly acuminate; petals white, tinged with purple spots, ca. 18 mm ......................................................  2. C. minax

18b.  Leaflets with apex retuse or obtuse-rounded; petals yellow, 8–9 mm.

19a.  Leaflets papery; upper petal with apex entire  10. C. sappan

19b.  Leaflets membranous; upper petal with apex 2-lobed  16. C. enneaphylla

 

Key based on fruiting specimens:

1a.    Pod winged, wings 5–10 mm wide (Subgen. II. Mezoneuron).

2a.    Leaflets usually more than 4 cm; pinnae usually 2–5 pairs; petals smooth, glabrous, inner one broad and short, shortly clawed; pod samara-like, oblong, zygomorphic, 1-seeded at central part 15. C. cucullata

2b.    Leaflets usually not more than 2.5 cm; pinnae usually 6–10 pairs; petals hairy, inner one with long claw; pod 3–7-seeded.

3a.    Leaflets glabrous; seeds swollen-ridged at middle; pod conspicuously swollen opposite each seed     16. C. enneaphylla

3b.    Leaflets hairy, especially densely so abaxially; pod and seeds not as above  17. C. hymenocarpa

1b.    Pod wingless or narrowly winged; wing less than 5 mm wide (Subgen. I. Caesalpinia).

4a.    Pod fleshy, indehiscent.

5a.    Rachis of leaves 17–23 cm; pinnae 3–6 cm; leaflets adaxially hairy, not shiny  13. C. digyna

5b.    Rachis of leaves 30–40 cm; pinnae 5–16 cm; leaflets adaxially glabrous or shortly hairy, shiny           14. C. tortuosa

4b.    Pod not fleshy.

6a.    Pod spiny or bristly.

7a.    Pod obovoid, falcate, setose, 4–5 × ca. 1 cm, much longer than wide, 1- or 2-seeded      3. C. mimosoides

7b.    Pod oblong, spiny.

8a.    Stipules large, leaflike, parted or lobed; bracts subulate; petals yellow; pod 5–7 × 4–5 cm, ca. as long as wide; seeds subglobose .....................................................  1. C. bonduc

8b.    Stipules subulate; bracts elliptic; petals whitish, tinged with red spots; pod 7.5–13 × 4–4.5 cm; seeds terete ....................................................................................  2. C. minax

6b.    Pod without spines and setae.

9a.    Pod ovoid, elliptic, +/- oblong, or lanceolate-oblong.

10a.  Leaflets abaxially farinose-brown when dry; pod leathery, ovoid or elliptic, ventral sutures narrowly winged, apex without beak, 1-seeded ...............................  9. C. caesia

10b.  Leaflets abaxially not farinose-brown.

11a.  Pod oblong-ligulate or oblanceolate-oblong, 6–9-seeded or more; pedicels 3.5–7 cm.

12a.  Climbers with copious prickles; pod oblong-ligulate, 2.5–3 cm wide, narrowly winged along ventral suture, dehiscent ......................................  11. C. decapetala

12b.  Small trees, without or with scattered, sparse prickles; pod lanceolate-oblong, 1.5–2 cm wide, indehiscent, not winged along ventral suture .......  12. C. pulcherrima

11b.  Pod suboblong, oblong to elliptic, or oblong-obovoid 1–4-seeded; pedicels to ca. 2 cm.

13a.  Leaflets 10–17 pairs per pinna, papery, 10–20 × 5–7 mm; pod woody  10. C. sappan

13b.  Leaflets 2 pairs per pinna, leathery, 60–130 × 25–80 mm; pod leathery.

14a.  Leaflets 2.5–3 cm wide, glabrous, apex acuminate; pod dehiscent  18. C. yunnanensis

14b.  Leaflets 4.5–8 cm wide, abaxially brown hairy, apex rounded, or obtuse; pod indehiscent ................................................................  19. C. elliptifolia

9b.    Pod compressed-suborbicular, ± obliquely broadly ovoid or obliquely oblong.

15a.  Leaflets 7–13 mm; pod leathery, winged along ventral suture .........  4. C. millettii

15b.  Leaflets 15–150 mm.

16a.  Leaflets 6–10 pairs, ovate-lanceolate, apex acuminate, abaxially glaucous; young shoots densely ferruginous pubescent; uppermost petals smaller, revolute  8. C. vernalis

16b.  Leaflets 2–6 pairs, elliptic, ovate, oblong, or broadly ovate; pod with conspicuous reticulate veins.

17a.  Pod woody; leaflets to 15 cm ...................................  5. C. magnifoliolata

17b.  Pod leathery; leaflets not more than 9 cm.

18a.  Apices of leaflets acuminate; pod with wings ca. 3 mm wide, along ventral sutures      6. C. sinensis

18b.  Apices of leaflets obtuse-rounded, sometimes emarginate, rarely acute; pod not winged or wings obscure.

19a.  Leaflets 4–6 pairs per pinna, ovate or elliptic, 3–6 × 1.5–3 cm  7. C. crista

19b.  Leaflets 3 or 4 pairs per pinna, slightly rhombic, 1.5–2 × 8–12 mm  20. C. rhombifolia

 

1. Caesalpinia bonduc (Linnaeus) Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. ed. 2, 2: 362. 1832.

ci huo su mu

Guilandina bonduc Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 381. 1753; Caesalpinia bonducella (Linnaeus) Fleming.

Climbers, prickly, yellowish pubescent throughout. Prickles straight or somewhat recurved. Leaves 30–45 cm; rachis with recurved prickles; pinnae 6–9 pairs, opposite; stipules deciduous, large, leaflike, usually lobed, lobes to 2 cm; leaflets 6–12 pairs, oblong, 1.5–4 × 1.2–2 cm, membranous, both surfaces pubescent, base oblique, apex rounded to acute, mucronate. Racemes axillary, long pedunculate, densely flowered in upper part and sparsely so in lower part; bracts caducous at anthesis, reflexed, subulate, 6–8 mm, pubescent. Pedicels 3–5 mm. Sepals 5, ca. 8 mm, both sides ferruginous hairy. Petals yellowish; standard tinged with red spots, oblanceolate, clawed. Filaments short, hairy in basal part. Ovary hairy. Pod oblong, 5–7 × 4–5 cm, leathery, apex rounded and with beak, swollen, with dense, slender spines 5–10 mm. Seeds 2 or 3, grayish, shiny, ovoid to globose. Fl. Feb, Jul–Oct, fr. Oct–May.

Thickets, roadsides, near seashore; near sea level to 200 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan,Taiwan [pantropical].

2. Caesalpinia minax Hance, J. Bot. 22: 365. 1884.

hui jia yun shi

Caesalpinia morsei Dunn.

Climbers, prickly, puberulous throughout. Leaves to 45 cm; stipules subulate, hard; pinnae 5–8 pairs; leaflets 6–12 pairs, elliptic or oblong, 2–4 × 1.1–1.7 cm, puberulous on midvein, base rounded and slightly oblique, apex obtuse-rounded or acute. Racemes or panicles terminal; bracts ovate-lanceolate, apex shortly acuminate. Pedicels ca. 1.5 cm. Sepals 5, ca. 1.3 cm, densely yellowish velutinous. Petals whitish, tinged with purple spots, obovate, ca. 1.8 × 1.2 cm, abaxially and marginally hairy, contiguous at base, apex obtuse-rounded. Stamens 10, slightly shorter than petals, densely pubescent in lower part. Ovary with dense, small spines, 7- or 8-ovuled; style slightly longer than stamens, glabrous. Pod oblong, 7.5–13 × 4–4.5 cm, densely spiny, apex obtuse-rounded, with beak 5–25 mm. Seeds 4–8, elliptic, slightly concave on one side, ca. 1.8 × 1 cm, with cyclic veins. Fl. Mar–May, Jul, Sep, Nov; fr. Apr–Dec.

Mountain valleys, by streams, in bushes; 50–1500 m. Fujian (cultivated), Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

3. Caesalpinia mimosoides Lamarck, Encycl. 1: 462. 1785.

han xiu yun shi

Climbers, woody. Branchlets densely ferruginous glandular hairy, with recurved prickles. Leaves 22–36 cm; pinnae opposite, 13–23 pairs, ca. 3.5 cm; leaflets opposite, 7–14 pairs, oblong, ca. 9 × 4 mm, abaxially and marginally with bristles. Racemes terminal, lax. Flowers large, more than 50 per inflorescence; pedicels unequal in length, 1.5–2 cm in upper part and 3–3.5 cm in lower part of inflorescence. Sepals 5, ca. 10 × 8 mm. Petals bright yellow, suborbicular, upper one smaller, ca. 8 mm wide, others larger, ca. 1.7 × 1.3 cm. Stamens 10; filaments ca. 1.8 cm, densely cottony in lower part. Ovary ca. 5 mm, densely hairy, 1- or 2-ovuled; style 1.4–1.5 cm, pilose; stigma truncate. Pod obovoid, falcate, 4–5 × ca. 2.5 cm, setose, dehiscent. Seeds 1 or 2, oblong. Fl. Nov–Dec, fr. Feb–Mar.

In bushes, near roads; 600–700 m. Yunnan (Xishuangbanna) [Bangladesh, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

4. Caesalpinia millettii Hooker & Arnott, Bot. Beechey Voy. 182. 1883.

xiao ye yun shi

Pterolobium subvestitum Hance.

Climbers, prickly, ferruginous puberulous throughout. Leaves 19–20 cm; rachis with recurved prickles in pairs; pinnae 7–12 pairs; leaflets 15–20 pairs, alternate, oblong, 7–13 × 4–5 mm, both surfaces ferruginous hairy, much denser abaxially, base obliquely truncate, apex obtuse-rounded. Panicles axillary, to 30 cm. Flowers numerous, compact in upper part, sparse in lower part of inflorescence; pedicels ca. 1.5 cm, sparsely puberulous. Sepals 5, lowest one ca. 8 mm, others ca. 5 mm. Petals yellowish, suborbicular, ca. 8 mm wide, upper one smaller, ca. 4 mm wide, clawed. Stamens ca. 1 cm; filaments pilose in lower part. Pistil slightly longer than stamens, ca. 1.3 cm; ovary and lower part of style pubescent; stigma truncate, hairy. Pod obovoid, adaxial suture straight, narrowly winged, puberulous; valves leathery, unarmed, dehiscent along dorsal suture when mature. Seed solitary, brownish red, shiny, reniform, ca. 11 × 6 mm, with cyclic veins. Fl. Aug–Sep, fr. Apr, Sep–Dec.

* In bushes, foothills, by streams; 200–800 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, S Hunan, S Jiangxi.

5. Caesalpinia magnifoliolata Metcalf, Lingnan Sci. J. 19: 553. 1940.

da ye yun shi

Climbers, prickly. Branchlets ferruginous puberulous. Leaves with pinnae 2 or 3 pairs; petioles and petiolules puberulous; leaflets 4–6 pairs, adaxially shiny, oblong, 4–15 × 2.5–7 cm, leathery, abaxially puberulous, adaxially glabrous, both ends obtuse-rounded or apex very obtuse. Racemes axillary or panicles terminal. Flowers yellow; pedicels 9–10 mm. Sepals 5, ca. 5 × 3 mm. Petals ca. 10 × 5 mm, shortly clawed. Stamens 10; filaments ca. 1 cm, puberulous in lower part. Ovary subsessile, 2- or 3-ovuled, glabrous; style ca. 1 cm; stigma truncate. Pod compressed, suborbicular, 3.5–4 × ca. 3.5 cm, dorsal suture extending to both sides and forming a carinate narrow wing; valves brown, woody, with robust reticulate veins. Seed solitary, brownish black, compressed-suborbicular, ca. 2 cm in diam. Fl. Feb, Apr, Jul; fr. May–Jun, Aug, Oct–Nov.

* Forest, bushes; 400–1800 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, S Guizhou, S Yunnan.

6. Caesalpinia sinensis (Hemsley) J. E. Vidal, Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat., ser. 3, 395(Bot. 27): 90. 1976, nom. cons.

ji zui le

Mezoneuron sinensis Hemsley, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 23: 204. 1887; Caesalpinia parvifolia Steudel; C. stenoptera Merrill; C. tsoongii Merrill; M. sinensis var. parvifolium Hemsley.

Climbers. Stems and branchlets with scattered, robust, recurved prickles. Young shoots ± ferruginous pubescent, glabrescent or subglabrous when old. Leaves bipinnate; rachis with recurved prickles; petiolules short; pinnae 2 or 3 pairs, ca. 30 cm; leaflets 2 pairs, adaxially light green to olive-green, slightly shiny, oblong to ovate, 6–9 × 2.5–3.5 cm, leathery, abaxially hairy on midvein, adaxially glabrous, lateral veins ca. 20 pairs, conspicuous, base rounded or oblique, apex acuminate, acute, or obtuse. Panicles axillary or terminal. Pedicels ca. 5 mm. Sepals 5, ca. 4 × 3 mm. Petals 5, yellow, ca. 7 mm, with claw ca. 3 mm. Stamens 10; filaments ca. 1 cm, ferruginous pubescent in lower part. Pistil longer than stamens; ovary subsessile, pubescent or subglabrous, 1- or 2(–4)-ovuled. Pod chestnut-brown, compressed, suborbicular, ca. 4.5 × 3.5 cm, leathery, conspicuously reticulate, ventral suture slightly curved, narrowly winged, wing ca. 3 mm wide, apex with beak ca. 3 mm. Seed solitary, compressed, suborbicular, ca. 2 cm in diam. Fl. Mar–May, fr. Mar–Apr, Jul–Oct.

Forests, bushes; 100–900 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Yunnan [Laos, Myanmar, N Vietnam].

7. Caesalpinia crista Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 380. 1753.

hua nan yun shi

Caesalpinia kwangtungensis Merrill; C. nuga (Linnaeus) Aiton; C. szechuenensis Craib; Guilandina nuga Linnaeus.

Climbers, woody, to 10 m tall. Bark blackish, with few recurved prickles. Leaves 20–30 cm; rachis with blackish recurved prickles; pinnae 2 or 3, or sometimes 4 pairs, opposite; leaflets 4–6 pairs, opposite, with short petiolules, adaxially shiny, ovate or elliptic, 3–6 × 1.5–3 cm, leathery, both surfaces glabrous, base broadly cuneate or obtuse, apex obtuse-rounded, sometimes emarginate, rarely acute. Racemes 10–20 cm, arranged in terminal, lax, large panicles. Flowers fragrant; pedicels 5–15 mm, slender. Sepals 5, lanceolate, ca. 6 mm, glabrous. Petals unequal: four yellow, ovate, glabrous, slightly conspicuously shortly clawed; upper one tinged with red stripes, attenuate to claw, inside hairy at central part. Stamens slightly extended; filaments inflated and hairy at base. Ovary hairy, 2-ovuled. Pod obliquely ovoid, 3–4 × 2–3 cm, swollen, leathery, reticulate, apex beaked. Seed solitary, compressed. Fl. Apr–Jul, fr. Jul–Dec. 2n = 24.

Mountain slopes, forests; 400–1500 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan [From India to Polynesia: Australia, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan (Ryukyus), Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Polynesia].

8. Caesalpinia vernalis Champion ex Bentham, Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 4: 77. 1852.

chun yun shi

Climbers, prickly, ferruginous velutinous throughout. Leaves with 25–30 cm, pubescent, prickly rachis; pinnae 8–16 pairs, 5–8 cm; petiolules 1.5–2 mm; leaflets 6–10 pairs, abaxially glaucous, adaxially deep green and shiny, ovate-lanceolate, ovate, or elliptic, 1.2–2.5 cm × 6–12 mm, leathery, abaxially sparsely ferruginous velutinous, adaxially glabrous, base rounded, apex acute. Panicles in axils of upper leaves or terminal, with abundant flowers. Pedicels 7–9 mm. Sepals obovate-oblong, ciliate, lower one larger than others, ca. 1 cm. Petals yellow, upper one smaller, revolute, with red stripes. Stamens apically descending, lower part of filaments pubescent. Ovary with short stalk, puberulous, 2-ovuled; style thick; stigma obliquely truncate. Pod blackish purple, obliquely oblong, 4–6 × 2.5–3.5 cm, woody, wrinkled, without reticulate veins, apex beaked. Seeds 2, shiny, axe-shaped, ca. 1.7 × 2 cm, truncate and slightly concave on one end. Fl. Apr, fr. Dec.

* Moist sandy soils, beside rocks along valleys, thickets; ca. 600 m. S Fujian, Guangdong, S Zhejiang.

9. Caesalpinia caesia Handel-Mazzetti, Oesterr. Bot. Z. 85: 215. 1936.

fen te su mu

Caesalpinia hypoglauca W. Y. Chun & F. C. How.

Climbers. Branchlets with sparse recurved prickles, puberulous. Leaves 15–20 cm; pinnae 5–8 pairs; rachis of leaves and pinnae pilose; leaflets 8–12 pairs, opposite, dispersed, subsessile; blade abaxially farinose-brown when dry, adaxially brown, shiny, oblong, 8–15 × 4–6 mm, papery, both surfaces glabrous, base obliquely truncate, apex truncate or obtuse-rounded, emarginate. Panicles axillary, 10–15 cm, brown puberulous. Pedicels 4–7 mm, jointed at apex. Flowers ca. 8 mm in diam. at anthesis. Sepals 5, glabrous, lowest one cucullate-lanceolate, ca. 6 mm, apex obtuse, other four ovate-oblong, slightly shorter, 3.5–4 mm. Petals obovate-oblong, 3.5–4 mm, pubescent, shortly clawed. Stamens 10; filaments ferruginous pilose at base. Ovary elliptic, glabrous, 2-ovuled. Pod blackish when dry, ovoid or elliptic, ca. 5 × 2.3–3 cm, thin, swollen at maturity, concave, ventral suture narrowly winged, 1-seeded. Fl. Jul–Sep, fr. Aug.

* Sparse forests along rivers; 200–1000 m. Guangxi, Hainan.

10. Caesalpinia sappan Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 381. 1753.

su mu

Trees, small, to 6 m tall, ± puberulous except on old branches and pods. Branches with dense, conspicuous lenticels. Leaves 30–45 cm; pinnae 7–13 pairs, opposite, 8–12 cm; leaflets 10–17 pairs, closely spaced, sessile, blades oblong to oblong-rhombic, 1–2 cm × 5–7 mm, papery, both surfaces glabrous or sparsely hairy, lateral veins slender, conspicuous on both surfaces, contiguous near margin, base oblique, inserted at oblique angles to rachis of pinnae, apex retuse or rounded. Panicles terminal or axillary, ca. as long as leaves; bracts caducous, lanceolate, large. Pedicels ca. 1.5 cm, puberulous. Receptacle shallowly campanulate. Sepals 5, slightly unequal, lower one larger than others, cucullate. Petals yellow, broadly obovate, ca. 9 mm, uppermost one entire at apex, tinged pink at base, clawed. Stamens slightly exserted; filaments densely pubescent at lower part. Ovary grayish velutinous, stalked, 3–6-ovuled; style slender, hairy; stigma truncate. Pod reddish brown, shiny, slightly compressed, suboblong to oblong-obovoid, ca. 7 × 3.5-4 cm, woody, attenuate to base, apex obliquely truncate, upper margin with a sharp beak. Seeds 3 or 4, light brown, slightly compressed, oblong. Fl. May–Oct, fr. Jul–Mar. 2n = 24.

Origin unknown. Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan [Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Vietnam; also in Africa and America].

The heartwood contains a red dye, and is used medicinally to relieve pain.

11. Caesalpinia decapetala (Roth) Alston in Trimen, Handb. Fl. Ceylon 6(Suppl.): 89. 1931.

yun shi

Reichardia decapetala Roth, Nov. Pl. Sp. 212. 1821; Caesalpinia decapetala var. japonica (Siebold & Zuccarini) Ohashi; C. decapetala var. pubescens (Tang & Wang) P. C. Huang; C. japonica Siebold & Zuccarini; C. sepiaria Roxburgh; C. sepiaria var. japonica (Siebold & Zuccarini) Gagnepain; C. sepiaria var. pubescens Tang & Wang.

Climbers, with copious prickles. Bark dull red. Branches, rachis of leaves, and inflorescence with recurved prickles and pubescent. Leaves 20–30 cm; pinnae 3–10 pairs, opposite, with prickles in pairs at base; stipules obliquely ovate, apex acuminate, caducous; leaflets 8–12 pairs, oblong, 1–2.5 cm × 6–12 mm, membranous, both surfaces puberulous, glabrescent when old, both ends obtuse-rounded. Racemes terminal, 15–30 cm, with abundant flowers; rachis densely prickly. Pedicels 3–4 cm, hairy, jointed at apex, so flowers easily fall off. Sepals 5, oblong, puberulous. Petals reflexed at anthesis, yellow, orbicular or obovate, 1–1.2 cm, membranous, base shortly clawed. Stamens subequal to petals in length; filaments compressed at base, lanose in lower part. Ovary glabrous. Pod chestnut-brown, shiny, oblong-ligulate, 6–12 × 2.5–3 cm, fragile-leathery, glabrous, dehiscent and thickened to a narrow wing along ventral suture when ripe, apex prolonged into a sharp beak. Seeds 6–9, brown, elliptic, ca. 11 × 6 mm. Fl. and fr. Apr–Oct. 2n = 22*, 24*.

In bushes on mountain slopes, ravines, plains, hills, by riversides; near sea level to 1800 m. Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].

The roots, stems, and pods are used medicinally for relieving pain.

12. Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Linnaeus) Swartz, Observ. Bot. 166. 1791.

jin feng hua

Poinciana pulcherrima Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 380. 1753.

Shrubs or small trees. Branches green or farinose-green, smooth, with scattered, sparse prickles. Leaves 12–26 cm; pinnae 4–8 pairs, opposite, 6–12 cm; petiolules short; leaflets 7–11 pairs, oblong or obovate, 1–2 cm × 4–8 mm, base oblique, apex emarginate, sometimes acute. Racemes subcorymbose, terminal or axillary, lax, to 25 cm. Pedicels unequal in length, 4.5–7 cm; Receptacle concave to turbinate, glabrous. Sepals 5, glabrous, lowest one ca. 1.4 cm, others ca. 1 cm. Petals orange-red or yellow, orbicular, 1–2.5 cm, margin wavy, with claw subequal to limb in length. Stamens very far exserted; filaments red, 5–6 cm, thick and hairy in basal part. Ovary glabrous; style orange-yellow, long, 5–6.5 mm. Pod blackish brown when ripe, oblanceolate-oblong, narrow and thin, 6–10 × 1.5–2 cm, not winged, glabrous, indehiscent, apex rounded, upper suture ending in a sharp beak. Seeds 6–9. Fl. and fr. year round. 2n = 24, 28.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [native to South America, widely cultivated throughout the tropics].

This species is a valuable ornamental of tropical regions.

13. Caesalpinia digyna Rottler, Ges. Naturf. Freunde Berlin Neue Schr. 4: 200. 1803.

rou jia yun shi

Climbers, large, with recurved prickles. Bark deep brown. Leaves 12–20 cm; rachis 17–23 cm, with recurved prickles, puberulous or glabrous; pinnae 6–9 pairs, 3–6 cm, with stipuliform prickles in pairs at base; leaflets 7–9 pairs, subsessile, closely spaced, blades oblong, 6–9 × ca. 3 mm, papery, both surfaces pilose at first, base oblique-rounded at base, apex obtuse-rounded. Racemes terminal or axillary, ca. as long as or longer than leaves. Pedicels 1.2–2 cm, slender. Receptacle shallowly cup-shaped, glabrescent. Sepals 5, 6–8 mm. Petals yellow, suborbicular, ca. 1 cm, shortly clawed. Filaments slightly exserted, densely villous in lower part, thickened at base. Ovary glabrous. Pod brown, indehiscent, oblong, 3.5–5 × 1.6–2 cm, fleshy, smooth, 2–4-seeded. Fl. Apr–Nov, fr. May–Mar.

In bushes on mountain slopes, seashores; 200–300 m. Hainan, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].

14. Caesalpinia tortuosa Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., ed. 2, 2: 365. 1832.

niu guo su mu

Climbers, erect shrubs, or small trees, to 10 m tall. Branches glabrous, with scattered recurved prickles. Leaves with tomentose rachis 30–40 cm; stipules absent; pinnae 7–20 pairs, 5–16 cm, with prickles in pairs at base; leaflets 12–30 pairs, sessile, linear, ca. 15 × 5 mm, membranous, lateral veins conspicuous, 4–6 pairs, base obliquely truncate, apex obtuse-rounded. Racemes or panicles terminal or axillary, 20–60 cm, pubescent. Pedicels 8–20 mm, not jointed above base. Sepals 5, unequal, lowest one deeply cucullate, ca. 10 × 7 mm, other four ca. 6 × 4 mm, usually ciliate. Petals yellowish, often tinged with spots. Stamens 10; filaments 1–1.4 cm, hairy at lower part. Pistil 1–1.6 cm; ovary sessile, pubescent or glabrous, 4- or 5-ovuled; style inclined; stigma truncate, ciliate. Pod blackish when dry, indehiscent, often twisted, 3.5–9 × 2–3.5 cm, base rounded, apex obtuse, shortly beaked, both sutures thickened, often constricted between seeds, exocarp and endocarp adnate, swollen on seeds, transversely cleft when ripe. Seeds 1–5(–7), subglobose, ca. 1 cm in diam. Fl. Jun–Aug, fr. Jul–Aug.

In bushes on mountain slopes; ca. 1400 m. Guangdong (Guangzhou, cultivated), Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar].

15. Caesalpinia cucullata Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., ed. 2, 2: 358. 1832.

jian xue fei

Mezoneurum cucullatum (Roxburgh) Wight & Arnott.

Climbers, 3–5 m tall, with recurved prickles on old stems forming compressed orbicular corky knob. Branches and rachis of leaves with blackish brown recurved prickles. Rachis of leaves 20–40 cm; pinnae 2–5 pairs, stalked; stipules absent; leaflets 3–6 pairs, abaxially grayish white, adaxially deep green and shiny, ovate, broadly ovate, or oblong, large, 4–12 × 2.5–5 cm, leathery, base broadly cuneate or obtuse-rounded, apex acuminate. Panicles terminal or racemes lateral, subequal to leaves in length. Flowers zygomorphic; pedicels 6–12 mm, jointed, glabrous. Receptacle deeply discoid or shallowly campanulate. Sepals 5, unequal, lowest one cucullate, others triangular-oblong, withered and falling after anthesis. Petals yellow, uppermost one short and broad, apex 2-lobed forming fishtail-shape, shortly clawed at base, other four yellowish tinged red striate, shiny, oblong, glabrous. Stamens 10, exserted, slightly thickened at base, brown pubescent. Ovary compressed, 1(or 2)-ovuled; style slender; stigma small, truncate. Pod reddish brown, shiny, compressed, elliptic-oblong. 8–12 × 2.5–3.5 cm, indehiscent, winged along ventral suture, wing 6–9 mm wide, 1(or 2)-seeded. Fl. Nov–Feb, fr. Mar–Oct.

Open forests, in bushes on mountain slopes; 500–1200 m. Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam].

16. Caesalpinia enneaphylla Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., ed. 2, 2: 363. 1832.

jiu yu jian xue fei

Mezoneurum enneaphyllum (Roxburgh) Wight & Arnott.

Climbers, large. Branches with scattered, blackish brown, recurved prickles. Leaves alternate; rachis 25–30 cm; pinnae 8–10 pairs, stalked, opposite, 6–8 cm, with blackish brown prickles in pairs at base; petiolules short; leaflets 8–12 pairs, opposite, oblong, (10–)15–25 × 5–8 mm, membranous, both ends obtuse-rounded. Panicles terminal or racemes axillary, 10–20 cm, pubescent. Flowers fragrant, papilionaceous, large; pedicels 1–2.5 cm. Receptacle discoid, persistent after anthesis. Sepals 5, glabrous, unequal, lowermost one cucullate. Petals yellow, upper one suborbicular, apex 2-lobed forming fishtail-shape. Stamens 10; filaments slender, thickened and densely yellowish brown villous from middle downward; anthers dull brown. Ovary subsessile, inserted at base of receptacle, glabrous, 3–7-ovuled; style long. Pod reddish brown, subsessile, compressed, broadly lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, 10–14 × 3–3.5 cm, smooth, without prickles, winged along ventral suture, wing 5–6 mm wide. Seeds 3–7, ovoid, with swollen ridge at middle. Fl. Sep–Oct, fr. Oct–Feb.

In bushes on mountain slopes, at foot of mountains, open forests; ca. 600 m. S and SW Guangxi, Yunnan [Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].

17. Caesalpinia hymenocarpa (Prain) Hattink, Reinwardtia 9: 35. 1974.

mo jia jian xue fei

Mezoneuron hymenocarpum Prain, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 66(2): 233. 1897.

Climbers. Branches sparsely yellowish pubescent, with scattered, yellowish brown, recurved prickles. Leaves alternate; rachis 20–30 cm; pinnae 8-10 pairs, opposite; rachis of pinnae and leaves yellowish pubescent; petiolules short, with opposite, recurved prickles with stipules scalelike, ca. 0.5 mm; leaflets 5 or 6 pairs, abaxially yellowish green, adaxially deep green, oblong, 1.5–2 × ca. 1 cm, membranous, both surfaces yellowish pubescent, base broadly cuneate, apex obtuse-rounded. Racemes or panicles axillary or terminal, 30–50 cm. Pedicels 1–1.5 cm; bracts yellowish brown, lanceolate, densely yellowish pubescent, apex long acuminate. Receptacle discoid. Sepals 5, outside yellowish pubescent, lowest one cucullate, others oblong. Petals yellow, upper one orbicular, clawed, lateral two smaller, lowermost one folded and raised. Stamens 10; filaments thickened at lower part, densely brown villous, unequal, curved; anthers elliptic. Ovary smooth, 5–7-ovuled; style gradually inflated toward lower part; stigma praemorse. Pod compressed, thin, falcate, 10–15 × ca. 2.5 cm when ripe, winged along ventral suture, wing ca. 1 cm wide. Seeds 5–7, compressed, narrowly ovoid. Fl. Sep–Oct, fr. Dec–Feb.

Open forests, humid places; 300–800 m. Guangxi (Balse), Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India (Andaman Islands), Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].

18. Caesalpinia yunnanensis S. J. Li, D. X. Zhang & Z. Y. Chen, Novon 16: 78. 2006.

YUN nan yun shi

Lianas. Branchlets with recurved prickles; stipules absent. Leaf rachis ca. 20 cm, with recurved prickles; pinnae 3 pairs, opposite; leaflets 2 pairs per pinna, opposite, petiolules 3–4 mm; blade adaxially shiny, ovate-lanceolate, 6–9 × 2.5–3 cm, leathery, both surfaces glabrous, base slightly rounded or sometimes broadly cuneate, apex obtusely acuminate. Flowers not seen. Pod oblong to elliptic, slightly asymmetric or obliquely asymmetric, 4–7 × 2.5–3 cm, leathery, base broadly cuneate, apex obtuse, beaked. Seed solitary, compressed. Fl. not seen, fr. Oct.

* Thickets at riversides, sparse woods at roadsides; ca. 600 m. Yunnan (Xishuangbanna).

19. Caesalpinia elliptifolia S. J. Li, Z. Y. Chen & D. X. Zhang, Nord. J. Bot. 22: 349. 2002.

TUO ye yun shi

Lianas, to 15 m; young parts with dense, brown hairs. Branchlets occasionally with scattered, recurved prickles. Stipules absent. Leaf rachis 20–30 cm, with recurved prickles; pinnae 1 or 2 pairs; leaflets opposite, 2 pairs per pinna, petiolule 2–3 mm; blade elliptic, 7–13 × 4.5–8 cm, leathery, abaxially with brown hairs especially on midvein, adaxially glabrous, base rounded, apex rounded, rarely obtuse. Racemes terminal and supra-axillary, aggregated into a panicle, 15–25 cm, all parts densely hairy; bracts caducous, lanceolate, 1–3 mm; pedicels 8–12 mm. Flowers yellow. Calyx lobes oblong, ca. 6 × 2 mm. Petals unequal, 10–15 × 4–5 mm, shortly clawed. Stamens 10; filaments 9–14 mm, woolly from base to just above middle. Ovary subsessile, 2 mm, hairy, 1- or 2-ovuled; style 7–10 mm, occasionally as short as 2 mm; stigma truncate. Pod compressed, indehiscent, oblong-elliptic, subsymmetrical, ca. 5 × 2.5 cm, without narrow wing, leathery, with robust reticulate veins. Seeds 1 or 2, brownish black, compressed-suborbicular, ca. 1.5 cm in diam. Fl. Apr, fr. May–Jun.

* Beside ditches; ca. 100 m. Guangdong (Fengkai).

20. Caesalpinia rhombifolia J. E. Vidal, Adansonia ser. 2, 15(1975): 394. 1976

LING YE yun shi

Climbers, woody. Branches with few prickles. Leaf rachis ca. 15 cm, with prickles; pinnae 4–6 pairs, opposite, rachis 4–5 cm, with one pair of prickles at base; leaflets 3 or 4 pairs, opposite, petiolules ca. 1 mm; blade slightly rhombic, 1.5–2 × 0.8–1.2 cm, papery, both surfaces glabrous, base broadly cuneate, apex acute, rarely slightly emarginate. Racemes paniculate, terminal or axillary, 10–20 cm; pedicels 6–9 mm, glabrous or nearly so, jointed at apical part. Flower buds glabrous. Flowers yellow. Calyx lobes glabrous, except with margin ciliate. Petals unequal, ca. 7 mm, inside hairy at base; upper one smaller, rounded at apex, contracted and hairy toward middle. Stamens with hairy filaments. Ovary glabrous, 1- or 2-ovuled; style ca. 1 cm. Pod obliquely semicircular, ca. 4 × 2.5 cm, leathery, ca. 1 cm stalked, apex beaked. Seed 1, broadly ellipsoid, ca. 2 × 1 cm. Fl. (not seen in China, based on original description) May–Jul, fr. unknown.

Thickets. Guangxi (Dongxing) [Vietnam].

7. PTEROLOBIUM R. Brown ex Wight & Arnott, Prodr. 283. 1834, nom. cons.

lao hu ci shu

Chen Dezhao (Chen Te-chao); Ding Hou

Cantuffa J. F. Gmelin; Reichardia Roth.

Shrubs, climbing, tall, or woody climbers. Branches with recurved prickles. Leaves abruptly bipinnate, alternate; pinnae and leaflets numerous; stipules and stipels caducous, small or obscure. Racemes or panicles axillary or terminal; bracts caducous, subulate to linear. Flowers whitish or yellowish, small; bracteoles absent. Receptacle discoid. Sepals 5, imbricate, lowermost navicular, larger, emarginate. Petals 5, spreading, oblong or obovate, slightly unequal, with imbricate sepals. Stamens 10, free, subequal, declinate; filaments sometimes villous at bases; anthers uniform, cells opening by lateral slits. Ovary sessile, ovoid, inserted at base of receptacle, free, 1- or 2-ovuled; style short or elongated and clavate at apex; stigma terminal, truncate or concave. Pod sessile, compressed, samaroid, indehiscent, upper part produced into an oblique oblong or falcate, membranous wing. Seed pendulous at apex of locules, without endosperm; cotyledons flat; radicle short, straight.

About ten species: tropical and subtropical Africa, mostly in Asia to Indonesia and the Philippines; two species in China.

1a.    Flowers scattered; petals unequal; wings of fruit 4–4.5 × 1.8–2 cm, broadest at middle forming curved margin on one side; leaves with pinnae 4–6 pairs; leaflets 1.5–2 × 0.6–1 cm, usually 6–9 pairs, veins conspicuous, abaxially without blackish dots ..........................................  1. P. macropterum

1b.    Flowers densely fascicled; petals homomorphic; wings of fruit not as above, 3–4 × 1.3–1.5 cm; leaves with pinnae 9–14 pairs; leaflets smaller and numerous, usually 19–30 pairs, veins obscure, abaxially with conspicuous or obscure blackish dots ........................................................  2. P. punctatum

 

1. Pterolobium macropterum Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 42(2): 71. 1873.

da chi lao hu ci

Pterolobium indicum A. Richard var. macropterum (Kurz) Baker; P. sinense J. E. Vidal.

Climbers, woody, tall. Young branchlets striate, sparsely hairy; old branches glabrous, with blackish prickles in pairs at bases of petioles. Leaf rachis 8–10 cm; pinnae 4–6 pairs, 8–10 cm; rachis of leaves and pinnae densely brownish hispidulous, articulate; leaflets 6–9 pairs, opposite, obliquely oblong, 1.5–2 × 0.6–1 cm, leathery, both surfaces glabrous, base asymmetrical, apex rounded, cuspidate, or emarginate. Racemes or panicles terminal or supra-axillary; rachis 10–15 cm, hairy; bracts subulate. Pedicels 5–10 mm. Sepals unequal, thickly leathery, smooth. Petals whitish, outer four equal, ca. 5 mm, obovate, innermost one abruptly contracted into a broad claw from middle downward, blade ciliate on margin, apex undulate, auriculate. Stamens equal in length, exserted; filaments ca. 8 mm, inflated and densely hairy from middle downward; anthers oblong, ca. 1 mm. Ovary slightly puberulous. 2-ovuled; style filiform, glabrous; stigma funnel-shaped, ciliate. Pod indehiscent, 6–6.5 cm; wings oblique, 4–4.5 × 1.8–2 cm, part containing seed ovoid. Fr. May, Oct.

Dry thickets, forests, sunny slopes; 400–1600 m. Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

2. Pterolobium punctatum Hemsley, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 23: 207. 1887.

lao hu ci

Caesalpinia aestivalis W. Y. Chun & F. C. How; Pterolobium indicum Hance; P. rosthornii Harms.

Climbers, woody, or climbing shrubs, 3–10 m tall. Branchlets angular, silvery white puberulous and light yellow hairy when young, glabrescent when old, with blackish, recurved, short prickles scattered or in pairs at bases of petioles. Rachis of leaves 12–20 cm; petiole 3–5 cm, with paired blackish stipulaceous spines; pinnae 9–14 pairs, long and narrow; rachis of pinnae 5–8 cm, sulcate; petiolules short, articulate; leaflets 19–30 pairs, opposite, narrowly oblong, blades at middle 9–10 × 2–2.5 mm, both surfaces yellowish hairy, abaxially denser, abaxially with conspicuous or obscure blackish dots, veins obscure, base slightly oblique, apex rounded-cuspidate or emarginate. Racemes 8–13 × 1.5–2.5 cm, puberulous, supra-axillary or at apices of branches forming a panicle; bracts setiform, 3–5 mm. Pedicels 2–4 mm, slender, spaced at intervals of 1–2 mm. Flower buds obovoid, ca. 4.5 mm, tomentose. Sepals: lowest one longer, navicular, ca. 4 mm, ciliate; others oblong, ca. 3 mm. Petals equal, slightly longer than calyx, obovate, apex slightly praemorse. Stamens equal in length, exserted; filaments 5–6 mm, pubescent from middle downward; anthers broadly ovoid, ca. 1 mm. Ovary compressed, ciliate on one side, 2-ovuled; style glabrous; stigma funnel-shaped. Pod shiny, 4–6 cm, part containing seed rhomboid, 1.6–2 × 1–1.3 cm, wings straight on one side and curved on other side, 3–4 × 1.3–1.5 cm, with persistent style. Seed solitary, elliptic, ca. 8 mm. Fl. Jun–Aug, Oct, fr. Apr, Sep–Jan.

Sparse forests, sunny slopes, dry rocky hills, near roads, limestone mountains; 300–2000 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Laos].

8. HAEMATOXYLON Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 384. 1753.

cai mu shu

Trees or shrubs. Leaves abruptly pinnate or bipinnate by lower pinnae again divided; stipules spinous, deciduous, without stipels. Flowers yellow, small, in axillary, short, sparse racemes. Receptacle short. Calyx 5-lobed; lobes unequal. Stamens 10, free; filaments hairy at bases; anthers uniform, opening by lateral slits. Ovary shortly stalked, 2- or 3-ovuled; style filiform; stigma terminal, capitate. Pod compressed, oblong or lanceolate, membranous, splitting along middle of valves. Seeds transversely oblong, without endosperm; radicles straight.

About three species: S Africa, tropical regions of North America including the West Indies and Mexico; cultivated in tropical Asia; one species introduced into China.

1. Haematoxylon campechianum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 384. 1753.

cai mu

Trees, small, to 8 m tall, sometimes with spreading branches and shrubby. Trunk deeply sulcate. Bark light gray. Branchlets slender. Leaves 5–10 cm, shortly petiolate; leaflets 2–4 pairs, abaxially pale green, adaxially shiny, obovate to obcordate, 1–3 cm, papery, with fine veins, base cuneate, apex rounded or deeply emarginate. Racemes 2–5 cm, with several to numerous flowers; peduncles short. Pedicels 4–6 mm, slender. Calyx 3–4 mm; lobes oblong-lanceolate, apex acute. Petals yellow, narrowly obovate, 5–6 mm, apex obtuse. Stamens ca. as long as petals. Pod lanceolate-oblong, 2–5 × 0.8–1.2 cm; valves thin, with fine veins.

* Cultivated in Guangdong (Guangzhou), Taiwan, Yunnan.

The heartwood of this species is blood-red. Haematoxylin, extracted from the wood and flowers, is an important dye used for morphological anatomy and pharmacological preparations, and is also used medicinally as an astringent for treating dysentery and diarrhea.

9. PARKINSONIA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 375. 1753.

bian zhou mu shu

Shrubs or trees, prickly or not. Leaves abruptly bipinnate; rachis very flattened; pinnae usually 2–4, appearing congested at first sight; stipules small, scaly to spinescent; rachis of pinnae very long and flattened; leaflets reduced, inconspicuous, numerous, opposite or alternate, small. Racemes or cymes axillary; bracts caducous, small. Pedicels long, without bracteoles. Flowers bisexual. Receptacle discoid. Sepals 5, slightly unequal, imbricate or subvalvate, membranous. Petals 5, spreading, slightly unequal, shortly clawed, uppermost broader and long clawed. Stamens 10, free, not exserted; filaments villous at bases; anthers ovoid, versatile, cells opening by lateral slits. Ovary shortly stalked, inserted at bottom of receptacle, glabrous to ± pubescent, many ovuled; style filiform, glabrous or pubescent; stigma truncate, ciliate or glabrous. Pod linear, torulose, not winged, indehiscent, thinly leathery. Seeds oblong; hilum small, near apex, with endosperm; cotyledons flat. fleshy; radicle straight.

About four species: mostly in dry regions of S Africa, tropical America, and Oceania; one species introduced into China (Hainan).

1. Parkinsonia aculeata Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 375. 1753.

bian zhou mu

Shrubs or trees, to 6 m tall, prickly, with smooth, green bark. Leaf rachis and stipules becoming spines; pinnae 1–3 pairs, clustered at spinescent, very short rachis of leaves; rachis of pinnae green, to 40 cm; leaflets obovate-elliptic to obovate-oblong or oblong, 2.5–8.5 × 1–3.5 mm. Racemes sparsely flowered. Flowers yellow; pedicels 1.5–1.7 cm; bracts lanceolate. Sepals oblong, ca. 6 mm, apex obtuse. Petals spatulate, apex rounded, uppermost longer, ca. 11 × 6 mm. Filaments villous at bases. Pod 7.5–10.5 cm.

Cultivated in Hainan [widely cultivated throughout tropical regions of the world, native of tropical America].

10. ERYTHROPHLEUM Afzelius ex R. Brown in Denham, Clapperton & Oudney, Narr. Travels Africa 235. 1826, nom. subnudum, ex G. Don, Gen. Syst. 2: 423. 1832, descr.

ge mu shu

Trees. Leaves alternate, bipinnate; stipules caducous, small; pinnae few pairs, opposite; leaflets alternate, leathery. Flowers small, crowded together in terminal panicles of spicate racemes. Calyx campanulate, with 5 short subequal lobes; tube short. Petals 5, subequal. Stamens 10, free; filaments equal or alternately longer and shorter. Ovary stalked, hairy, ovules numerous; style short; stigma small. Pod compressed, long, thickly leathery, 2-valved dehiscent when ripe, pulpy within between seeds. Seeds transverse, oblong or obovoid, compressed, with endosperm.

About 15 species: tropical Africa, tropical and subtropical E Asia, and N Australia; one species in China.

1. Erythrophleum fordii Oliver, Hooker’s Icon. Pl. 15: t. 1409. 1883.

ge mu

Trees, ca. 10 m tall, sometimes to 30 m tall. Young shoots ferruginous puberulous. Leaves glabrous; pinnae usually 3 pairs, opposite or subopposite, 20–30 cm; petiolules 2.5–3 mm; leaflets 8–12, ovate to ovate-elliptic, 5–8 × 2.5–4 cm, base rounded, oblique, margin entire, apex acuminate. Panicles 15–20 cm; peduncles ferruginous pubescent. Calyx outside pilose; lobes oblong, margin densely pubescent. Petals pale yellowish green, longer than calyx lobes, oblanceolate, inside and marginally densely pubescent. Stamens ca. 2 × as long as petals, glabrous. Ovary oblong, densely yellowish white pubescent, 10–12-ovuled. Pod compressed, oblong, 10–18 × 3.5–4 cm, with reticulate veins. Seeds blackish brown, slightly compressed, oblong, 2–2.5 × 1.5–2 cm. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Oct.

Sparse or dense forests, mountain slopes; ?elevation. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan, Zhejiang [Vietnam].

The wood is dark brown, hard, and bright, with fine, close grain. A famous hardwood, it is used for ship building, and for pillars of houses.

2. CASSIEAE Bronn, Form. Pl. Legum. 130. 1822.

jue ming zu

Leaves abruptly pinnate or imparipinnate, rarely bipinnate. Flowers bisexual, polygamous, or plants dioecious, actinomorphic or zygomorphic. Receptacle cup-shaped. Sepals 4 or 5, rarely 3 or 6, imbricate. Petals usually 5, sometimes 3, rarely absent. Stamens various in number, sometimes with staminodes; anthers basifixed, rarely dorsifixed; cells opening by apical pores or by lateral short slits. Ovary or stalk inserted at base of receptacle, free; ovules 2 to numerous, rarely solitary.

About 20 genera: three naturalized and cultivated in China.

11. CERATONIA Linnaeus. Sp. Pl. 2: 1020. 1753.

chang jiao dou shu

Ceratia Adanson.

Trees, evergreen, small or medium-sized, with a dense crown. Leaves abruptly pinnate; leaflets 2–4 pairs; stipules small or absent. Flowers small, polygamous or plants dioecious, in short, solitary or fasciculate racemes. Inflorescence lateral on current year branchlets; bracts and bracteoles caducous, scalelike, minute. Calyx tube turbinate; lobes 5, deciduous, toothlike, short, imbricate. Petals absent. Stamens 5; filaments filiform; anthers ovoid, versatile. Disc within stamens, horizontally spreading. Ovary shortly stalked, at middle of disc; ovules numerous; style very short; stigma peltate. Pod compressed, elongated, thickly leathery, indehiscent, between seeds by pulpy areas continuous with endocarp. Seeds numerous.

Monotypic: native to the E Mediterranean; one species cultivated in China (Guangdong).

1. Ceratonia siliqua Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1026. 1753.

chang jian dou

Trees, 15–16 m tall. Leaves 8–17 cm; leaflets 2–4 pairs, shiny, obovate or suborbicular, 3.5–5.5 × 3–3.5 cm, leathery, glabrous, lateral veins conspicuously raised, base cuneate or broadly cuneate, margin entire, apex rounded, emarginate, or conspicuously cordate depressed. Raceme with rachis densely yellowish brown pubescent. Flowers reddish. Pod curved, 10–25 × ca. 2.5 cm. Fl. Nov, ?fr.

* Cultivated in Guangdong (Guangzhou).

The dried pods are rich in sugar; the seeds contain a useful gum, tragasol.

12. ZENIA W. Y. Chun, Sunyatsenia 6: 195. 1946.

ren dou shu

Trees, deciduous. Buds with few perules. Leaves imparipinnate, not stipulate; leaflets alternate, entire, not stipelate. Flowers bisexual, ± actinomorphic, reddish, in terminal panicles. Sepals 5, imbricate. Petals 5, imbricate, slightly unequal. Perfect stamens 4, the 5th one reduced to a filiform staminode, rarely 5, inserted on margin of disc. Disc small, sinuate-lobate. Ovary compressed, few (7–9)-ovuled, shortly stalked; style subulate, short, slightly curved; stigma small. Pod compressed, membranous, indehiscent, reticulate veined, broadly winged along upper (adaxial) suture. Seeds few, compressed, orbicular, with long funicles.

Monotypic: S China, Vietnam.

1. Zenia insignis W. Y. Chun, Sunyatsenia 6: 196. 1946.

ren dou

Trees, 15–20 m tall. Trunk to 100 cm d.b.h. Branchlets blackish brown, with scattered yellowish white, small lenticels. Bark rough, exfoliating in strips. Buds elliptic-fusiform, with few scales, yellowish pubescent at first, glabrescent. Leaves 25–40 cm; petiole short, 3–5 cm; rachis and petiole ± yellowish puberulous; petiolules 2–3 mm; leaflets oblong-lanceolate, 6–9 × 2–3 cm, thinly leathery, abaxially grayish white strigose, adaxially glabrous, base rounded, margin entire, apex shortly acuminate or acute. Panicles terminal; peduncles and pedicels yellow or brown strigose. Flowers red, ca. 1.4 cm; bracts caducous, narrowly ovate, small. Sepals oblong, slightly unequal in size, 10–12 × 5–6 mm, thickly membranous, outside strigose, inside glabrous, apex rounded. Petals slightly larger than sepals, ca. 1.2 cm, uppermost one obovate, ca. 8 mm wide, others elliptic-oblong or obovate-oblong, 5–6 mm wide. Filaments ca. 3 mm, puberulous; anthers ca. 6 × 1 mm. Ovary 7–9-ovuled, margin adpressed pilose; stalk ca. 4 mm. Pod reddish brown, oblong or elliptic-oblong, usually ca. 19 cm, sometimes to 15 × 2.5–3.5 cm; wing 5–6 mm wide. Seeds brownish black, shiny, 4–9 × ca. 7 mm, smooth; funicles filiform, ca. 4 mm. Fl. May, fr. Jun–Aug. 2n = 28*.

Dense or sparse forests, mountain slopes; 200–1000 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, ?Yunnan [Vietnam].

13. CASSIA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 376. 1753, nom. cons.

决明属  jue ming shu

Chen Dezhao (Chen Te-chao)^[6]; Kai Larsen^[7], Supee Saksuwan Larsen^[8]

Trees or large shrubs. Leaves spirally arranged, often distichous, abruptly pinnate; rachis and petioles without glands; leaflets opposite, without stipels. Flowers in terminal panicles on main shoots or racemes on short side shoots; pedicels with 2 bracteoles at or shortly above base. Calyx 5-merous; sepals reflexed at anthesis. Corolla zygomorphic; petals 5. Stamens 10; filaments of 3 abaxial antesepalous stamens sigmoidally curved, usually longer than their anthers, dehiscent by slits; remaining 7 filaments straight and short, with anthers mostly dehiscent by basal pores. Pod elongate, cylindric or compressed, indehiscent; seeds numerous, 1- or 2-seriate, funicle filiform.

About 30 species: tropical regions; one species and two subspecies cultivated in China.

Because of insufficient materials for comparison, Cassia lancangensis Y. Y. Qian (Acta Bot. Austro Sin. 6: 23. 1990) is not yet treated here.

1a.     Inflorescence 20–40(–60) cm; leaves with 3 or 4 pairs of leaflets; pod 2–2.5 cm in diam.  1. C. fistula

1b.     Inflorescence shorter than 15 cm; leaves with 5–12 pairs of leaflets; pod less than 1.5 cm in diam.     2. C. javanica

 

1. Cassia fistula Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 377. 1753.

腊肠树  la chang shu

Trees, deciduous, to 15 m tall. Leaves 30–40 cm, with 3 or 4 pairs of leaflets; leaflets adaxially shiny, broadly ovate or ovate-oblong, 8–13 × 4–8 cm, leathery, both surfaces puberulous when young, glabrous when mature, base broadly cuneate, apex acute. Racemes axillary, 20–40(–60) cm, lax, pendent, many flowered; flowers 3.5–4 cm in diam. Pedicels 3–5 cm, slender. Sepals narrowly ovate, 1–1.5 cm, reflexed at anthesis. Petals golden-yellow, broadly ovate, subequal, 2.5–3.5 cm, shortly clawed. Stamens 10, three long with curved filaments 3–4 cm, anthers ca. 5 mm, exceeding petals; four short with straight filaments 6–10 mm, reduced stamens with minute anthers. Ovary stalked, strigulose; stigma small. Pod pendulous, blackish brown, terete, sausage-shaped, indehiscent, 30–60 cm, 2–2.5 cm in diam.; seeds numerous, separated by papery septa, glossy brown, elliptic, flattened. 2n = 28.

Cultivated in S and SW China [Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; native of India; widely cultivated throughout the tropics].

This is a common ornamental tree in the southern region. The bark contains tannin, a source of red dye; the fruit pulp and seeds are used medicinally as a laxative; the wood is hard and durable, and is used for props, bridges, and farm tools.

2. Cassia javanica Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 379. 1753.

爪洼决明  zhao wa jue ming

This is a very polymorphic species with a wide distribution range from N India through the Indochinese Peninsula and the Malesian region to New Guinea; two subspecies native and cultivated in China.

1a.     Inflorescences terminal on leafy shoots; leaflets 5–8 cm; pod ca. 2 mm in diam.  2c. subsp. agnes

1b.     Inflorescences lateral on short side branches; leaflets 2–5 cm; pod 1–1.5 cm in diam.

2a.    Petals at first pink, later dark red, finally pale; branchlets glabrous .........  2a. subsp. javanica

2b.    Petals deep yellow; branchlets thinly canescent ......................................  2b. subsp. nodosa

 

2a. Cassia javanica subsp. javanica

爪哇决明  zhao wa jue ming (yuan ya zhong)

Petals at first pink, later dark red, finally pale; branchlets glabrous.

Distributed in the Indochinese Peninsula and Malesian region, not in China.

2b. Cassia javanica subsp nodosa (Buchanan-Hamilton ex Roxburgh) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen, Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 25: 205. 1975, [‘1974’].

节荚决明  jie jia jue ming

Cassia nodosa Buchanan-Hamilton ex Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. 2: 336. 1824.

Trees, deciduous. Branchlets pendulous, slender, thinly canescent. Leaves 15–30 cm; leaflets 5–12 pairs, 2–5 × 1.2–2 cm, subleathery, abaxially pilose, adaxially sparsely puberulous, base slightly asymmetrical, apex acute or obtuse. Racemes lateral on short side branches; inflorescence axis slender. Sepals green (in living specimens), ovate. Petals deep yellow, ovate, 2.5–3 × 1–1.5 cm. Stamens 10, among them 3 abaxial antesepalous with longer filaments than other 7. Ovary linear, whitish pubescent. Pod blackish brown, terete, 30–45 cm, with conspicuous annular nodes. 2n = 24, 28.

Cultivated in S China [Indonesia (Java), Malay Peninsula, Thailand; Cultivated in the neotropics].

2c. Cassia javanica subsp. agnes (de Wit) K. Larsen, Nordic J. Bot. 13: 403. 1993.

神黄豆  shen huang dou

Cassia javanica var. agnes de Wit, Webbia 11: 220. 1956; C. agnes (de Wit) Brenan.

Trees, usually more than 10 m tall, sometimes to 30 m. Leaves 25–40 cm; petiole 3–6 cm; leaflets 6–10 pairs, elliptic or oblong-elliptic, 5–8 × 2.5–3.3 cm, both surfaces pilose, base slightly asymmetrical, apex shortly acuminate. Panicles 6–9 cm, terminal on young leafy shoots, composed of 6–10 racemes; bracts broadly lanceolate, 5–8 mm. Sepals broadly lanceolate, 8–10 mm. Petals pink, slightly unequal in size, 3–4.5 × 1.4–2 cm. Stamens 10, among them 3 abaxial antesepalous filaments 3–3.5 cm, inflated in middle, 4 of medium size, filaments 1/2 as long as former, not inflated at middle, other 3 smaller. Ovary long, slender, slightly pubescent. Pod terete, 30–50 × ca. 0.2 cm, with annular nodes; seeds numerous. 2n = 28*.

Forests, mountain slopes. Guangxi, Yunnan [Laos, Thailand, Vietnam].

14. SENNA Miller, Gard. Dict., Abr. ed. 4. 1754.

番泻决明属  fan xie jue ming shu

Chen Dezhao (Chen Te-chao)^[9]; Kai Larsen^[10], Supee Saksuwan Larsen^[11]

Herbs, shrubs, or small trees. Leaves abruptly pinnate; leaflets opposite; rachis and petiole with or without glands. Flowers in axillary or terminal racemes; bracteoles absent. Sepals 5. Petals 5, subequal, usually yellow. Stamens 10; filaments of all stamens straight, sometimes 10 fertile, subequal, sometimes 3 adaxial stamens staminodes, (6 or)7 fertile; anther thecae not ciliate along suture. Pod either indehiscent or inertly dehiscent through 1 or both sutures, in last case not coiling, sometimes valves breaking up in one-seeded joints; seeds numerous, funicle filiform.

About 260 species: pantropical; 15 species (four endemic, 11 introduced) in China.

1a.     Petiole and rachis of leaves without glands.

2a.    Petiole and rachis of leaves  with two longitudinal ribs, narrowly winged; pod with a membranous wing at middle downward to base of each valve ............................................................  1. S. alata

2b.    Petiole and rachis of leaves without wings.

3a.     Leaflets abaxially densely yellowish brown velutinous; pod narrowly cylindric  4. S. spectabilis

3b.     Leaflets abaxially glabrous and farina-white; pod flattened.

4a.     Leaflets 6–10 pairs; stipules linear, caducous .........................................  2. S. siamea

4b.     Leaflets 8–16 pairs; stipules ovate-cordate, tardily deciduous .......  3. S. didymobotrya

1b.     Petiole and rachis of leaves with glands.

5a.    Petiolar glands only.

6a.     Gland on upper part of petiole, blackish brown, discoid, sessile; leaflets 8–28 pairs  8. S. nomame

6b.     Leaf with a solitary gland above base of petiole.

7a.     Young branchlets, petiole and rachis of leaves densely yellowish brown villous; leaflets villous on both surfaces; pod densely hirsute on surfaces of valves ................................  5. S. hirsuta

7b.     Plants glabrous or subglabrous throughout; pod glabrous.

8a.    Petiolar gland sessile, globose or ovoid, at basal joint; pod flattened, 10–13 cm  6. S. occidentalis

8b.    Petiolar gland narrow, clavate to subulate, above basal joint; pod terete, 5–10 cm, with light colored suture ...........................................................................................  7. S. sophera

5b.    Glands only present on rachis between leaflets.

9a.     Leaflets 2 pairs, obliquely ovate, very unequally sided; upper part much larger than lower one, 4–16.5 × 2–7 cm .................................................................................................  9. S. fruticosa

9b.     Leaflets 3 to more pairs, smaller than above.

10a.   Leaflets 18–26(–50) pairs, a conical or narrowly ovoid gland between lowermost pair of leaflets (often early caducous) ..............................................................................  10. S. multijuga

10b.   Leaflets 3–16 pairs.

11a.   Fertile stamens 10.

12a.   Leaflets 4–6 pairs; leaves 15–30 cm; stipe of pod 10–20 mm .....  11. S. sulfurea

12b.   Leaflets7–9 pairs; leaves 10–15 cm; stipe of pod 5–7 mm ......  12. S. surattensis

11b.   Fertile stamens 7.

13a.   Rachis of leaves with a gland between lowest pair of leaflets  15. S. bicapsularis

13b.   Rachis of leaves with a gland between each pair of leaflets.

14a.   Pod terete, 6–10 × ca. 1 cm; leaflets ovate to ovate-elliptic, apex acute to acuminate          13. S. septemtrionalis

14b.   Pod linear, terete, 10–15 × ca. 0.5 cm; leaflets obovate, apex broadly rounded        14. S. tora

 

1. Senna alata (Linnaeus) Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. ed. 2, 2: 349. 1832.

翅荚决明  chi jia jue ming

Cassia alata Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 378. 1753.

Shrubs, 1.5–3(–5) m tall. Branches greenish, thick, pubescent. Leaves 30–60 cm; petiole and rachis with 2 longitudinal ribs and narrow wings; petiolar glands absent; stipules persistent, triangular, 6–10(–15) mm; petiolules very short or leaflets subsessile; leaflets 6–12(–20) pairs, oblong or obovate-oblong, 6–15 × 3.5–7.5 cm, thinly leathery, glabrous, base obliquely truncate, apex obtusely rounded and cuspidate. Racemes axillary, dense, many flowered, or sometimes several racemes forming a terminal panicle, 10–50 cm; peduncles 7–14 cm; bracts caducous, strobilate, oblong to broadly ovate, 2–3 × 1–2 cm, at first enveloping flowers. Flowers ca. 2.5 cm in diam. Sepals orange-yellow, oblong, unequal. Petals bright yellow, tinged with conspicuous purple veins, ovate-orbicular, 16–24 × 10–15 mm, shortly clawed. Stamens 10, fertile stamens 7, opening with apical pores, lower 2 with stout filaments ca. 4 mm and larger anthers, 4 with filaments ca. 2 mm and smaller anthers, reduced stamens 3 or 4. Ovary puberulous, sessile; ovules many. Pod winged, sharply tetragonal, 10–20 × 1.5–2 cm, glabrous, with a broad, membranous wing down middle of each valve; wings 4–8 mm broad, papery, crenulate; seeds 50–60, compressed, deltoid. 2n = 24, 28.

Sparse forests, dry slopes. Guangdong, ?Hainan, S Yunnan [worldwide tropics; native of tropical America].

This plant is used as a laxative.

2. Senna siamea (Lamarck) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35: 98. 1982.

铁刀木  tie dao mu

Cassia siamea Lamarck, Encycl. Meth. Bot. 1: 648. 1785.

Trees, 10–15 m tall. Bark gray, subsmooth; young branches ribbed, sparsely puberulous. Leaves 20–30 cm; rachis and petiole without glands, puberulous; stipules caducous, linear, tiny; leaflets 6–10(–15) pairs, oblong or ovate-oblong, 3–7 × 1.5–2.5 cm, leathery, abaxially finely pubescent, adaxially smooth and glabrous, base rounded, apex obtusely rounded, often emarginate, mucronate. Racemes in axils of apical leaves, often several forming a large terminal panicle on a robust peduncle 5–7 cm; bracts linear, 5–6 mm. Sepals suborbicular, unequal in size, outer smaller, inner larger, ca. 9 mm, outside hairy. Petals yellow, broadly obovate, 1.2–1.5 cm, shortly clawed. Stamens 10, among them 7 fertile, anthers opening by apical pores, 2 with filaments ca. 10 mm and anthers 6–7 mm; 4 or 5 with filaments 2–3 mm and anthers 5–6 mm, staminodes ca. 3 mm. Ovary sessile, densely white pubescent. Pod flattened, 15–30 × 1–1.5 cm, suture thick, riblike, pubescent, purplish brown when mature; seeds 10–30, light brown, ovoid, 2–2.5 × 5–6 mm. 2n = 28.

Yunnan, cultivated in S China [Cambodia, India, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam; native of Myanmar].

This tree is planted as an ornamental in parks, gardens, and used as a wayside tree. The hard, durable wood is used for furniture.

3. Senna didymobotrya (Fresenius) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35: 467. 1982.

长穗决明  chang sui jue ming

Cassia didymobotrya Fresenius, Flora 22: 53. 1839.

Shrubs, 2.5–3 m tall. Young branches and leaves puberulous, glabrescent when old. Leaves to 35(–50) cm; petiole and rachis without glands, puberulous; stipules tardily deciduous, ovate-cordate, 6–17 mm, acuminate; petiolules very short; leaflets 8–16 pairs, abaxially farina-white, ovate-oblong or lanceolate-oblong, 3–5.5 × 1–2 cm, base rounded and oblique, apex obtuse or subacute, mucronate. Racemes in axils of leaves in upper part of branches, 10–35 cm, sometimes several arranged in a terminal leafy panicle; bracts caducous, imbricate, broadly ovate, apex subacute or acuminate. Sepals oblong-obovate. Petals yellow, oblong or obovate, shortly clawed. Stamens 10, among them functionally 2 extra large, curved, ca. 12 mm. Ovary densely yellowish or pallid pilosulous. Pod compressed, lorate-oblong, 8–10 × 1.6–1.8 cm, leathery, bicarinate by sutures, apex with a long and slender awn, stipe 1–1.2 cm, fruiting pedicel ca. 1 cm; seeds 9–16, obovoid-oblong, compressed. 2n = 28.

Cultivated in Hainan, ?Yunnan [native of tropical Africa; now naturalized in India and Sri Lanka].

4. Senna spectabilis (de Candolle) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35: 600. 1982.

美丽决明  mei li jue ming

Cassia spectabilis de Candolle, Cat. Hort. Monspel. 90. 1813.

Trees, evergreen, small, 5–7(–10) m tall, with long, spreading branches. Young branches, petioles and rachises of leaves densely yellowish brown velutinous. Leaves 12–30 cm; rachis and petiole without glands; leaflets 8–15(–19) pairs, elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, 3–7 × 1–2 cm (lowermost pair usually much smaller and early caducous), abaxially densely yellowish brown velutinous, adaxially glabrous or puberulous, base subrounded and slightly oblique, apex acute, cuspidate. Flowers in terminal panicles or axillary racemes; peduncles and pedicels densely yellowish brown velutinous; bracts caducous, ovate, 4–5 mm. Sepals 5, orange-yellow, unequal, among them: 2 outer smaller, ovate, 5–7 mm, pubescent; 3 inner larger, suborbicular, 8–11 mm in diam. Petals yellow, brownish yellow dark veined, unequal in size, broadly to narrowly obovate, shortly clawed. Stamens 10, 7 of them fertile, anthers opening by apical pores, staminodes 3, smaller. Ovary linear, ca. 3 cm, recurved; style and stigma inconspicuous. Pod pendulous, black, narrowly cylindric, slightly compressed, 25–35 × 1–1.5 cm, slightly contracted between seeds, annulate-septate, glabrous; seeds 50–70, suborbicular, ca. 5 mm in diam.

Cultivated in Guangdong, S Yunnan [native of tropical America; widely cultivated throughout the tropics].

This is a rapidly growing tree, which is usually cultivated ornamentally; the flowers are fragrant.

5. Senna hirsuta (Linnaeus) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Phytologia 44: 499. 1979.

毛荚决明  mao jia jue ming

Cassia hirsuta Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 378. 1753.

Herbs or shrubs, 0.6–2.5 m tall. Young branches, petioles and rachises of leaves densely yellowish brown villous. Leaves 10–20 cm; petiole 3–6 cm, with a sessile, blackish brown, ovoid-oblong gland near insertion; rachis 7–10 cm, without glands; leaflets 3–7 pairs, ovate-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 3–9 × 1.5–3.5 cm, papery, both surfaces villous, base subrounded, apex acuminate. Racemes axillary or several in axils of apical leaves forming a leafy panicle; peduncles and pedicels villous; bracts early caducous, subulate, hairy. Sepals 5, unequal in size, densely villous, 2 outer small, ovate to obovate, ca. 5 mm; 3 inner puberulous, similar but larger, 7–8 mm. Petals yellow, obovate, 1.4–1.8 cm, glabrous. Stamens 10, 6 or 7 of them fertile, unequal in length, anthers opening by apical pores, staminodes 3 or 4. Ovary hirsute, subsessile; style short, glabrous; stigma small. Pod long, slender, flat, 10–20 × ca. 0.5 cm, densely hirsute on surfaces of valves; seeds numerous, flat, obovoid, 3–4 mm. 2n = 14, 28.

Cultivated in Guangdong, Yunnan [Indonesia (Java), Laos, Thailand, Vietnam; native of tropical America].

6. Senna occidentalis (Linnaeus) Link, Handb. 2: 140. 1831.

望江南  wang jiang nan

Cassia occidentalis Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 377. 1753.

Subshrubs or shrubs, erect, 0.8–1.5 m tall, glabrous, few branched. Branches herbaceous, ribbed; roots blackish. Leaves ca. 20 cm; petiole 3–4 cm, with a large, brown, ovoid gland near base; stipules caducous, triangular to lanceolate, 1–2 cm, membranous; petiolule 1–2 mm, with a rotten smell when kneaded; leaflets 3–5(or 6) pairs, ovate to ovate-oblong, 4–10 × 2–3.5 cm, membranous, base rounded, apex acuminate. Corymbose racemes few flowered, axillary or terminal, ca. 5 cm; bracts caducous, linear-lanceolate. Flowers ca. 2 cm. Sepals unequal, outer ones suborbicular, ca. 6 mm in diam., inner ones ovate, 8–9 mm. Petals yellow, purplish veined, 2 outer slightly larger, shortly clawed. Stamens 7 fertile; anthers opening by apical pores; reduced stamens 3, without anthers or with tiny anthers. Ovary tomentose; style glabrous. Pod brown, with pale thick margins, strap-shaped, falcate, flattened, 10–13 × ca. 1 cm, with septa between seeds; seeds 30–40, flat, orbicular, 3–4 mm in diam. 2n = 24, 26*, 28*, 56*.

In shrubs on river banks, wilderness, hilly lands, sparse forests, wastelands near villages. SE, S, and SW regions of China [worldwide in tropics and subtropics; native of tropical America].

7. Senna sophera (Linnaeus) Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. ed. 2, 2: 347. 1832.

槐叶决明  huai ye jue ming

Cassia sophera Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 379. 1753.

Shrubs, 1–2(–3) m tall, glabrous. Leaves 7–18(–21) cm; petiole 3–5 cm, with a subulate or narrow clavate gland 5–10 mm above petiole joint; petiolules ca. 2 mm; leaflets 4–10 pairs, lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, 1.7–4.2 × 0.7–2 cm, base rounded, apex acute to shortly acuminate. Corymbs axillary, few flowered; peduncles 1–2 cm; bracts ovate, ca. 5 mm; pedicels 1–1.5 cm. Sepals ovate-orbicular, ca. 5 mm. Petals yellow, obovate, shortly clawed. Stamens 10, 6 or 7 fertile, 2 longer; anthers opening by apical pores; staminodes 3 or 4, ca. 2 mm. Ovary finely pubescent. Pod straight, 5–10 × 0.5–1 cm, flattened and slightly thick at first, subcylindric, and ± swollen when ripe; seeds 30–40, ovoid, compressed. 2n = 28.

Mountain slopes, roadsides. C, S, SE, SW China [worldwide in tropics and subtropics; native to tropical Asia].

The young leaves and pods are edible; the seeds are used medicinally for fever reduction.

8. Senna nomame (Siebold) T. Chen, comb. nov.

豆茶决明  dou cha jue ming

Sooja nomame Siebold, Verh. Bat. Genoot. 12: 56. 1830; Cassia nomame (Siebold) Kitagawa.

Herbs, annual, 30–60 cm tall, slightly hairy, branched or not. Leaves 4–8 cm, with a blackish brown, discoid, sessile gland in upper part of petioles; leaflets 8–28 pairs, lorate-lanceolate, 5–9 mm, slightly asymmetrical. Flowers inserted in axils of leaves, with pedicels, solitary or 2 to several in short racemes. Sepals 5, free, outside sparsely pubescent. Petals 5, yellow. Stamens 4, sometimes 5. Ovary densely puberulous. Pod compressed, dehiscent, 3–8 × ca. 0.5 cm, hairy, 6–12 seeded; seeds compressed, subrhomboid, smooth.

Mountain slopes, open grassy fields. Anhui, Hebei, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, Sichuan, ?Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang, and provinces of NE China [Japan, Korea].

9. Senna fruticosa (Miller) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35: 121. 1982.

大叶决明  da ye jue ming

Cassia fruticosa Miller, Gard. Dict., ed. 8, no. 10. 1768.

Shrubs or small trees, ca. 3 m tall. Branches grayish white, glabrous. Leaves 12–18 cm, with an oblong, convex gland on rachis between lower pair of leaflets; stipules early caducous, linear, 3–4 mm; petiolules 3–4 mm; leaflets 2 pairs, obliquely oblong-ovate, 8–12 × 4–5 cm, membranous, both surfaces pubescent when young, abaxially puberulous when old, base obliquely cuneate, very unequally sided, midvein near upper side, apex acute to acuminate. Racemes short, densely flowered, to 6 cm, in axils of apical leaves, several racemes forming a leafy panicle; bracts early caducous, narrowly lanceolate. Sepals yellowish green, often tinged with red, oblong-obovate, outside puberulous. Petals orange-yellow, broadly obovate to orbicular, 2–2.5 cm, both sides pubescent. Fertile stamens 6 or 7, opening by apical pores, upper 3 stamens usually absent; Ovary linear, densely appressed whitish pubescent. Pod pendulous on a short stout stipe, terete, 15–25 × 1–1.5 cm, slightly annulate, with a beak ca. 1 cm on top; seeds 80–100, dark brown, compressed, ovoid, 5–6 mm, embedded in a foetid, black pulp. 2n = 28.

Cultivated in Guangdong [native of tropical America].

10. Senna multijuga (Richard) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35: 492. 1982.

密叶决明  mi ye jue ming

Cassia multijuga Richard, Actes Soc. Hist. Nat. Paris 1: 108. 1782.

Shrubs, small trees, or trees, 7–20(–40) m tall. Young parts generally puberulous; branchlets reddish brown when dry. Leaves 12–20 cm; stipules early caducous, linear; rachis and petiole puberulous, with a long, ovoid gland on rachis between lowest pair of leaflets (often early caducous); leaflets 10–26(–50) pairs, linear-oblong or oblong, 1.2–4 × 0.6–0.8 cm, both surfaces puberulous or adaxially glabrous, apex obtusely rounded, mucronate, slightly oblique. Racemes several, arranged in a terminal, leafy panicle 10–20(–40) cm; peduncle and pedicels puberulous. Flowers 2.5–4 cm in diam.; bracts ovate, ca. 2 mm, tomentose. Sepals greenish yellow when mature, slightly unequal, 5–6 mm. Petals yellow, ovate-oblong, 1–2(–3) cm, glabrous. Fertile stamens 7, 3 larger, with filament ca. 10 mm and anthers 6–7 mm, staminodes 3, tiny. Ovary linear, glabrous. Pod dark brown, flat, broadly linear, obtuse; seeds 30–60, flattened, ca. 6 mm.

Cultivated in Guangdong (Guangzhou) [Cultivated worldwide in the tropics; native of tropical America]. 

11. Senna sulfurea (Collad.) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35: 78. 1982.

粉叶决明  fen ye jue ming

Cassia sulfurea Collad., Hist. Nat. Med. Casses 84. 1816; C. glauca Lamarck; C. surattensis N. L. Burman subsp. glauca (Lamarck) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen.

Shrubs, large, or small trees. Young shoots pilose, later glabrescent. Leaves 15–30 cm, with a clavate gland 1–2 mm on rachis between each of lowest 2 pairs of leaflets; petiole 3.5–6.5 cm; stipules caducous, linear; petiolules ca. 3 mm; leaflets 4–6 pairs, usually 5 pairs, abaxially farina-white, adaxially greenish, ovate or elliptic, 3.5–10 × 2.5–4 cm, base broadly cuneate or subrounded, apex obtusely rounded or inconspicuously emarginate. Racemes in axils of leaves in upper part of branches; peduncles 3–10 cm; rachis 1–6 cm; bracts ovate, 3–8 mm, apex acute, finally reflexed. Pedicels 1–3 cm. Sepals green to reddish brown, unequal; outer 2 suborbicular, ca. 3 mm in diam.; inner 3 obovate, 6–9 mm. Petals bright yellow (drying orange or pinkish brown), ovate or obovate, 1.5–2.5, 5-veined, clawed. Stamens 10 fertile, with short, thick filaments, lowest 2 with longer filaments; anthers subequal, opening by short, apical slits. Ovary hairy; style glabrous. Pod glossy, flat, straight, strap-shaped, dehiscent, 12–20 × 1.2–1.8 cm, with long, slender beak on top, valves papery; seeds 20–30, oblong-elliptic, ca. 7 × 4 mm.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, ?Guizhou, Yunnan [India, Laos, Malay Peninsula, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Australia, Polynesia; now naturalized in the neotropics].

12. Senna surattensis (N. L. Burman) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35: 81. 1982.

黄槐决明  huang huai jue ming

Cassia surattensis N. L. Burman, Fl. Ind. 97. 1768.

Shrubs or small trees, 5–7 m tall. Bark grayish brown, smooth; young branches, petioles and rachises of leaves puberulous. Leaves 10–15 cm, with 2 or 3, clavate, long glands 1–2 mm on rachis between lowest 2 or 3 pairs of leaflets and in upper part of petiole; stipules subpersistent, linear, 5–10 mm; leaflets 6–9 pairs, abaxially farina-white, ovate to ovate-oblong, 2–5 × 1–1.7 cm, abaxially sparsely pubescent, adaxially glabrous, base rounded, apex rounded, slightly emarginate. Racemes in axils of apical leaves, 3–6 cm, 10–15-flowered; peduncles 2.5–5 cm; bracts ovate-oblong, 5–8 mm, outside puberulous, finally reflexed. Pedicels 1–2 cm. Sepals unequal, 2 outer suborbicular, ca. 3 mm in diam., 3 inner obovate, to 7 mm. Petals bright yellow to deep yellow, subequal, ovate to obovate, 1.5–2 cm, with long claw 1–1.5 mm. Stamens 10, all fertile, with short, thick filaments, lowest 2 filaments longer; anthers oblong, subequal, 5–7 mm, opening by apical slits. Ovary puberulous; style glabrous. Pod flat, strap-shaped, dehiscent, 7–10 × 0.8–1.5 cm, long slender beaked, valves papery; seeds 10–25, glossy, flattened. 2n = 48, 56.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, ?Hainan, Taiwan, ?Yunnan, ?Zhejiang [Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka; Australia, Polynesia; cultivated worldwide; native of India].

13. Senna septemtrionalis (Viviani) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35: 365. 1982.

光叶决明  guang ye jue ming

Cassia septemtrionalis Viviani, Elench. Pl. Hort. Bot. J. Car. Dinegro 14. 1802; C. laevigata Willdenow.

Shrubs or small trees, 1–4 m tall. Young branches green, smooth, glabrous. Leaves ca. 15 cm; rachis 6–12 cm, with a clavate or conical gland between all except upper pair of leaflets; stipules early caducous, linear; leaflets 3 or 4 pairs, abaxially farina-white, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 5–11 × 2–3.5 cm, both surfaces glabrous, base cuneate or narrowly cuneate, sometimes oblique, apex acute to acuminate. Racemes axillary or terminal, 4–10-flowered, 5–10 cm including peduncle 2.5–5 cm; bracts caducous, linear-lanceolate, 2–5 mm. Pedicels 1.5–2.5 cm. Sepals yellowish green, ovate-elliptic, unequal, inner 8–10 mm, outer shorter. Petals bright yellow, ovate-orbicular, 1–1.5(–2) cm, shortly clawed. Fertile stamens 7, unequal; anthers opening by apical pores; 3 staminodes with anthers flat, suborbicular, non-functional. Ovary glabrous; style linear. Pod terete, 6–10 cm, ca. 1 cm in diam., slightly subquadrangular when fully mature, valves subleathery, tardily dehiscent; seeds 50–70, glossy, olive colored, obovoid, flat, 5–6 mm.

Cultivated in Guangdong, Guangxi [worldwide in tropics; native of tropical America].

14. Senna tora (Linnaeus) Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. ed. 2, 2: 340. 1832.

决明  jue ming

Cassia tora Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 376. 1753.

Herbs, suffrutescent, erect, annual, 1–2 m tall. Leaves 4–8 cm; petiole without glands; rachis with a club-shaped gland between leaflets; stipules caducous, linear, 10–15 mm; petiolules 1.5-2 mm; leaflets 3 pairs, obovate or obovate-oblong, 2–6 × 1.5–2.5 cm, membranous, abaxially pubescent, adaxially sparsely pubescent, base cuneate to rounded and oblique, apex rounded, cuspidate. Racemes axillary, short, 1- or 2(or 3)-flowered; peduncles 6–10 mm; bracts linear, acute. Pedicels 1–1.5 cm. Sepals ovate or ovate-oblong, 5–8 mm, membranous, outside pubescent. Petals yellow, unequal, obovate, lower 2 slightly longer, 12–15 × 5–7 mm, shortly clawed; fertile stamens 7, nearly equal, filaments 1.5–2 mm, anthers opening by apical pores, ca. 4 mm, 3 larger, 4 smaller, staminodes absent. Ovary sessile, densely white pubescent; style glabrous. Pod terete, subtetragonous, slender, 10–15 × 0.3–0.5 cm, both ends acuminate, valves membranous; seeds 20–30, glossy, rhomboid, ca. 5 × 3 mm, with an areole. 2n = 26*, 28*, 56*.

Mountain slopes, waste lands, river bank sands. Widespread to S of the Chang Jiang [Worldwide in tropics and subtropics; native of tropical America].

The seeds known as “jue ming zi” (决明    ) are used medicinally as a diuretic and purgative.

15. Senna bicapsularis (Linnaeus) Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. ed. 2, 2: 342. 1832.

双荚决明  shuang jia jue ming

Cassia bicapsularis Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 376. 1753.

Shrubs, erect, to 3 m tall, much branched. Crown spreading, with pendent or sometimes climbing twigs. Leaves 7–12 cm, with 3 or 4 pairs of leaflets; petiole 2.5–4 cm, slender; rachis with a blackish brown, clavate to ovoid gland between lowest pair of leaflets; stipules caducous, narrowly lanceolate, subulate, 1–3 mm; leaflets obovate or obovate-oblong, 1.5–4 × 1–2.5 cm, membranous, glabrous, base obliquely cuneate, apex obtusely rounded. Racemes lax, in axils of apical leaves, 5-15 cm, slender; bracts early caducous. Sepals yellowish to reddish brown, ovate, 5–10 mm. Petals yellow, obovate, 1.1–1.5 cm, very shortly clawed. Stamens 10, 7 fertile: 3 lower with unequal filaments 2–10 mm, anthers large, curved, ca. 1 mm; 4 short with filaments ca. 1 mm and anthers 4–5 mm; 3 staminodes with minute anthers. Ovary with glabrous stalk and style. Pod brown, terete, straight or slightly curved, 9–17 × 1–1.5 cm, tardily dehiscent, valves membranous; seeds 50–60, olive-green, ovoid, flattened, 5–7 mm.

Cultivated in Guangdong, Guangxi, ?Hainan [worldwide throughout the tropics; native of tropical America].

15. CHAMAECRISTA Moench, Meth. Pl. Hort. 272. 1794.

山扁豆属  shan bian dou shu

Chen Dezhao (Chen Te-chao)^[12]; Kai Larsen^[13], Supee Saksuwan Larsen^[14]

Herbs or suffrutescent herbs, rarely small trees. Leaves abruptly pinnate; leaflets opposite; foliar glands usually present, disc- or cup-shaped, rarely flat. Flowers yellow or red. Sepals 5. Petals 5, unequal. Stamens 10 to 5 fertile, filaments straight, anther thecae ciliolate along suture, dehiscent terminally by slit or pore. Pod elastically dehiscent, valves coiling; seeds with either smooth or pitted seed coat, usually exareolate.

About 270 species worldwide, mostly (about 240) indigenous to America, with only a few (about 30) in tropical Asia; three species in China.

1a.     Petiolar gland distinctly stipitate ..........................................................................  1. C. pumila

1b.     Petiolar gland sessile, discoid, raised or slightly flat.

2a.    Rachis of leaves not canaliculate; leaflets 20–50 pairs, 3–4 mm; ovary with short, stiff, appressed hairs; pod with scattered, appressed hairs ...............................................................  2. C. mimosoides

2b.    Rachis of leaves canaliculate; leaflets 14–25 pairs, 8–13 mm; ovary woolly with long and short, thin hairs; pod with long and short, non-appressed hairs ....................................  3. C. leschenaultiana

 

1. Chamaecrista pumila (Lamarck) K. Larsen, Nordic J. Bot. 13: 404. 1993 [(Lamarck) V. Singh, J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 16(3): 600. 1992??].

柄腺山扁豆  bing xian shan bian dou

Cassia pumila Lamarck, Encycl. 1: 651. 1785.

Subshrubs or diffuse herbs, perennial, woody at base, 25–75 cm tall, with many branches. Branches, petioles and rachises of leaves pilose. Leaves 3–6 cm, with a stipitate gland on top of petiole and on rachis between lowest pair of leaflets; leaflets 12–20 pairs, sessile, unequally sided, linear-falcate, 8–12 × ca. 2 mm, midrib near upper margin of blade, apex mucronate; stipules linear-subulate, 6–8 mm, acuminate. Flowers axillary, solitary or most often 2 or 3 together in a very short raceme; bracts and bracteoles similar to stipules but shorter. Sepals ovate-oblong, 4–6 mm, apex acute. Petals bright yellow, unequal, oblong-obovate, shorter than or ca. as long as sepals, shortly clawed. Stamens 5, subequal; anthers oblong, opening by apical pores enlarging to short slits. Ovary sessile, appressed tomentose; stigma peltate, small. Pod flat, straight, strap-shaped, 3–5 × ca. 0.5 cm, pilose; seeds 10–20, subrhomboid, ca. 3 mm, flat, smooth. 2n = 32.

Mountain slopes, open fields, in shrubs, grasslands. Guangdong, ?Hainan, Yunnan [India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam; Australia].

2. Chamaecrista mimosoides (Linnaeus) Greene, Pittonia 4: 27. 1897.

山扁豆  shan bian dou

Cassia mimosoides Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 379. 1753.

Herbs, suffrutescent, annual or perennial, with woody base, 30–60 cm tall, or low shrubs to 1 m tall, with many slender, puberulous branches. Leaves 4–8 cm, with an orbicular, discoid, sessile gland in upper part of petiole, below lowest pair of leaflets; stipules persistent, linear-subulate, 4–7 mm, with conspicuous longitudinal veins; rachis not canaliculate, sparsely pubescent; leaflets sessile, 20–50(–80) pairs, reddish brown when dry, linear-falcate, 3–4 × ca. 1 mm, midvein near upper margin of blade, very unequally sided, base obliquely truncate, apex acute, mucronate. Flowers supra-axillary, mostly solitary, sometimes 2 or 3 together in a very short raceme; bracts and bracteoles similar to stipules but latter smaller. Sepals lanceolate, 4–8 mm, apex acute. Petals bright yellow, unequal, obovate to orbicular, equal to or slightly longer than sepals, shortly clawed. Stamens 10, alternately 5 shorter and 5 longer; anthers opening by apical pores. Ovary with stiff, appressed hairs; stigma flat. Pod flat, falcate, 2.5–5 × ca. 0.5 cm; seeds 10–20, flat, smooth. 2n = 16.

Slopes, wastelands, in bushes, grasslands. SE, S and SW China [Worldwide in tropics and subtropics; native of tropical America].

This is a drought enduring and barren-resisting plant, grown for improving the soil. The roots are used medicinally for treating dysentery.

3. Chamaecrista leschenaultiana (de Candolle) O. Degener, Fl. Hawaiiensis Fam. 169b. 1934.

大叶山扁豆  da ye shan bian dou

Cassia leschenaultiana de Candolle, Mem. Soc. Phys. Geneve 2: 132. 1824, [“lechenaultiana”].

Herbs, suffrutescent, annual or perennial, 30–100(–150) cm tall. Stems erect or decumbent; young branches densely yellowish pubescent. Leaves 3–8 cm, with a slightly raised, orbicular-discoid gland just below lowest pair of leaflets in upper part of petiole; rachis canaliculate, pubescent; leaflets sessile, 10–25 pairs, linear-falcate, 8–13(–15) × 2–3 mm, very unequally sided, with midvein close to upper border of blade; stipules persistent, linear-subulate, 7–9 mm. Flowers axillary or in few flowered, short, axillary or supra axillary racemes; bracts and bracteoles like stipules but smaller. Sepals lorate-lanceolate, ca. 1 cm, outside sparsely yellowish pubescent. Petals orange-yellow, slightly longer than or equal to sepals. Stamens 10, sometimes 1–3 reduced. Ovary densely whitish pubescent; stigma flat, ciliate. Pod flat, strap-shaped, 2.5–5 × ca. 0.5 cm, with long and short, non-appressed hairs to nearly glabrous; seeds 8–16, flat, smooth.

Mountains, in shrubs, near roads, grassy slopes. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, ?Henan, ?Hubei, ?Jiangsu, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, ?Zhejiang [Cambodia, India, Laos, Malesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

3. CERCIDEAE Bronn., Form. Pl. Legum. 131. 1822.

zi jing zu

Leaves alternate, simple, entire or 2-lobed, sometimes parted to base, divided and 2-foliolate. Flowers usually bisexual, rarely unisexual (polygamous or plants dioecious), slightly or conspicuously zygomorphic. Calyx entire, 5-toothed, spathaceous or valvately 2–5-lobed. Petals usually 5. Perfect stamens 10 or 2–9 reduced to staminodes; anthers dorsifixed, cells opening lengthwise or by apical pores. Ovary or stalk free or adnate to receptacle; ovules 1 to numerous.

About five genera, four represented in tropical regions, one in temperate parts of the northern hemisphere; two in China.

14. CERCIS Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 374. 1753.

[??chinese name]  zi jing shu

Shrubs or trees. Leaves alternate, simple, entire, veins palmate, base cordate to truncate or cuneate, apex acute to attenuate or emarginate; stipules caducous, small, scale-like or membranous. Flowers zygomorphic, bisexual, purplish red, pink, or white, in solitary racemes or subumbellate clusters on branches of current year or older branches or trunks, flowering before or as leaves expand; bracts scale-like, often imbricate, aggregated at base of racemes; bracteoles minute or absent. Calyx shortly campanulate, slightly oblique, apex unequally 5-toothed; teeth broadly triangular. Petals 5, appearing papilionaceous, but with standard smallest and inside other petals. Stamens 10, free, included; filaments often hairy in lower part; anthers dorsifixed, opening lengthwise. Ovary shortly stipitate, ovules 2–10; style filiform; stigma capitate. Pods compressed, narrowly oblong to broadly linear, usually narrowly winged along ventral suture, indehiscent or dehiscent, both ends acuminate or obtuse. Seeds 2 to many, compressed, suborbicular, without endosperm.

Eleven species: four confined to North America, one in E and S Europe, one in central Asia; five species in China (five endemic). 

Cercis siliquastrum Linnaeus and C. canadensis Linnaeus are sometimes cultivated in China.

1a.     Flowers in subumbellate clusters, without peduncles or with short peduncles to 1 mm.

2a.    Pod thin, usually indehiscent, winged, with small curved beak; leaves papery, thinner, abaxially glabrous or puberulous on veins ...................................................................................  4. C. chinensis

2b.    Pod thick and hard, dehiscent, valves not winged, twisting upon dehiscence, with thick straight beak; leaves subleathery, thicker, often comose-pubescent on axils of veins at base .............  5. C. chingii

1b.     Flowers in racemes with conspicuous peduncles.

3a.    Leaves rhombic-ovate, asymmetrical on two sides, base obtusely triangular, both surfaces often glaucous ................................................................................................................  1. C. chuniana

3b.    Leaves broadly ovate, ovate-orbicular, or cordate, symmetrical, base cordate or subtruncate, abaxially hairy or glabrous, not glaucous.

4a.     Racemes longer, rachis 2–10 cm; leaves abaxially puberulous, densely hairy on veins; pod basally attenuate, dorsal and ventral sutures equal in length ................................  2. C. racemosa

4b.     Racemes short, rachis not longer than 2 cm; leaves glabrous or sparsely pubescent in axils of veins; pod basally rounded and obtuse, dorsal and ventral sutures unequal ....................  3. C. glabra

 

1. Cercis chuniana F. P. Metcalf, Lingnan Sci. J. 19: 551. 1940.

[??chinese name]  guang xi zi jing

Cercis likiangensis W. Y. Chun ex Y. Chen.

Trees, 6–27 m tall. Trunk to 20 cm in diam, bark grayish. Young branchlets reddish, becoming brownish red when dry; lenticels numerous, dense, small. Petiole 0.9–1.3 cm, slender, both ends slightly inflated; leaf blade rhombic-ovate, 5–9 × 3–5 cm, papery, both surfaces often glaucous especially adaxially, abaxially sparsely puberulous on axils of veins at base, base obtusely triangular, asymmetrical, apex long acuminate. Racemes 3–5 cm, 7–15-flowered. Flower 1–1.3 mm; pedicel 0.8–1 cm, slender. Calyx broadly campanulate, 5–6 mm; teeth 5, shallow. Petals rose-pink to whitish pink; filaments hairy only at very base, otherwise glabrous. Pod purplish red, becoming reddish brown when dry, very compressed, narrowly oblong, 6–9 × 1.3–1.7 cm, both ends acute, apex with sharp, small beak 2–3 mm; wing narrow, less than 1 mm wide; stipe 4–5 mm; fruiting pedicel 1–1.5 cm. Seeds 2–5, blackish brown, compressed, broadly ovoid-orbicular, ca. 6 × 5 mm, smooth. Fl. unknown, fr. Sep–Nov.

* Mountain valleys, open or dense forests, by streams; 600–1900 m. ?Fujian, N Guangdong, NE Guangxi, SE Guizhou, SE Hunan, S Jiangxi, ?Zhejiang.

2. Cercis racemosa Oliver, Hooker’s Icon. Pl. 19: t. 1894. 1889.

[??chinese name]  chui si zi jing

Trees, 8–15 m tall. Trunk to 27 cm in diam, bark dark gray-brown. Young branchlets dark brown to black, rusty pubescent, lenticels scattered. Petiole 2–3.5 cm, moderately stout, glabrous or pubescent; leaf blade broadly ovate-orbicular, 6–12.5 × 6.5–10.5 cm, abaxially puberulous especially on principal veins, adaxially glabrous, principal veins 5, raised abaxially, reticulate veins conspicuous on both surfaces, base truncate or shallowly cordate, apex acute, slightly attenuate. Racemes solitary, pendulous, 2–10 cm, 6–20-flowered; peduncle and rachis hairy. Flower 1–1.2 cm; pedicel 0.8–1 cm, slender. Calyx ca. 5 mm. Petals rose-red; standard tinged with deep reddish spots. Stamens included; filaments hairy at base. Pod slightly curved, compressed, oblong, 5–10 × 1.2–1.8 cm; wing 2–2.5 mm wide, dorsal and ventral sutures subequal in length, basally attenuate, apex acute, with a beak 5–7 mm; stipe 3.5–4 mm; fruiting pedicel 1.3–1.5 cm. Seeds 2–9, compressed. Fl. May, fr. Oct.

* Dense forests, mountain slopes, roadsides, beside villages; 1000–1900 m. W Guizhou, W Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, E Sichuan, NE Yunnan.

3. Cercis glabra Pampanini, Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n.s., 17: 393. 1910.

[??chinese name]  hu bei zi jing

Cercis funiushanensis S. Y. Wang & T. B. Chao; C. gigantea W. C. Cheng & Keng f., nom. nud.; C. pubescens S. Y. Wang; C. yunnanensis H. H. Hu & W. C. Cheng.

Trees, 6–20 m tall. Trunk to 30 cm diam or more. Bark and branchlets grayish black. Petiole 2–4.5 cm; leaf blade often purplish red when young, greenish when mature, cordate or triangular-orbicular, 5–12(–20) × 4.5–11.5(–18) cm, thickly papery to subleathery, adaxially shiny, glabrous or comose-pubescent in vein axils, principal veins (5–)7, base shallowly to deeply cordate, rarely truncate, apex obtuse or acute. Raceme short; rachis 5–10 mm, 4–12-flowered. Flowers light purplish red or pink, 1.3–1.5 cm; pedicel 1–2.3 cm, slender. Pod purplish red, broadly linear, (7–)9–15 × 1.2–1.5 cm, wing 2–2.3 mm, sutures unequal (rarely equal), dorsal suture slightly longer, base rounded to acuminate, apex acuminate; stipe 2–3 mm. Seed 1–8, compressed, suborbicular, 6–7 × 5–6 mm. Fl. Mar–Apr, fr. Sep–Nov.

* Open or dense forests, mountain slopes, along valleys near roads, on rocks; 600–1900 m. Anhui, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang. 

Plants called “Cercis gigantea” may represent a distinct species, but too little material was available to be certain. This needs further study.

4. Cercis chinensis Bunge, Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg Divers Savans 2: 95. 1835[?? Enum. Pl. Chin. Bor. 21. 1833].

[??chinese name]  zi jiang

Cercis chinensis f. alba S. C. Hsu; C. chinensis f. pubescens C. F. Wei; C. chinensis f. rosea P. S. Hsu; C. pauciflora H. L. Li.

Shrubs, 2–5(–8) m tall. Bark and branchlets grayish white. Leaf blade greenish when young with only petiole slightly purple, suborbicular or triangular-orbicular, 5–10 cm, ca. as long as wide or slightly longer than wide, papery, both surfaces usually glabrous, or abaxially puberulous on veins, base shallowly to deeply cordate, margin membranous, transparent when fresh, apex acute. Flowers purplish red, pink, or white, 1–1.3 cm, 2–10-clustered on old branches or especially on trunk; pedicel 3–9 mm; keel tinged with deep purple stripes. Ovary glabrous to densely puberulous; ovules 5–8. Pod greenish, becoming stramineous at maturity, compressed, narrowly oblong, 4–8 × 1–1.2 cm, dorsal and ventral suture equal or subequal, wing 1.5–2 mm, base long attenuate, apex acute or shortly acuminate, with slender and curved beak; stipe 2–4 mm. Seed 2–6, blackish brown, shiny, broadly oblong, 5–6 × ca. 4 mm. Fl. Mar–Apr, fr. Aug–Oct. 2n = 14.

* Dense forests or limestone areas, commonly cultivated. Anhui, ?Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, ??Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, ?Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shandong, ?Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang.

5. Cercis chingii W. Y. Chun, J. Arnold Arbor. 8: 20. 1927.

[??chinese name]  huang shan zi jing

Shrubs, 2–6 m tall. Bark light gray, smooth. Branchlets grayish white at first, blackish brown when dry, with numerous, dense, small lenticels, brownish puberulous when young, glabrescent with age. Petiole 1.5–3 cm, slightly thickened at both ends; leaf blade brownish when dry, ovate-orbicular or reniform, 5–11 × 5–12 cm, subleathery, abaxially puberulous on principal veins and in axils of veins at base, principal veins 5, raised abaxially, base cordate or truncate, apex acute with a 5–8 mm mucro or rounded without mucro. Flowers clusters borne on old branches, light purplish red, becoming whitish. Calyx 5.5–6 mm. Petals ca. 1 cm. Pods 7–8.5 × ca. 1.3 cm, thickly leathery, valves twisting upon dehiscence, wing absent, stipe absent; beak robust, ca. 8 × 2 mm, hard. Seeds 3–6, embedded in thick, slightly white (brown when dry), spongy pulp. Fl. Feb–Mar, fr. Sep–Oct. 2n = 14*.

* Sparse forests, shrubby areas, roadsides, cultivated in gardens; low elevations. Anhui, N Guangdong, Zhejiang.

17. BAUHINIA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 374. 1753.

羊蹄甲属  yang ti jia shu

ZHANG Dianxiang^[15]; Kai Larsen^[16], Supee Saksuwan Larsen^[17]

Lasiobema Korthals; Phanera Loureiro; Piliostigma Hochstetter.

Trees, shrubs or lianas, hermaphroditic, monoecious, andromonoecious, or androdioecious. Stipules caducous. Leaves simple, bilobed or entire, rarely bifoliolate with a shared upper pulvinus; primary veins 3–15, midvein ending with a free, small point. Inflorescences solitary flowers, or many flowers in racemes, panicules, or corymbs; bracts and bracteoles usually small and caducous. Hypanthium cupular, campanulate, or tubular. Calyx closed or open with 5 short or linear teeth at apex in bud, at anthesis, spathaceous, or regularly or irregularly split into 2–5 lobes. Petals 5, subequal to strongly differentiated, subsessile or prominently clawed, white, yellowish orange, pink, or purplish red. Stamens 10, 5, 3, or 2; anthers dorsifixed, longitudinally dehiscent. Staminodes present or not. Ovary 1- to many ovuled, sessile or with stalk; stigma small or prominent, variously shaped. Fruit flat, elliptic, oblong, obovoid, or linear, woody or thinly valved, dehiscent or indehiscent. Seeds few to many; endosperm present or not.

About three hundred species: pantropical; 47 species in China (23 endemic).

The key is based on flowering material as there are too many species for which the mature pods are not known; Bauhinia tianlinensis is known only from fruiting material so could not be included in the key.  Legumes of China listed a further 5 species not included in this manuscript: B. clemensiorum from Guangxi; B. galpinii cultivated in Hongkong; B. godefroyi from Yunnan; B. lakhonensis from Guangxi; B. strychnoidea from Yunnan.

 

1a.   Calyx spatheate, splitting along one side or into 2 unequal lobes; tree or shrub without tendrils; flowers with 5 or 10 fertile stamens (or with female flowers lacking anthers) (B. purpurea with 3 fertile stamens).

2a.   Petals 0.7–1.2 cm.

3a.   Flowers bisexual with 10 unequal fertile stamens and well developed ovary; petals yellowish; pod 12–20-seeded ....................................................................................................  8. B. racemosa

3b.   Flowers unisexual with lacking either functional ovary or fertile anthers; petals white or greenish white; pod 2–10-seeded.

4a.     Inflorescence leaf-opposed, 10–15-flowered; stamens ca. 10 mm; pod 6–10-seeded  6. B. viridescens

4b.     Inflorescence terminal, to 50-flowered, sometimes much condensed; stamens 5–6 mm; pod 2–7-seeded .......................................................................................  7. B. brachycarpa

2b.   Petals 3–8 cm.

5a.   Fertile stamens 10; petals white; leaf blade ovate-cordate to cordate.

6a.     Leaf blade 3–7 × 4–8 cm, papery, abaxially tomentose....................... 9. B. tomentosa

6b.     Leaf blade 6–11(–16) × 8–12.5 cm, subleathery, abaxially pubescent.

7a.    Young shoots glabrous; leaf bifid to 1/3–2/5; pod sharply ridged near suture
.................................................................................................  1. B. acuminata

7b.    Young shoots brownish pubescent or hirsute; leaf bifid to 1/4; pod not ridged near suture             3. B. hirsuta

5b.   Fertile stamens 3 or 5; petals pink, purple, or white with pink spots, occasionally all white; leaf blade orbicular, suborbicular, or broadly ovate.

8a.     Fertile stamens 3, staminodes 5 or 6; leaf bifid to 1/3–1/2, lobes slightly acute or rarely rounded at apex .......................................................................................................  4. B. purpurea

8b.     Fertile stamens 5, staminodes 1–5, sometimes absent; leaf bilobed to 1/4–1/3, lobes rounded or narrowly rounded.

9a.    Petals purplish, 5–8 cm; sterile hybrid not forming fruits ..............  2. B. ×blakeana

9b.    Petals white, often with pink or purple spots, 4–5 cm; pod linear, 15–25 × 1.5–2 cm  5. B. variegata

1b.   Calyx with 4 or 5 ± equal lobes; lianas usually with tendrils (B. bohniana an erect 1–2 m high shrub); flowers with 2 or 3 fertile stamens.

10a. Leaves 2-foliolate, primary veins 3–5 per lobe.

11b. Shoots hairy; leaf lobes acuminate; receptacle ca. 5 mm ...................  37. B. carcinophylla

11a. Shoots glabrous; leaf lobes obtuse; receptacle 7–12 mm.

12a.   Tendrils solitary; receptacle 10–12 mm; petals white, broadly obovate, ca. 9 mm
.........................................................................................................  42. B. didyma

12b.   Tendrils paired; receptacle 7–8 mm; petals pinkish with dark red stripes, spatulate, ca. 17 mm          24. B. yunnanensis

10b. Leaves entire or bifid for up to 1/2 length.

13a. Leaves entire to shallowly bifid, for up to 1/6 length, primary veins 3–9.

14a.   Petals orange or reddish, 25–30 mm ....................  23. B. coccinea subsp. tonkinensis

14b.   Petals white or greenish white (color not recorded for B. cercidifolia or B. wuzhengyii), 2.5–10 mm.

15a.   Leaf blade abaxially glabrous or nearly so.

16a. Leaf blade 1.5–4 cm; inflorescence a simple raceme, 5–9 cm .......  20. B. venustula

16b. Leaf blade 4.6–10 cm; inflorescence a panicle or if unbranched then more than 10 cm.

17a. Leaf blade with primary veins 3–5, base attenuate or rounded; petals 4–10 mm; tendrils rare or apparently absent.

18a. Petals 4–5 mm; leaf base rounded ..................................  27. B. paucinervata

18b. Petals 7–10 mm; leaf base attenuate ..................................  31. B. wuzhengyii

17b. Leaf blade with primary veins usually 7–9, base shallowly cordate to truncate; petals 2.5–3 mm; tendrils usually present.

19a. Fertile stamens 3; petiole 2–4 cm; leaf blade 4–8 cm wide, papery; pedicel 3–4 mm              13. B. scandens

19b. Fertile stamens 2; petiole 4.5–5 cm; leaf blade 9–11 cm wide, leathery; pedicel ca. 18 mm     15. B. cercidifolia

15b.   Leaf blade abaxially pubescent.

20a. Inflorescence 7–25 cm, pedicels 3.5–15 mm; petals 3.5–6 mm; staminodes 2.

21a. Pedicel 3.5–4 mm .............................................................  19. B. lingyuenensis

21b. Pedicel 10–15 mm.

22a. Leaf blade ovate or cordate; petals spatulate ......................  17. B. championii

22b. Leaf blade suborbicular; petals obovate or oblong ................  10. B. longistipes

20b. Inflorescence 3.5–8 cm, pedicels 15–22 mm; petals 6–10 mm; staminodes 7: 2 longer and free, others joined at base (not recorded for B. apertilobata).

22a. Flower bud ellipsoid with protruding apex; receptacle broadly funnelform; petals spatulate         16. B. apertilobata

22b. Flower bud ovoid; receptacle cylindric or elongate; petals subrhombic, broadly obovate, or elliptic.

23a. Leaf blade 5–8 × 4–6.5 cm; receptacle 8–9 mm; petals unequal, 3 rhombic, 2 elliptic, claw 3–4 mm  44. B. quinnanensis

23b. Leaf blade 3–4 × 2–3 cm; receptacle ca. 15 mm; petals subrhombic, broadly obovate, or elliptic; claw 6–8 mm ......................................................................  46. B. ovatifolia

13b. Leaves bifid for more than 1/5 length, primary veins 7–13.

24a.   Erect shrub, tendrils absent; petals pink ...........................................  25. B. bohniana

24b.   Liana, tendrils present; petals white or light yellowish, rarely with pink veins or reddish base, or red or golden-yellow (sometimes pale pink in B. hainanensis).

25a.   Ovary glabrous.

26a. Leaf blade bifid for more than 1/2 length.

27a. Inflorescence ca. 5 cm; bracts and bracteoles ca. 3 mm; petals white with pink veins; pod 10–25 cm  41. B. corymbosa

27b. Inflorescence 10–30 cm; bracts and bracteoles 5–9 mm, brushlike in young inflorescences; petals yellow or whitish yellow.

28a. Flower buds ovoid; staminodes 2; floral disc annular .................  11. B. comosa

28b. Flower buds conical; staminodes 4; floral disc U-shaped ........  12. B. esquirolii

26b. Leaf blade bifid for 1/5–1/2 length.

29a. Fertile stamen filament 25–30 mm; receptacle 3–5 mm; leaf blade 8–18 cm.

30a. Pedicel 1–1.5 cm; calyx lobes not reflexed, one free, others in 2 adnate parts, ca. 6 mm; staminodes 2 ....................................................................  28. B. hainanense

30b. Pedicel 2–2.8 cm; calyx lobes reflexed at anthesis, ovate, ca. 10 mm; staminodes 5–7           21. B. chalcophylla

29b. Fertile stamen filament 8–12 mm; receptacle 7–15(–30) mm; leaf blade 4–6(–9) cm.

31a. Shoots glabrous; calyx lobes 5; pod 12–15 cm ...........  45. B. damiaoshanensis

31b. Shoots reddish pubescent when young; ; calyx lobes 2 or 3; pod 18–25 cm  40. B. glauca

25b.   Ovary hairy, at least on sutures.

32a. Leaf blade abaxially glabrous.

33a. Stems glabrous; leaf blade with yellowish margin .......................  29. B. japonica

33b. Stems hairy at least when young; leaf blade uniformly green.

34a. Leaf blade 10–15 cm wide, bifid for up to 1/5 length; pedicel ca. 1.5 cm  30. B. wallichii

34b. Leaf blade 4–9 cm, bifid for at least 1/2 length; pedicel 4–5 cm
         36. B. erythropoda

32b. Leaf blade abaxially hairy at least on veins.

35a. Leaf blade 9–18(–20) cm wide, abaxially tomentose when young.

36a. Leaf blade abaxially thickly golden tomentose, primary veins 15–17; inflorescence conical; pedicel 0.9–1 cm ..............................................................  33. B. hypochrysa

36b. Leaf blade abaxially rusty or yellow-brown tomentose, primary veins 9–13; inflorescence ± flat-topped to rounded.

37a. Petiole 8–11 cm; bracts persistent .........................................  39. B. ornata

37b. Petiole 1.2–7 cm; bracts caduceus.

38a. Leaf blade 12–18(–23) cm .................................................  35. B. aurea

38b. Leaf blade 9–12.5 cm ..............................................  34. B. rubrovillosa

35b. Leaf blade 3.5–9(–12) cm wide, abaxially pubescent when young.

39a. Petals red or golden yellow ...................................................  26. B. khasiana

39b. Petals white, sometimes reddish at base or tinged yellow or green.

40a. Petals 4–6 mm.

41a. Leaf blade bifid to 1/6–1/5 of length; bracts 6–9 mm; lower pedicels to 20 mm  43. B. touranensis

41b. Leaf blade bifid to 1/3–1/2 of length; bracts 3–4 mm; lower pedicels 3–5 mm.

42a. Flower bud ca. 2 mm .................................................  14. B. delavayi

42b. Flower bud ca. 5 mm ............................................  18. B. hypoglauca

40b. Petals 15–30 mm.

43a. Calyx lobes 2 or 3; petals to 15 mm, apex acute .............  38. B. calciphila

43b. Calyx lobes 5; petals 20–30 mm, apex emarginate.

44a. Inflorescence conical; pedicels 0.7–3 cm; calyx lobes not reflexed  32. B. pyrrhoclada

44b. Inflorescence ± flat-topped; pedicels 4–5 cm; calyx lobes reflexed.

45a. Calyx lobes ca. 12 mm; filaments 15–17 mm, lower part pubescent  36. B. erythropoda

45b. Calyx lobes 25–30 mm; filaments ca. 35 mm, glabrous  22. B. nervosa

1. Bauhinia acuminata Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 376. 1753.

白花羊蹄甲  bai hua yang ti jia

Shrubs or small trees, to 3 m tall. Young branches zigzag, glabrous. Petiole 2.5–4 cm, pubescent; leaf blade ovate-cordate to cordate, 9–12 × 8–12.5 cm, subleathery, abaxially grayish pubescent, adaxially glabrous, primary veins 9–11, secondary and higher order veins protruding, base cordate, apex bifid to 1/3–2/5, lobes acuminate or slightly acute at apex or rarely rounded. Inflorescence a raceme, with few (3–15) flowers, axillary, appearing cymose; peduncle short, pubescent as inflorescence axis; bracts and bracteoles linear, pubescent. Flower buds ca. 2.5 cm, acutely tapering and ending in 5 linear calyx teeth ca. 3 mm. Hypanthium tubular. Calyx spathe open on one side, shortly 5-toothed. Petals white, obovate-elliptic, 3.5–5 × ca. 2 cm, sessile. Stamens 10 in 2 whorls, subequal, 1.5–2.5 cm, pubescent on lower 1/3; anthers yellow, oblong. Ovary prominently stalked, pubescent or almost glabrous; style 15–20 mm; stigma peltate, ca. 3 mm in diam. Pod straight or slightly curved, linear-oblanceolate, compressed, 6–12 × ca. 1.5 cm with a ca. 1 cm stalk, apex acuminate, beaked; valves leathery, glabrous, sharply ridged near suture. Seeds 5–12, compressed, 8–10 mm in diam. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Jun–Aug.

Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan [tropical Asia: Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, peninsular Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].

2. Bauhinia x blakeana Dunn, J. Bot. 46: 325. 1908.

红花羊蹄甲  hong hua yang ti jia

Trees. Branches numerous; branchlets slender, pubescent. Petiole 3.5–4 cm, brownish pubescent; leaf blade orbicular or suborbicular, 8.5–13 × 9–14 cm, leathery, abaxially puberulent, adaxially glabrous, primary veins 11–13, base cordate or truncate, apex bilobed to 1/4–1/3; lobes rounded or narrowly rounded. Inflorescence racemose, terminal or axillary, or several racemes together forming a panicle, pubescent; bracts and bracteoles triangular, ca. 3 mm. Floral buds fusiform. Hypanthium tubular. Calyx spathe ca. 2.5 cm, with greenish or light reddish ridges. Petals purplish, shortly clawed, or lanceolate, 5–8 × 2.5–3 cm. Stamens 5, with 3 longer. Staminodes 2–5, threadlike. Ovary prominently stalked, pubescent. Pod not produced. Fl. Nov–Mar.

This is a hybrid between Bauhinia purpurea and B. variegata. First collected from a garden in Hongkong, it is now widely cultivated in the tropics as an ornamental tree. In China, it is frequent in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hongkong, Macao, Taiwan, and Yunnan.

3. Bauhinia hirsuta Weinman, Syll. Pl. Nov. Ratisb. 2: 9. 1826.

粗毛羊蹄甲  cu mao yang ti jia

Bauhinia acuminata Linnaeus var. hirsuta (Weinman) Craib.

Shrubs, to 3 m tall. Young branches brownish pubescent or hirsute. Stipules linear or spinelike, ca. 1 cm; petiole 2–5 cm, ridged; leaf blade broadly ovate or cordate, 6–11(–16) × 6–11 cm, subleathery, abaxially pubescent, adaxially glabrous, primary veins 9, base shallowly cordate, apex bifid to 1/4, lobes obtuse at apex. Inflorescence a short raceme, few (2–5) flowered, axillary or terminal; bracts and bracteoles linear, 3–6 mm, pubescent. Flower buds narrowly fusiform, pubescent, acuminate at apex, tapering into 5 linear, pubescent teeth 2–5 mm. Hypanthium tubular. Calyx spathe open on one side. Petals white, ovate-oblong, 3–3.5 × ca. 1.5 cm, subsessile. Stamens 10 in 2 whorls, subequal, to 2 cm, pubescent at base; anthers yellow, oblong. Ovary stalked, pubescent only near base and on margin; style to 2 cm, glabrous; stigma peltate, small. Pod straight or slightly curved, linear-oblanceolate, 6–9 × ca. 1.5 cm, compressed, beaked; valves leathery, glabrous, without ridges on suture. Seeds 3–10, compressed, ca. 8 mm in diam. Fl. Apr, fr. Jun–Aug.

Yunnan [through SE Asia and peninsular Malaysia to Indonesia (Java)].

4. Bauhinia purpurea Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 375. 1753.

羊蹄甲  yang ti jia

Trees or erect shrubs, 7–10 m tall. Bark grayish to dark brownish, thick, smooth; branches puberulent when young, later glabrous. Petiole 3–4 cm; leaf blade suborbicular, 10–15 × 9–14 cm, stiffly papery, abaxially almost glabrous, adaxially glabrous, primary veins 9–11, secondary and higher order veins protruding, base shallowly cordate, apex bifid to 1/3–1/2; lobes slightly acute or rarely rounded at apex. Inflorescence a raceme with few flowers, or a panicle with up to 20 flowers, axillary or terminal. Flower buds fusiform, 4- or 5-ridged, with an obtuse apex. Pedicel 7–12 mm. Calyx open as a spathe into 2 lobes, one with 2 teeth and other 3-toothed. Petals light pink, oblanceolate, 4–5 cm, clawed. Fertile stamens 3; filaments ca. as long as petals. Staminodes 5 or 6, 6–10 mm. Ovary stalked, velvety; style curved; stigma slightly enlarged, peltate. Pod linear, flat, 12–25 × 2–2.5 cm; valves woody. Seeds compressed, suborbicular, 12–15 mm in diam. Fl. Sep–Nov, fr. Feb–Mar. 2n = 28.

Widely cultivated as ornamental trees in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [probably only native from Nepal through continental monsoon Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam)].

5. Bauhinia variegata Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 375. 1753.

洋紫荆  yang zi jing

Trees, deciduous, to 15 m tall. Bark dark brownish, nearly smooth; branches gray puberulent when young, later glabrous. Petiole 2.5–3.5 cm; leaf blade suborbicular or broadly ovate, 5–9 × 7–11 cm, subleathery, abaxially almost glabrous, adaxially glabrous, primary veins 9–13, secondary and higher order veins protruding, base shallowly to deeply cordate, apex bifid to 1/3, lobes rounded at apex. Inflorescence a raceme, few flowered, sometimes corymblike, axillary or terminal. Flower buds fusiform, smooth, subsessile. Calyx open as a spathe into 2 lobes. Petals white, or with pink or purplish spots, obovate or oblanceolate, 4–5 cm, clawed. Fertile stamens 5; filaments ca. as long as petals, slender. Staminodes 1–5 and small, or ?absent. Ovary stalked, puberulent; style curved; stigma small. Pod linear, flat, 15–25 × 1.5–2 cm; valves woody. Seeds 10–15, compressed, suborbicular, ca. 10 mm in diam. Fl. Feb–May, fr. Mar–Jul. 2n = 28.

Tropical forests; 1000–1500 m. S Yunnan (Xishuangbanna), widely cultivated in southern China, tropics, and subtropics [Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

1a.. Petals with colored spots ..............................................................................  5a. var. variegata

1b.. Petals white ...................................................................................................  5b. var. candida

5a. Bauhinia variegata var. variegata

原变种 yuan bian zhong

Bauhinia variegata var. chinensis de Candolle; Phanera variegata (Linnaeus) Bentham.

Petals with colored spots. Staminodes 1–5.

Tropical forests; 1000–1500 m. S Yunnan (Xishuangbanna), widely cultivated in southern China, tropics, and subtropics [Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

5b. Bauhinia variegata var. candida (Roxburgh) Voigt, Hort. Suburb. Calc. 253. 1845, not (Aiton) Buchanan-Hamilton (1822) [is a nom. nov. needed??].

白花羊紫荆 bai hua yang zi jing

Bauhinia candida Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., ed. 2, 2: 318. 1832; B. variegata var. alboflava de Wit.

Petals white. Staminodes ?absent. 2n = 28.

* Tropical forests. ?Fujian, ?Hainan, Yunnan (Xishuangbanna).

Two of us (Larsens) note that the absence of staminodes needs to be checked on Chinese materials since this is not the case for the species in SE Asia.

6. Bauhinia viridescens Desvaux, Ann. Sci. Nat., Sér. 1, 9: 429. 1826.

绿花羊蹄甲  lu hua yang ti jia

Bauhinia laui Merrill; B. polycarpa Wallich ex Bentham; B. viridescens var. laui (Merrill) T. Chen.

Shrubs or small trees, to 3 m tall, dioecious. Young branches pubescent; older branches whitish. Stipules narrowly triangular and tapering, ca. 2 mm; petiole 2–3.5 cm; leaf blade suborbicular, 5–9 × 6–10 cm, papery, abaxially pubescent, adaxially glabrous, primary veins 7–9, base truncate or shallowly cordate, apex bifid to 1/2, lobes obtuse at apex. Inflorescence a raceme, 4–8 cm, 10–15-flowered, opposite with leaves; bracts 2–3 mm, pubescent. Flower buds narrowly fusiform, 6–10 mm. Hypanthium turbinate, short. Calyx spathe open on one side. Petals greenish white, obovate-lanceolate, 7–12 mm, shortly clawed. Male flower: fertile stamens 10 in 2 whorls, subequal, ca. 10 mm; anthers oblong, 1–2 mm. Female flower: reduced stamens present; ovary shortly stalked, 6–8 mm; style short; stigma peltate, small. Pod straight or slightly curved, linear, compressed, 5–7 × 0.7–1 cm, beaked; valves leathery, glabrous. Seeds 6–10, green, ellipsoid, slightly compressed, ca. 3 mm in diam. Fl. Mar–Jul, fr. May–Jan.

Open forests; low elevations. Hainan, Yunnan [Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam].

7. Bauhinia brachycarpa Wallich ex Bentham in Miquel, Pl. Jungh. 261. 1852.

鞍叶羊蹄甲  an ye yang ti jia

Bauhinia altefissa H. Léveillé; B. bonatiana Pampanini; B. brachycarpa var. cavaleriei (H. Léveillé) T. C. Chen; B. brachycarpa var. densiflora (Franchet) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen; B. brachycarpa var. microphylla (Oliver ex Craib) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen; B. cavaleriei H. Léveillé; B. densiflora Franchet; B. enigmatica Prain; B. faberi Oliver; B. faberi var. megaphylla Tang & Wang; B. faberi var. microphylla Oliver.

Shrubs, erect or spreading, or small trees, to 5 m tall, dioecious or androdioecious. Branches slender, puberulent when young, glabrous later. Stipules caducous, linear; petiole 1–6 cm; leaf blade suborbicular, 0.8–12 × 1–10 cm, papery or membranous, abaxially puberulent, adaxially glabrous or puberulent, primary veins 5–13, base truncate or shallowly cordate, apex bifid to ca. 1/2, lobes rounded at apex. Inflorescence a raceme, to 50-flowered, sometimes much condensed, terminal; bracts caducous, linear. Flower buds ellipsoid, puberulent. Hypanthium turbinate, short. Calyx open as a spathe into 2 lobes. Petals white, obovate to oblanceolate, 7–8 mm, shortly clawed. Male flowers: fertile stamens 10 in 2 whorls; filaments 5–6 mm; reduced ovary small. Female flowers: reduced stamens 10; ovary hairy, shortly stalked; style stout; stigma peltate. Pod elliptic to oblanceolate, compressed, leathery, puberulent or nearly glabrous, dehiscent. Seeds 2–7, suborbicular, compressed. Fl. May–Jul, fr. Aug–Oct.

Open forests, dry mountain slopes; from sea level up to 3200 m. Chongqing, ?Fujian, Gansu, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, ?Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Laos, Myanmar, Thailand].

This is a polymorphic species, widely distributed in W China from Xishuangbanna in the South to Gansu in the North. At lower elevations and latitudes, as a small tree in open forests, the leaves can be much larger, but in habitats at higher elevations and latitudes, especially on slopes in dry river valleys, it is a small shrub no more than 30 cm tall, with leaves not exceeding 1 cm in diam.

8. Bauhinia racemosa Lamarck, Encycl. Meth. 1(2): 390. 1785.

总状花羊蹄甲  zong zhuang hua yang ti jia

Bauhinia parviflora Vahl; Piliostigma racemosa (Lamarck) Bentham.

Trees, deciduous, small, to 15 m tall. Bark blackish, rough; branches spreading or pendulous, zigzag, slender, glabrous. Stipules caducous; petiole 0.8–1.2 cm; leaf blade broadly orbicular, 1.5–4 × 2.2–6 cm, 7–9-veined, leathery, abaxially pubescent or glabrous, adaxially glabrous, base cordate, apex bifid ca. 1/3, lobes rounded at apex. Inflorescence a lateral or terminal raceme, ca. 20-flowered; peduncle short; bracts and bracteoles linear. Flower buds obovoid, puberulent, apex protruding. Hypanthium turbinate, short. Calyx split spathaceously at anthesis. Petals yellowish, subequal, oblanceolate, 8–10 mm, subsessile. Stamens 10, unequal; filaments 6–7 mm; anthers small, ca. 3 mm. Ovary stalked, glabrous; stigma subsessile, peltate, small. Pod linear-cylindric, 15–20 × 1.8–2.2 cm; valves woody, glabrous. Seeds 12–20, dark brownish, ellipsoid, 8–10 mm in diam. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Jun–Aug. 2n = 28.

Dry river valleys. Yunnan [NE India, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

9. Bauhinia tomentosa Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 375. 1753.

黄花羊蹄甲  huang hua yang ti jia

Shrubs, erect, to 4 m tall. Young branches puberulent. Stipules linear, ca. 1 cm; petiole 1.5–3 cm, slender; leaf blade suborbicular, 3–7 × 4–8 cm, papery, abaxially tomentose, adaxially glabrous, base cordate, 7–9-veined, apex bifid to ca. 1/2, lobes rounded at apex. Inflorescence a lateral raceme, 1–3-flowered; pedicel short; bracts and bracteoles linear, 4–7 mm. Flower buds fusiform, ca. 2 cm, puberulent. Hypanthium turbinate, ca. 5 mm. Calyx split spathaceously at anthesis. Petals light yellowish, subequal, broadly obovate, 4–5.5 × 3–4 cm, subsessile. Stamens 10, unequal; filaments 1–2 cm, puberulous at base. Ovary stalked, tomentose; style slender, glabrous; stigma peltate, small. Pod flat, linear, 7–15 × 1.2–1.5 cm, sutures not ridged; valves leathery, velutinous. Seeds brownish, suborbicular, compressed, 6–8 mm in diam. Fl. and fr. almost year-round. 2n = 28.

Widely cultivated as ornamental plants in China. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [India; origin in tropical Asia, probably indigenous in India, elsewhere cultivated].

10. Bauhinia longistipes T. C. Chen, Guihaia 8: 43. 1988.

长柄羊蹄甲  chang bing yang ti jia

Lianas, woody. Stems canaliculate or angulate, brownish puberulent; tendrils compressed when young, later cylindric. Stipules caducous; petiole 1.5–2 cm; leaf blade suborbicular, 3.5–4.5 × 3–5 cm, papery, abaxially pubescent when young, later glabrous, adaxially glabrous, primary veins 7, base truncate or cordate, apex bifid only to 1/6, lobes obtuse or rounded at apex. Inflorescence an elongated raceme, 10–20 cm, more than 50-flowered, axillary, or a terminal panicle of 2 or 3 racemes; bracts linear, ca. 5 mm; bracts and bracteoles brushlike in young inflorescences. Flower buds ellipsoid, ca. 3 mm, apex open with 5 teeth. Hypanthium cupular. Flowers small, 3 or 4 whorls per inflorescence node; pedicel 10–15 mm, slender, pubescent. Calyx lobes 5, triangular-lanceolate, 2–2.5 mm, outside pubescent. Petals subequal, obovate or oblong, 3.5–4 × 1.5–2.8 mm including a claw 1–1.5 mm, outside from middle to apex hairy. Fertile stamens 3; filaments 6–7 mm, glabrous. Staminodes 2. Floral disc annular, with lobes, fleshy, swollen. Ovary glabrous, with a slender stalk, oblique; style ca. as long as ovary stalk; stigma capitate, small. Pod unknown. Fl. Aug.

* River banks; ca. 1300 m. Yunnan.

11. Bauhinia comosa Craib, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1913: 352. 1913.

石山羊蹄甲  shi shan yang ti jia

Bauhinia henryi Harms (1921), not Craib (1913); B. mairei Harms; B. saxatilis Craib; Lasiobema comosa (Craib) A. Schmitz.

Lianas, woody. Branches brownish puberulent; tendrils solitary or in pairs. Stipules caducous; petiole 2–3 cm; leaf blade broadly ovate or suborbicular, 3–6 × 2.8–6.5 cm, rigidly papery, abaxially glabrous or puberulous when young, adaxially glabrous, primary veins 7–9, base cordate or truncate, apex bifid more than 1/2, lobes obtuse or rounded at apex. Inflorescence an elongated raceme, 10–20 cm, many flowered, terminal; bracts and bracteoles linear, 5–8 mm, brushlike in young inflorescences. Pedicel 8–13 mm. Flower buds ovoid, apex open with 5 teeth. Hypanthium cupular, 2–3 mm; calyx lobes 5, reflexed at anthesis, broadly lanceolate, ca. 5 mm, outside pubescent. Petals yellow or whitish yellow, subequal, obovate or oblong, ca. 7 mm, outside hairy along midvein, shortly clawed or subsessile, apex acute, obtuse, or rounded. Fertile stamens 3; filaments 6–7 mm, glabrous. Staminodes 2, much reduced. Floral disc annular, fleshy, swollen. Ovary stalked, glabrous, oblique; style ca. as long as ovary stalk; stigma capitate, small. Pod linear-oblong, ca. 7 × 2 cm; valves woody, glabrous. Seeds ellipsoid, compressed, ca. 10 × 7–8 mm. Fl. Aug–Sep, fr. Nov–Dec.

* Rocky hills, disturbed habitats on slopes. Sichuan, Yunnan.

12. Bauhinia esquirolii Gagnepain in Lecomte, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 2: 171. 1912.

元江羊蹄甲  yuan jiang yang ti jia

Lasiobema esquirolii (Gagnepain) de Wit.

Lianas, woody. Branches cylindric, puberulent; tendrils in pairs. Stipules caducous; petiole 1.5–2 cm, stout; leaf blade broadly ovate or orbicular, 4–7 × 4–6.5 cm, papery, abaxially yellowish white puberulous, adaxially puberulent when young, later glabrous, primary veins usually 9, base shallowly or deeply cordate, apex bifid more than 1/2; lobes triangular with obtuse apices. Inflorescence an elongated raceme, 10–30 cm, many flowered, terminal; bracts and bracteoles linear, 7–9 mm, brushlike in young inflorescences; rachis angulate. Pedicel ca. 15 mm. Flower buds conical, acute, apex open with 5 teeth. Receptacle tapering to pedicel; calyx lobes 5, lanceolate, 5–6 mm, outside pubescent, tapering to apex, joined from middle. Petals yellow or whitish yellow, subequal, oblanceolate, ca. 7 mm, outside hairy, cucullate, clawed, apex acute. Fertile stamens 3; filaments 6–7 mm, glabrous; anthers oblong. Staminodes 4, much reduced to less than 1 mm. Floral disc fleshy, swollen, U-shaped; ovary stalked, oblique, glabrous; style ca. as long as ovary stalk, stout; stigma small, truncate. Pod linear-oblong, 5–8 × 1.5–1.7 cm; valves woody, light brownish when dried. Seeds 2–5, suborbicular, compressed, ca. 9 mm in diam. Fl. Sep–Nov, fr. Nov–Dec.

* Open forests on hills. Guizhou, Yunnan.

13. Bauhinia scandens Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 374. 1753.

攀缘羊蹄甲  pan yuan yang ti jia

Bauhinia anguina Roxburgh; B. anguina var. horsfieldii Watt ex Prain; B. horsfieldii (Miquel) J. F. Macbride; B. japonica Maximowicz var. subrhombicarpa (Merrill) Hiroe; B. scandens var. horsfieldii (Watt ex Prain) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen; B. subrhombicarpa Merrill; Lasiobema anguina (Roxburgh) Korthals ex Miquel; L. horsfieldii Miquel; L. scandens (Linnaeus) de Wit; L. scandens var. horsfieldii (Watt ex Prain) de Wit.

Lianas, large, woody. Branches cylindric when young, applanate when old, forming “monkey ladders,” puberulent, later glabrous; tendrils in pairs, puberulent. Stipules caducous; petiole 2–4 cm; slender; leaf blade ovate to broadly ovate, 5–9 × 4–8 cm, papery, both surfaces glabrous, primary veins usually 7–9, base shallowly cordate to truncate, entire on flowering branches, apex bifid more than 1/2 in sterile or juvenile branches; lobes with obtuse or acuminate apices. Inflorescence an elongated raceme, 10–15 cm, many flowered, or several joined in a panicle 15–25 cm, terminal, puberulent; bracts and bracteoles linear. Pedicel 3–4 mm, slender. Flower buds ovoid, 1.8–2 mm in diam., apex open. Calyx lobes 5, triangular, outside pubescent. Petals white, subequal, obovate to oblanceolate, ca. 3 mm, shortly clawed. Fertile stamens 3; filaments glabrous. Staminodes 2. Floral disc fleshy, swollen. Ovary shortly stalked, oblique, glabrous; style stout; stigma small. Pod rhombic to oblong, 1.8–3 × 1–1.6 cm, indehiscent or tardily dehiscent; valves thin, reticulately veined. Seeds 1 or 2(–4), ellipsoid to obovoid-orbicular, ca. 8 mm in diam. Fl. Oct, fr. Dec.

Disturbed forests in valleys, in shrubs in coastal habitats. Hainan [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam].

14. Bauhinia delavayi Franchet, Pl. Delavay. 192. 1896.

薄荚羊蹄甲  bo jia yang ti jia

Lasiobema delavayi (Franchet) A. Schmitz.

Lianas, woody. Branches slender; young branches angulate, puberulent; tendrils in pairs, slightly compressed, brownish or grayish pubescent. Stipules caducous; petiole 2–4.5 cm, puberulent; leaf blade suborbicular, 5–8 × 4–8 cm, subleathery, abaxially throughout puberulous when young, only veins puberulous when old, adaxially glabrous, primary veins 7–9, base shallowly or deeply cordate, broadly bifid to 1/3–2/5; lobes ovate, with acute, acuminate, or obtuse apices. Inflorescence an axillary raceme or terminal panicle composed of 2 or 3 racemes 6–20 cm, many flowered; bracts and bracteoles linear, 2–4 mm, brushlike in young inflorescences; inflorescence rachis, pedicels, and calyx grayish or brownish pubescent. Pedicel 3–4 mm. Flower buds ellipsoid, ca. 2 mm. Calyx mouth 5-toothed; receptacle ca. 3 mm; calyx lobes 5, persistent, triangular. Petals white, subequal, broadly elliptic, ca. 5 mm, cucullate, tapering into a short claw. Fertile stamens 3; filaments ca. 5 mm; anthers oblong. Staminodes 2 or 3, ca. 1.5 mm. Floral disc fleshy, swollen, lobed. Ovary shortly stalked, oblique, puberulent, becoming glabrous; style incurved, stout; stigma small, truncate. Pod semi-elliptic or oblong, compressed, 2–7 × 1.5–2 cm; valves leathery, thin. Seeds 2–5, suborbicular, compressed. Fl. Sep–Nov, fr. Nov–Dec.

* Open forests, disturbed hillsides. Yunnan.

15. Bauhinia cercidifolia D. X. Zhang, Nordic J. Bot. 13: 399. 1993.

紫荆叶羊蹄甲  zi jing ye yang ti jia

Lianas, with tendrils. Branches angulate, puberulent when young, glabrous when older. Stipules caducous; petiole 4.5–5 cm, puberulent; leaf blade broadly ovate, 8–10 × 9–11 cm, leathery, base cordate, both surfaces glabrous, primary veins 7–9, veins convex on both surfaces, apex entire or emarginate. Inflorescence a panicle with lax racemes, puberulent; pedicels ca. 1.8 cm; bracts subulate, ca. 2.5 mm; bracteoles similar but smaller, inserted at middle of the pedicel. Buds subovoid, ca. 2.5 mm in diam. Calyx not closed at tip. Hypanthium short. Calyx segments 5, elliptical, apex acute. Petals subequal, subobovate, ca. 2.5 × 2 mm, unclawed, both surfaces pubescent. Fertile stamens 2. Staminoides small. Pod unknown. Fl. Jun.

* Open habitats on karst hills. Guangxi (Long’an).

16. Bauhinia apertilobata Merrill & Metcalf, Lingnan Sci. J. 16: 83. 1937.

阔裂叶羊蹄甲  kuo lie ye yang ti jia

Bauhinia championii Bentham var. apertilobata (Merrill & Metcalf) Hiroe.

Lianas, woody, with tendrils. Young branches, petioles, and inflorescences pubescent. Stipules caducous; leaf blade ovate, broadly elliptic, or suborbicular, 5–10 × 4–9 cm, papery, abaxially brownish puberulent, losing most of pubescence upon maturing, adaxially subglabrous or thinly puberulent, primary veins 7–9, base rounded, truncate, or cordate, shallowly bifid with very broadly divergent lobes, leaves on flowering branches only slightly bifid or nearly truncate. Inflorescence 1 or 2 racemes, terminal or axillary, 4–8 × 4–7 cm; bracts linear, 4–7 mm; bracteoles small, inserted at middle of pedicels; pedicels 1.8–2.2 cm. Flower buds ellipsoid, with a protruding apex, apex closed. Receptacle broadly funnelform; calyx lobes 5, lanceolate, reflexed upon anthesis. Petals whitish or greenish white, subequal, spatulate, 7–10 mm, shortly clawed. Fertile stamens 3; filaments 6–9 mm, glabrous. Ovary hairy on sutures, shortly stalked; style short; stigma small. Fruit thin, compressed, 2–7 × 1.5–2 cm; valves thin, glabrous. Seeds compressed, suborbicular. Fl. May–Jul, fr. Aug–Nov.

* Valleys, hillsides, open forests, thickets; 300–600 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, ?Guizhou, Jiangxi.

17. Bauhinia championii Bentham, Fl. Hongk. 99. 1861.

龙须藤  long xu teng

Bauhinia championii var. acutifolia L. Chen; B. championii var. yingtakensis (Merrill & Metcalf) T. C. Chen; B. hunanensis Handel-Mazzetti; B. yingtakensis Merrill & Metcalf; Lasiobema championii (Bentham) de Wit; L. hunanense (Handel-Mazzetti) de Wit; Phanera championii Bentham.

Lianas, with tendrils. Young branches and inflorescences puberulent. Stipules caducous; petiole 1–2.5 cm, slender; leaf blade ovate or cordate, 3–10 × 2.5–9 cm, papery to leathery, abaxially pubescent when young, pubescent or glabrous when old; adaxially glabrous, primary veins 5–9, base truncate to cordate; leaves on flowering branches entire with apex acute, obtuse, or emarginate, while those on sterile branches or juvenile branches usually deeply bilobed; lobe acute, acuminate or obtuse at apex. Inflorescence a solitary raceme or several racemes joined in a panicle, terminal or axillary, 7–25 cm; bracts and bracteoles small. Pedicel 10–15 mm, slender. Flower buds ellipsoid, 2.5–3 mm; open flowers ca. 8 mm in diam. Receptacle funnelform, ca. 2 mm; calyx lobes 5, lanceolate, ca. 3 mm. Petals white, spatulate, 4–6 mm, outside pubescent along midvein, clawed. Fertile stamens 3; filaments ca. 6 mm, glabrous. Staminodes 2. Ovary shortly stalked, hairy on sutures; style short; stigma small. Fruit obovoid-oblong, compressed, 7–12 × 2.5–3 cm, glabrous; valves leathery. Seeds 2–5, orbicular, compressed, ca. 12 mm in diam. Fl. Jun–Oct, fr. Jul–Dec. 2n = 28*.

Open or dense forests, thickets; low to middle elevations. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Taiwan, ?Yunnan, Zhejiang [Vietnam].

18. Bauhinia hypoglauca Tang & Wang ex T. C. Chen, Guihaia 8: 44. 1988.

滇南羊蹄甲  dian nan yang ti jia

Lianas, woody, with compressed tendrils. Stems and branches with small, protruding pits; young branches and inflorescence puberulent. Stipules caducous; petiole 1.5–4.5 cm, slender; leaf blade broadly ovate or ovate, 4.5–7 × 3.5–7 cm, papery, abaxially shiny brownish pubescent when young, grayish pubescent when old, adaxially glabrous, primary veins 7–9, veins convex on both surfaces, base truncate to shallow cordate, apex bifid to 1/3–1/2; lobes widely divergent, apex acuminate. Inflorescence a raceme or several racemes joined in a panicle, terminal or axillary, 7–15 cm, many flowered, brownish pubescent; bracts 3–4 mm; bracteoles ca. 1.5 mm. Pedicel 3–5 mm, stout, pubescent. Flower buds ellipsoid, ca. 5 mm, tapering at both ends. Receptacle funnelform; calyx lobes 5, erect at anthesis, lanceolate. Petals white, elliptic or obovate, ca. 4.5 × 2.5–3 mm, outside with golden hairs on midvein, claw 1.5–2 mm. Fertile stamens 3; filaments ca. 5 mm, glabrous. Staminodes 2 or 3. Floral disc not swollen. Ovary stalked, oblique, hairy on sutures and at base; style glabrous; stigma small. Fruit oblong, compressed, ca. 6 × 2 cm, glabrous when mature; valves woody, smooth. Seeds 2, blackish, broadly elliptic, compressed, ca. 10 × 8 mm. Fl. Sep–Oct, fr. Oct–Dec.

* Open forests and disturbed habitats on karst hills; ca. 1300 m. Yunnan.

19. Bauhinia lingyuenensis T. C. Chen, Guihaia 8: 45. 1988.

凌云羊蹄甲  ling yun yang ti jia

Lianas, woody, with compressed, glabrous tendrils. Stems and branches black when dry, cylindric, covered with small pits; young branches canaliculate, brownish red puberulent. Stipules caducous; petiole ca. 2 cm, glabrous; leaf blade adaxially shiny, ovate, broadly ovate, or suborbicular, 5–7 × 4–7 cm, subleathery, abaxially brownish pubescent when young, subglabrous when old, adaxially glabrous, primary veins 7–9, veins dense, convex on both surfaces, base cordate, entire or emarginate; lobes rounded or obtuse. Inflorescence a raceme or 5–9 racemes joined in a panicle, terminal or axillary, 9–15 cm, many flowered, brownish pubescent; peduncle short; bracts linear, 2.5–4 mm; bracteoles linear, inserted at middle of pedicel. Pedicel 3.5–4 mm, pubescent. Flower buds broadly ellipsoid. Receptacle funnelform, short; calyx lobes 5, ovate-triangular, ca. 2 × 1.5 mm, glabrous upon anthesis, reflexed. Petals white, ovate-oblong, elliptic, or broadly elliptic, 3–4 × 2.2–3 mm, margin wrinkled, claws 2–2.5 mm. Fertile stamens 3; filaments glabrous. Staminodes 2. Ovary stalked, oblique, hairy on sutures and stalk; style glabrous; stigma small. Fruit not known. Fl. Jul.

* Open forests on karst hills. Guangxi.

20. Bauhinia venustula T. C. Chen, Guihaia 8: 45. 1988.

小巧羊蹄甲  xiao qiao yang ti jia

Lianas, woody. Tendrils solitary or in pairs; stems slender, with dense, small, light brownish pits. Stipules caducous; petiole 0.6–2 cm, slender, glabrous; leaf blade adaxially shiny, broadly ovate or suborbicular, 1.5–4 × 1.4–4 cm, subleathery, abaxially subglabrous, adaxially glabrous, primary veins 5–7, veins thin and dense, convex on both surfaces, base truncate to shallow cordate, entire, emarginate or shallowly bifid (<1/6); lobes obtuse at apex. Inflorescence a raceme, terminal or lateral, 5–9 cm; flowers densely arranged; bracts lanceolate, ca. 1.8 mm; bracteoles inserted below middle of pedicels, ca. 0.8 mm. Pedicel short, 4–6 mm, pubescent. Flower buds not known. Receptacle funnelform; calyx lobes 5, erect at anthesis, ovate, ca. 2 mm, pubescent, acute. Petals white, obovate or oblong, ca. 2.5 mm, outside with hairs on midvein, with prominent claw ca. 1.5 mm. Fertile stamens 3. Staminodes 2 or 3. Ovary stalked, oblique, hairy on sutures and at base; style glabrous; stigma small. Fruit oblong, compressed, glabrous when mature; valves leathery, smooth. Fl. Oct, fr. Dec.

* Open forests on hills. Guangxi.

21. Bauhinia chalcophylla L. Chen, J. Arnold Arbor. 19: 130. 1938.

多花羊蹄甲  duo hua yang ti jia

Bauhinia euryantha L. Chen.

Lianas, woody. Young branches angulate, densely pubescent with brownish hairs; tendrils solitary or in pairs, pubescent. Stipules caducous, triangular-crescent; petiole 2–5.5 cm, pubescent; leaf blade broadly ovate or suborbicular, 8–11.5 × 6–11 cm, subleathery, abaxially brownish pubescent, adaxially thinly pubescent, primary veins 9–11, veins slightly convex abaxially, base cordate, apex bifid to 1/4–1/3; lobes acute, acuminate, or obtuse, margin slightly sinuous. Inflorescences racemose-corymbose, usually 3, terminal, many flowered; bracts and bracteoles linear, 3–4 mm, pubescent; bracteoles inserted at middle of pedicels. Pedicel 2–2.8 cm, densely pubescent. Receptacle cylindric, ca. 5 mm; calyx lobes reflexed at anthesis, ovate, ca. 10 × 3–5 mm, outside brownish pubescent. Petals white or light yellowish, spatulate, abaxially pubescent with rusty hairs on midvein, clawed, margin crisped. Fertile stamens 3; filaments to 3 cm, slender, glabrous; anthers red. Staminodes 5–7, 4–7 mm. Ovary stalked, glabrous; style 10–15 mm, slender, glabrous; stigma capitate. Pod oblong, compressed, ca. 15 × 4 cm; valves woody. Seeds 5–7, elliptic, compressed. Fl. Jun–Jul, fr. Jul–Sep.

* Open forests along rivers and streams; 800–1000 m. Yunnan.

22. Bauhinia nervosa (Wallich ex Bentham) Baker in J. D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. India 2: 283. 1878.

棒花羊蹄甲  bang hua yang ti jia

Phanera nervosa Wallich ex Bentham, Pl. Jungh. 262. 1851–1857; ?Bauhinia claviflora L. Chen.

Climbers, robust, with tendrils. Branches brownish pubescent, later subglabrous. Stipule ovate-auriculate; petiole 1.5–3 cm; leaf blade suborbicular, 6–8 × 7–9 cm, subleathery, abaxially thinly pubescent, adaxially glabrous, veins 11–13, base shallowly cordate, apex bifid to ca. 1/3, lobes rounded at apex. Inflorescence racemose-corymbose, rusty pubescent; bracts lanceolate, cucullate, 1.3–1.8 cm; pedicels 4–5 cm; bracteoles similar to bracts but smaller, inserted at middle of pedicel. Flower buds to 4.5 cm. Receptacle tubular, ca. 2 cm; calyx lobes reflexed, swollen, linear-lanceolate, 2.5–3 × ca. 0.4 cm, outside pubescent, apex acute. Petals white and reddish at base, subleathery; blade broadly obovate, ca. 3 × 2.2 cm, veins convex, apex emarginate; claw to 2 cm. Fertile stamens 3; filaments strong, ca. 3.5 cm, glabrous; anthers oblong, loosely hairy. Staminodes 2; filaments ca. 1.5 cm, slender. Ovary stalked, pubescent; style stout; stigma broadly disciform. Fruit not known. Fl. Sep.

Open forests; 1500–1600 m. Yunnan [India, Myanmar, Thailand].

23. Bauhinia coccinea (Loureiro) de Candolle subsp. tonkinensis (Gagnepain) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen, Fl. Cambodge, Laos & Vietnam 18: 201. 1980.

绯红羊蹄甲  fei hong yang ti jia

Bauhinia ferruginea Roxburgh var. tonkinensis Gagnepain in Lecomte, Fl. Gen. Indo-Chine 2: 126. 1913.

Lianas, woody. Branches robust, rusty pubescent when young, subglabrous when old; tendrils glabrous. Stipules suborbicular, 4–5 mm in diam.; petiole 1.5–3 cm, slender; leaf blade oblong, 5.5–8 × 3–5 cm, leathery, mature leaves adaxially shiny, glabrous on both surfaces, primary veins 9, convex abaxially, impressed adaxially, base truncate or rarely cordate, emarginate or bifid to 1/6; lobes obtuse or rounded at apex. Inflorescence racemose-corymbose, 9–12 cm, rusty pubescent; bracts lanceolate, cucullate, 10–12 × 6–7 mm. Pedicel 25–30 mm, densely pubescent. Flower buds ellipsoid, 15–18 mm, rusty pubescent. Receptacle cylindric, 10–15 mm, angulate, base slightly swollen; calyx lobes reflexed at anthesis, linear-lanceolate, 18–20 × 3–4 mm, outside rusty tomentose, inside glabrous. Petals orange or reddish, elliptic or obovate, 25–30 mm, outside rusty tomentose, inside less so, base tapering into claw ca. 1 cm. Fertile stamens 3; filaments exceeding petals. Ovary densely rusty tomentose; stalk 5–7 mm, stout; style 10–12 mm, pubescent; stigma peltate, large, ca. 3 mm in diam. Fruit not known. Fl. Feb–Apr.

Open forests in valleys; 800–1300 m. Yunnan [Vietnam].

24. Bauhinia yunnanensis Franchet, Pl. Delavay. 190. 1890.

云南羊蹄甲  yun nan yang ti jia

Bauhinia altefissa H. Léveillé; B. diptera Collett & Hemsley (1890), not Blume ex Miquel (1850); Lasiobema yunnanensis (Franchet) A. Schmitz.

Lianas, woody, slender, glabrous. Branches angulate or cylindric; tendrils in pairs, subglabrous. Stipules caducous; petiole 1.5–2.5 cm; leaf blade broadly elliptic, membranous or papery, both surfaces glabrous, primary veins 3 or 4 per lobe, base deeply or shallowly cordate, apex bifid to upper pulvinus with a free mucro; lobes obliquely ovate, 2–4.5 × 1–2.5 cm, apex obtuse or rounded. Inflorescence a raceme, terminal or opposite to leaves, 8–18 cm, 10–20-flowered; bracts caducous; pedicels 2–3 cm; bracteoles inserted at middle of pedicel. Flower buds narrowly ellipsoid. Receptacle cylindric, 7–8 mm; calyx lobes split into 2 parts upon anthesis, cucullate, elliptic-ovate, with teeth at apex. Petals pinkish, with dark red stripes on veins, spatulate, ca. 17 mm, subglabrous, clawed. Fertile stamens 3; filaments curved, pinkish; anthers ovoid. Staminodes 7, much reduced. Ovary glabrous, prominently stalked; style slender; stigma capitate. Fruit linear-oblong, 8–15 × 1.5–2 cm, apex beaked; valves leathery. Seeds broadly elliptic-oblong, compressed, 7–9 mm; testa blackish, shiny. Fl. Aug, fr. Oct.

Thickets on hills; 400–2000 m. Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan [Myanmar, N Thailand].

25. Bauhinia bohniana L. Chen, J. Arnold Arbor. 19: 129. 1938.

丽江羊蹄甲  li jiang yang ti jia

Shrubs, erect, 1–2 m tall. Young branches densely grayish brown pubescent, glabrous when old. Stipules caducous; petiole pubescent; leaf blade broadly orbicular, 5–7 × 6–8 cm, subleathery, abaxially rusty pubescent on young leaves, becoming less pubescent when old, adaxially grayish pubescent, primary veins 9–11, veins convex abaxially, base deeply cordate to almost truncate, apex bifid to 1/4; lobes with obtuse or rounded apexes. Inflorescence corymbose-racemose, terminal or lateral, 6–7 cm in diam., rusty pubescent; bracts and bracteoles caducous, lanceolate. Pedicel 15–20 mm, pubescent. Flower buds upper part subovoid, constricted from middle downward. Receptacle funnelform, ca. 5 mm; calyx lobes 5, lanceolate, outside pubescent. Corolla pink, ca. 3.5 cm in diam.; petals broadly obovate, 10–12 mm in diam., outside golden hairy at middle; claw ca. 10 mm, pubescent. Fertile stamens 3; filaments to 3 cm, glabrous; anthers oblong, ca. 4 mm. Staminodes 6 or 7, ca. 2 cm, slender. Ovary stalked, golden tomentose on suture; stalk ca. 12 mm, pubescent; stigma small. Fruit strap-shaped, compressed, 15–20 × 2.5–3 cm, apex beaked, sutures swollen; valves leathery, glabrous. Seeds subcordiform, compressed, ca. 12 × 9 mm; testa blackish, shiny. Fl. Apr–Aug, fr. May–Oct.

* Thickets on sunny hillsides; 1700–2000 m. Yunnan.

26. Bauhinia khasiana Baker in J. D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. India 2: 281. 1878.

牛蹄麻  niu ti ma

Lianas, woody, with tendrils. Branches cylindric; young branches pubescent, later glabrous. Petiole 2.5–5(–7) cm; leaf blade broadly ovate to orbicular, 7–12(–15) × 6–9.5(–12) cm, papery-leathery or leathery, abaxially glabrous, pubescent on veins, puberulous, or rusty pubescent, adaxially glabrous, veins 7–9, convex on both surfaces, base broadly cordate or almost truncate, apex bilobed to 1/5–1/4; lobes crossing to cover each other, with acute apices. Inflorescence corymbose, or consisting of several corymbs, terminal, 10–15 × 10–15 cm, rusty pubescent; bracts caducous; pedicels 3–3.5 cm; bracteoles linear, ca. 1 mm, inserted on lower part of pedicel. Buds broadly ovoid or subglobose. Receptacle cylindric, ca. 5 mm; calyx lobes 4 or 5, reflexed at anthesis, ca. 7 mm, abaxially rusty pubescent. Petals red or golden yellowish, broadly spatulate, abaxially rusty pubescent, claw 2–4 mm. Stamens 3; filaments glabrous. Staminoides 3. Ovary long stalked, glabrous but rusty pubescent on sutures; stigmas peltate. Pod dehiscent, oblong-lanceolate, compressed, 15–19 × 4–4.5 cm, leathery, glabrous. Seeds 4 or 5, oblong, ca. 2 × 2 cm. Fl. Jul–Aug, fr. Sep–Dec.

Mixed forests. Hainan, Yunnan [India, Laos, N Thailand, Vietnam].

1a.. Leaves abaxially rusty hairy, and densely pubescent on petioles; petals golden yellowish .  26c. var. tomentella

1b.. Leaves abaxially glabrous, puberulous, or pubescent on veins; petals red.

2a.. Leaves 7–12 × 6–9.5 cm, papery-leathery, veins 7–9, base broadly cordate or truncate  26a. var. khasiana

2a.. Leaves ca. 15 × 12 cm, leathery, veins 7, base cordate ...........................  26b. var. gigalobia

26a. Bauhinia khasiana var. khasiana

牛蹄麻  niu ti ma (yuan bian zhong)

Bauhinia dioscoreifolia L. Chen; B. howii Merrill & Chun; B. pierrei Gagnepain; B. polystachya Gagnepain.

Leaves 7–12 × 6–9.5 cm, papery-leathery, abaxially glabrous or pubescent on veins, veins 7–9, base broadly cordate or truncate. Petals red.

Mixed forests. Hainan [India, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam].

26b. Bauhinia khasiana var. gigalobia D. X. Zhang, Nordic J. Bot. 13: 401. 1993.

巨荚牛蹄麻  ju jia niu ti ma

Petiole ca. 7 cm; leaf blade ca. 15 × 12 cm, leathery, abaxially puberulous, adaxially glabrous, veins 7, base cordate. Petals red. Pod dark brown, ca. 20 × 8–10 cm.

* Open forests; ca. 2000 m. Yunnan (Hekou).

26c. Bauhinia khasiana var. tomentella T. C. Chen, Guihaia 8: 46. 1988.

??vernacular name

Leaves pubescent with rusty hairs abaxially, and densely pubescent on petioles. Petals golden yellowish. Fl. Jul.

* Yunnan (Hekou).

27. Bauhinia paucinervata T. C. Chen, Guihaia 8: 46. 1988.

少脉羊蹄甲  shao mai yang ti jia

Lianas, woody. Young branches and petioles brownish pubescent, later glabrous; tendrils rare. Stipules caducous; petiole 0.8–3 cm, slender, grayish pubescent at first, later glabrous; leaf blade shiny on both surfaces, ovate to elliptic, 4.6–10 × 2.5–5 cm, leathery, both surfaces glabrous, primary veins 3–5, veins convex on both surfaces, base rounded, margin entire, apex acuminate. Inflorescence racemose-corymbose, several joined together in a panicle, 9–10 × 5–7 cm, terminal or axillary, many flowered, grayish brown pubescent; bracts lanceolate, 2.5–3 mm, outside pubescent, acuminate; pedicels 8–15 mm, slender, pubescent; bracteoles linear, 1–1.5 mm, inserted above middle of pedicels. Flower buds broadly ellipsoid, ca. 4 × 3 mm. Receptacle cylindric, ca. 3 mm; calyx lobes 5, not reflexed, lanceolate, 3 free, other 2 adnate, ca. 2.5 mm, outside pubescent. Petals white, obovate, 4–5 × 2.5–3 mm with a claw ca. 1 mm, abaxially yellowish brown hairy at middle, glabrous along margin, margin crisped. Fertile stamens 3; filaments 5–7 mm, glabrous. Staminodes 7. Floral disc not developed. Ovary shortly stalked, oblique, glabrous; style shorter than stalk, slender, glabrous; stigma capitate, small. Fruit oblong to strap-shaped, compressed, 9–11 × 3–3.5 cm; valves hard woody, brownish when dry. Seeds 3 or 4, ellipsoid, compressed, 12–18 × 9–14 mm. Fl. Jun–Aug, fr. Oct.

* Thickets on karst hills; 300–600 m. Guangxi.

28. Bauhinia hainanensis Merrill & Chun ex L. Chen, J. Arnold Arbor. 19: 132. 1938.

海南羊蹄甲  hai nan yang ti jia

Bauhinia megacarpa L. Chen.

Lianas, woody. Young branches and inflorescences rusty pubescent; tendrils strong, solitary, pubescent. Stipules caducous; petiole 3–8 cm, rusty pubescent; leaf blade suborbicular to ovate-orbicular, 10–18 × 10–20 cm, subleathery, abaxially thinly rusty pubescent, densely pubescent on veins, adaxially glabrous except near petiole, primary veins 11–13, veins dense, base deeply cordate, apex bifid to 2/5–1/2 on flowering branches, lobes obtuse or rounded at apex. Inflorescence a corymbose panicle, ca. 13 cm, terminal or axillary; bracts lanceolate; pedicels 10–15 mm, rusty pubescent; bracteoles opposite, linear, inserted at middle of pedicels. Flower buds ellipsoid. Receptacle funnelform, ca. 3 mm; calyx lobes 5, not reflexed, broadly ovate, one free, others in 2 adnate parts, ca. 6 mm, outside pubescent. Petals pinkish or white, broadly obovate, 8–9 mm with a claw ca. 1 mm, abaxially rusty hairy, shortly clawed, margin crisped. Fertile stamens 3; filaments ca. 25 mm, glabrous. Staminodes 2, ca. 7 mm. Floral disc fleshy. Ovary stalked, glabrous; style slender, glabrous; stigma capitate, small. Fruit oblong, compressed, ca. 22 × 6 cm; valves hard woody, glabrous. Seeds 5–10, obovoid, compressed, ca. 20 mm. Fl. Dec, fr. Apr.

* Open forests; low elevations. Hainan, ?Yunnan.

29. Bauhinia japonica Maximowicz, Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg, Sér. 3, 18: 401. 1873.

日本羊蹄甲  ri ben yang ti jia

Bauhinia kwangtungensis Merrill; Lasiobema japonicum (Maximowicz) de Wit.

Lianas, woody, with tendrils, glabrous throughout except for inflorescences and immature fruit. Branches cylindric; twigs angulate. Stipules caducous; petiole 3–4 cm; leaf blade shiny on both surfaces, with a yellowish margin, suborbicular, 4–9 × 4–9 cm, papery, both surfaces glabrous, primary veins 7–13, veins dense, base deeply cordate, apex bifid to 1/3–1/2 on flowering branches, lobes obtuse at apex. Inflorescence a raceme, 10–23 cm, many flowered, terminal, rusty pubescent; bracts narrowly lanceolate, ca. 3.5 mm, acuminate; bracteoles linear, ca. 1 mm; pedicels 10–20 mm, slender. Flower buds obovoid, 4–5 mm, apex truncate with an opening. Receptacle broadly funnelform, 1.5–2 mm; calyx lobes 5, broadly ovate-triangular, ca. 2 × 3 mm. Petals greenish, obovate-oblong, ca. 10 × 4.5 mm with a claw ca. 2.5 mm, abaxially silky-hairy. Fertile stamens 3; filaments ca. 11 mm, glabrous. Staminodes 2. Ovary rusty silky-hairy, with a stout stalk; style short; stigma small. Fruit oblong, ligulelike, swollen, 4–7 × 2–2.8 cm, pubescent when young, subglabrous when old; valves leathery, glabrous. Seeds 1–5, black, shiny, ensiform, ca. 10 × 7 mm. Fl. Jan–May, fr. Jun–Sep.

Open forests near coastal regions; low elevations. Guangdong, Hainan [Japan].

30. Bauhinia wallichii J. F. Macbride, Contr. Gray Herb., n.s., 59: 23. 1919.

圆叶羊蹄甲  yuan ye yang ti jia

Phanera macrostachya Bentham.

Lianas, with tendrils. Young branches glabrescent. Stipules caducous; petiole 3.5–4.5 cm, glabrescent; leaf blade suborbicular, 10–15 cm in diam., both surfaces glabrous, veins 9–11, base cordate, apex bifid to 1/5, lobes with acuminate or obtuse apices. Inflorescence a raceme or panicle; bracts lanceolate, ca. 3.5 mm, acuminate. Pedicel ca. 1.5 cm. Buds obovoid, ca. 1 cm, densely pubescent with rusty hairs. Receptacle bell-shaped; calyx lobes 5, ca. 4 mm, obtuse. Petals subequal, 6–12 mm with a claw 2–4 mm. Fertile stamens 3; filaments ca. 2 cm, glabrous. Staminoides 7. Ovary shortly stalked, ca. 1 cm, densely pubescent; style ca. 1 cm, glabrous; stigma small. Pod unknown.

Forest margins. Known in China from a single collection from Yunnan (Mengla) [NE India, Myanmar, Thailand, N Vietnam].

31. Bauhinia wuzhengyii S. S. Larsen, Novon 9: 526. 1999.

征镒羊蹄甲  zheng yi yang ti jia

Lianas, tendrils not seen. Branches glabrous. Stipules not seen; petiole 2.3–3 cm; leaf blade elliptic, 9–10.3 × 4.8–5.3 cm, subleathery, veins 3, base attenuate, margin entire, apex acuminate. Inflorescence terminal, racemose, elongate, grayish pubescent; bracts 4–5 mm, setaceous; pedicel 2.5–3 cm, finely grayish pubescent; bracteoles similar but smaller, subopposite, inserted below middle of pedicel. Flower buds ellipsoid, 9–10 × 5–6 mm. Hypanthium obliquely campanulate, enlarged adaxially, ca. 4 mm, ca. 2 × length of abaxial portion. Calyx campanulate, open in bud, split in upper half into 5 lobes; lobes 3–4 cm, apex acute. Petals subequal, densely brownish pubescent on both sides except posterior one that is glabrous inside, 7–10 mm with a claw 2–3 mm. Fertile stamens 3; filaments ca. 10 mm, glabrous; anthers 1.5–2 mm, glabrous, dehiscing longitudinally. Staminoides 5–7. Pistil with thick stipe, free, 2–3 mm, brownish pubescent; ovary ca. 9 mm; stigma subsessile, ± punctate; style very short, glabrous. Pod unknown.

* Thin forests on mountain slopes; ca. 500 m. Yunnan (Malipo).

32. Bauhinia pyrrhoclada Drake, J. Bot. (Morot) 5: 218. 1891.

红毛羊蹄甲  hong mao yang ti jia

Phanera pyrrhoclada (Drake) de Wit.

Lianas, woody. Young branches, inflorescences, petioles, and abaxial leaf surfaces rusty pubescent; tendrils pubescent. Stipules sickle-form, caducous; petiole 2.5–3.5 cm, rusty pubescent; leaf blade ovate-orbicular, 6–8.5 × 6–8.5 cm, subleathery, abaxially thickly rusty pubescent, later losing most of pubescence and color, adaxially glabrous except on primary veins, primary veins 9–11, base cordate, apex bifid to 1/2 on flowering branches, lobes obtuse at apex. Inflorescence a raceme, pyramid-form, pubescent, flowers dense; peduncle prominent, terminal; bracts and bracteoles linear-lanceolate, ca. 11 × 2.5–3 mm, pubescent. Pedicel 7–30 mm, stout, rusty pubescent. Flower buds ovoid, 10–12 mm, pubescent, apex obtuse. Receptacle funnelform, 5–7 mm; calyx lobes 5, not reflexed, lanceolate, velutinous, acuminate. Petals white, obovate-elliptic, ca. 20 × 10 mm with a claw ca. 5 mm, abaxially rusty hairy, margin crisped. Fertile stamens 3; filaments ca. 20 mm, hairy at base. Staminodes 2 or 3. Ovary subsessile, hairy; style 6–7 mm, lower part hairy; stigma peltate. Fruit oblanceolate-oblong, compressed, 10–18 × 4–4.6 cm; valves hard woody, velutinous. Fl. Jun, fr. Aug–Sep.

Open habitats. Hainan, ?Yunnan [N Vietnam].

33. Bauhinia hypochrysa T. C. Chen, Guihaia 8: 47. 1988.

绸缎藤  chou duan teng

Lianas, woody, throughout golden or shiny brown tomentose except for adaxial surfaces of young leaves and petals; tendrils in pairs. Stipules caducous; petiole 5.5–6.5 cm; leaf blade orbicular, 9–11.5 cm in diam., leathery, abaxially thickly golden tomentose, adaxially glabrous except near veins, primary veins 15–17, convex abaxially, base deeply cordate, apex bifid to 1/2 on flowering branches, lobes acute or obtuse at apex. Inflorescence a raceme, 9–12 cm with a peduncle ca. 2 cm, pyramid-form, terminal; bracts and bracteoles linear, 8–10 mm; bracteoles opposite, inserted on pedicel near receptacle. Pedicel robust, 9–10 mm. Flower buds ellipsoid, 13–15 mm. Receptacle cupular, 5–6 mm; calyx lobes 5, not reflexed, lanceolate, 12–14 mm. Petals yellow, subequal, obovate and elliptic, 12–18 × 8–13 mm with a prominent claw 6–10 mm, margin crisped, abaxially rusty hairy, adaxially glabrous. Fertile stamens 3; filaments ca. 25 mm, glabrous except near base; anthers oblong, ca. 4 mm. Staminodes 6, unequal, glabrous or hairy near base. Ovary shortly stalked, densely rusty tomentose; style slender, glabrous; stigma small. Fruit oblong or oblong-strap-shaped, compressed, 10–15 × 4–4.5 cm; valves hard woody, densely silvery tomentose. Seeds 2 or 3, broadly ellipsoid, compressed, ca. 20 × 15 mm. Fl. May, fr. Oct.

* Open forests on karst hills. Guangxi.

34. Bauhinia rubrovillosa K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen, Fl. Cambodge, Laos & Vietnam 18: 204. 1980.

红背叶羊蹄甲  hong bei ye yang ti jia

Bauhinia mirabilis Gagnepain (1952), not Merrill (1929).

Lianas, woody, with tendrils. Branches robust; young branches angulate; new growth densely rusty hirsute. Stipules caducous, ca. 10 mm; petiole robust, 1.2–6 cm, rusty tomentose; leaf blade orbicular or broadly orbicular, 9–12.5 × 10.5–16 cm, leathery, abaxially thickly rusty tomentose and pubescent, more so on veins, adaxially glabrous except near veins, primary veins 11–13, base deeply cordate, apex bifid to 1/3–1/2 on flowering branches, lobes obtuse or rarely acute at apex. Inflorescence a corymbose raceme, terminal or lateral, rusty tomentose; bracts narrowly triangular, 5–8 mm, outside tomentose; pedicels 4–5 cm; bracteoles similar but narrower, inserted on pedicel above middle. Flower buds ovoid, 10–15 mm. Receptacle cupular, 7–9 mm; calyx lobes 5, ovate, ca. 13 mm, outside pubescent, obtuse. Petals white, subequal, obovate-suborbicular, ca. 15 × 10 mm, abaxially rusty hairy, adaxially glabrous, claw ca. 5 mm. Fertile stamens 3; filaments ca. 25 mm, glabrous; anthers ellipsoid, ca. 4 mm. Staminodes 2, much reduced. Ovary shortly stalked, 20–25 mm, densely tomentose; style 10–15 mm, glabrous; stigma capitate. Fruit strap-shaped, compressed, dehiscent, 10–40 × 4.5–7.5 cm; valves hard woody, densely rusty tomentose. Seeds orbicular, compressed, 20–25 mm in diam.

Dense forests in rocky hill valleys; 400–500 m. Guangxi [Laos, Vietnam].

35. Bauhinia aurea H. Léveillé, Bull. Soc. Bot. France 54: 368. 1907.

火索藤  huo suo teng

Lianas, woody, robust. Branches densely brown tomentose; young branches angulate; tendrils tomentose first, later glabrous. Stipules caducous; petiole 4–7 cm, densely tomentose; leaf blade suborbicular, 12–18(–23) × 10–16(–20) cm, thickly papery, abaxially yellow-brown tomentose, more so on veins, adaxially glabrous or subglabrous except near veins, primary veins 9–13, base deeply or shallowly cordate, apex bifid to 1/3–1/2 on flowering branches, lobes obtuse or rarely acute at apex. Inflorescence a corymbose raceme, terminal or lateral, with ca. 12 flowers, capitate before flowers open while buds are clustered together, densely brown tomentose; bracts caducous, lanceolate; pedicels 2–5 cm; bracteoles linear. Flower buds ellipsoid. Receptacle cupular, short; calyx lobes 5, reflexed at anthesis, lanceolate. Petals white, subequal, spatulate, 12–22 mm, abaxially tomentose at middle, adaxially glabrous, clawed, margin crisped. Fertile stamens 3; filaments ca. 25 mm, glabrous; anthers oblong, ca. 5 mm. Staminodes 2–5. Ovary shortly stalked, densely rusty tomentose; style upper part glabrous; stigma disciform, large. Fruit strap-shaped, compressed, dehiscent, 16–30 × 4–7 cm; valves hard woody, densely rusty tomentose. Seeds 6–11, ellipsoid, compressed, ca. 20 mm in diam. Fl Apr–May, fr. Jul–Dec.

* Thickets on hill slopes and in valleys. Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan.

36. Bauhinia erythropoda Hayata, Icon. Pl. Formosan. 3: 83. 1913.

锈荚藤  xiu jia teng

Lianas, with tendrils. Young branches densely pubescent with brownish hairs, later glabrous; tendrils pubescent when young. Petiole 3–8 cm, rusty or brownish pubescent; leaf blade cordate or suborbicular, 5–10 × 4–9 cm, papery, abaxially pubescent on veins, or glabrous or nearly so, adaxially glabrous, smooth and shiny, veins 9–11, primary and secondary veins slightly convex on both surfaces, base cordate, apex bifid to 1/2 or more, lobes apiculate or acuminate at apex. Inflorescence racemose-corymbose, terminal, rusty pubescent; bracts and bracteoles linear. Pedicel 4–5 cm, slender, pubescent. Flowers fragrant. Receptacle cylindric, 5–10 mm, slender; calyx lobes reflexed at anthesis, oblong-lanceolate, ca. 12 mm, acuminate. Petals white, broadly obovate, together with (3–4 mm) claw 2–2.5 × 1.2–1.8 cm, abaxially pubescent with rusty hairs on lower part and claw, margin crisped, emarginate. Stamens 3; filaments 15–17 mm, pubescent on lower part. Ovary sessile, densely pubescent with rusty hairs; style slender, glabrous except at base; stigma peltate. Pod oblanceolate, compressed, to 30 × 5 cm, tomentose. Fl. Mar–Apr, fr. Jun–Jul.

* Open forests, along streams. Guangxi, Hainan, S Yunnan.

1a.. Leaves abaxially pubescent on veins or almost glabrous ...........................  36a. var. erythropoda

1b.. Leaves glabrous ...................................................................................  36b. var. guangxiensis

36a. Bauhinia erythropoda var. erythropoda

锈荚藤  xiu jia teng (yuan bian zhong)

Bauhinia moningerae Merrill.

Leaves abaxially pubescent on veins or almost glabrous.

* Open forests, along streams. Guangxi, Hainan, S Yunnan.

36b. Bauhinia erythropoda var. guangxiensis D. X. Zhang & T. C. Chen, Nordic J. Bot. 18(2): 145. 1998.

广西锈荚藤  guang xi xiu jia teng

Leaves glabrous.

* Disturbed forests, thickets. Guangxi.

37. Bauhinia carcinophylla Merrill, J. Arnold Arbor. 23: 171. 1942.

蟹钳叶羊蹄甲  xie qian ye yang ti jia

Lianas, with tendrils. Young branches brownish puberulent, later glabrous; tendrils pubescent when young. Petiole 3–6 cm, rusty or brownish pubescent; leaf blade adaxially shiny, 5–10 × 2.5–5 cm, papery, abaxially pubescent on veins, or almost glabrous, adaxially glabrous, smooth, veins 4 or 5 per lobe, base cordate; bifoliolate or shortly united, lobes suboblong to sublanceolate, acuminate. Inflorescence racemose-corymbose, terminal or lateral, axis rusty pubescent; bracts and bracteoles lanceolate. Pedicel ca. 1 cm, pubescent. Flowers fragrant. Receptacle cylindric, ca. 5 mm; calyx lobes reflexed at anthesis, oblong-elliptic, ca. 10 mm, outside pubescent, inside glabrous, acuminate. Petals white, obovate to oblong-obovate, ca. 18 mm. Stamens 3; filaments ca. 12 mm, pubescent near base, glabrous above; anthers oblong, ca. 5 mm. Ovary shortly stalked, ca. 8 mm, densely rusty tomentose; style ca. 15 mm, slender, glabrous except at base; stigma peltate. Pod unknown.

Thickets in open habitats. Guangxi, ?Yunnan [N Vietnam].

38. Bauhinia calciphila D. X. Zhang & T. C. Chen, Nordic J. Bot. 18: 141. 1998.

石山羊蹄甲  shi shan yang ti jia

Lianas, with tendrils, pubescent throughout. Stipules caducous; petiole 0.8–1.5 cm, stout, pubescent; leaf blade suborbicular, ca. 5 cm in diam., both surfaces pubescent, veins 9–13, base cordate, apex bifid to 1/3, with acute lobes. Inflorescence axis to 3.5 cm; bracts lanceolate, ca. 5 mm; bracteoles linear-lanceolate, ca. 4 mm, inserted beneath hypanthium. Hypanthium tubular, 6–8 mm. Calyx segments 2 or 3. Petals subequal, elliptic, including claw to 1.5 cm, outside densely hirsute, inside sparsely so, clawed, with acute apices. Fertile stamens 3; filaments pubescent in lower part. Staminoides 2–4. Ovary and style hairy; stigma peltate. Pod unknown. Fl. Apr.

* Limestone hills. Guangxi.

This species is only known from the type locality in Tianyang Xian, at the top of a limestone hill.

39. Bauhinia ornata Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 42: 72. 1873.

缅甸羊蹄甲  mian dian yang ti jia

Lianas, woody, robust, with tendrils. Young branches shiny, rusty hairy. Stipules caducous; petiole 8–11 cm, rusty tomentose; leaf blade cordate-orbicular or cordate-ovate, 18–21 × 16–18 cm, papery, abaxially rusty tomentose, later glabrous, adaxially glabrous, primary veins 9–11, base deeply cordate, apex bifid to 1/3–1/2 on flowering branches, lobes acute or obtuse-acuminate at apex. Inflorescence a corymbose raceme, terminal or lateral, many flowered, densely brown tomentose; bracts persistent, lanceolate, 3–5 mm, pubescent; pedicels 2.5–5 cm, slender; bracteoles oblong-lanceolate, inserted at middle of pedicel. Flower buds upper part pyriform. Receptacle cupular, short; calyx lobes 5, ovate, 6–7 mm, in two parts during anthesis, reflexed upon anthesis. Petals white, subequal, obovate, 15–25 × 10–15 mm, abaxially thinly pubescent, adaxially glabrous, shortly clawed, margin crisped. Fertile stamens 3; filaments ca. 30 mm, upper part glabrous; anthers oblong. Ovary subsessile, densely brown tomentose; style slender, glabrous; stigma capitate, small. Fruit strap-form, compressed, dehiscent, 18–30 × 4–6 cm; valves thick, hard woody, glabrous. Seeds 3 or 4, subcircular, compressed, ca. 27 mm in diam.

Mountain forests, open thickets; 100–800 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan [NE India, Laos, Myanmar, N Thailand, N Vietnam].

This is a polymorphic species. The typical variety occurs in Myanmar.

1a.. Leaves almost glabrous on both surfaces ......................................................  39a. var. balansae

1b.. Leaves abaxially pubescent ...............................................................................  39b. var. kerrii

39a. Bauhinia ornata var. balansae (Gagnepain) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen, Fl. Cambodge, Laos & Vietnam 18: 209. 1980.

光叶羊蹄甲  guang ye yang ti jia

Bauhinia balansae Gagnepain in Lecomte, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 2: 168. 1912; B. petelotii Merrill.

Leaves almost glabrous on both surfaces.

Yunnan [N Vietnam].

39b. Bauhinia ornata var. kerrii (Gagnepain) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen, Fl. Cambodge, Laos & Vietnam 18: 208. 1980.

褐毛羊蹄甲 he mao yang ti jia

Bauhinia kerrii Gagnepain, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 2: 173. 1912; B. austrosinensis Tang & Wang; B. bakeriana S. S. Larsen, nom. nov., without replaced synonym ref.; B. eberhardtii Gagnepain; B. inflexilobata Merrill; B. kerrii var. grandiflora Craib; B. ornata var. austrosinensis (Tang & Wang) T. C. Chen; B. ornata var. contigua T. C. Chen; B. ornata var. subumbellata (Pierre ex Gagnepain) K. & S. S. Larsen; B. rufa (Bentham) Baker (1878), not Steudel (1840); B. subumbellata Pierre ex Gagnepain.

Leaves very variable, paper, abaxially pubescent, primary veins mostly marginal. Mature fruit brown tomentose.

Mountain forests, open thickets; 100–800 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan [NE India, Laos, Myanmar, N Thailand, N Vietnam].

40. Bauhinia glauca (Wallich ex Bentham) Bentham, Fl. Hongk. 99. 1861.

??vernacular name

Climber, with tendrils. Young branches reddish pubescent, later glabrous. Stipules linear, ca. 4 mm. Petiole sparsely pubescent, (1–)2–4 cm; leaf blade ovate to orbicular, often broader than long, 4–6(–9) cm diam., 7–11-veined, bifid to 1/5–1/2, tip of lobes rounded, 

base truncate to cordate, abaxially sparsely pubescent, adaxially glabrous. Flowers in short dense corymbs. Pedicel slender, 10–20 mm. Bracts linear, ca. 5 mm; bracteoles similar, inserted near the middle of  pedicel. Buds ovoid, glabrous to hairy. Receptacle 

striate, tubular, 7–15(–25) mm, subglabrous. Calyx splitting into 2 or 3 reflexed segments. Petals white, subequal, broadly obovate, 8–12 mm including claw 2–3 mm. Stamens 3 fertile; filaments glabrous, ca. as long as petals; anthers red, ellipsoid, ca. 2 mm; staminodes 7, 2 in between stamens, ca. 3 mm, 5 short, subulate, connate at base. Ovary ca. 8 mm, glabrous, shortly stipitate; style very short; stigma obliquely peltate. Pods thinly valved, flat, indehiscent, 18–25 × 3–5 cm. Seeds flat, ovoid, 5–8 mm.

Hong Kong and vicinity [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

1a.. Petiole 2–4 cm, leaves relatively smaller, primary veins 7–11, apex bifid to 1/3–1/2; inflorescence relatively smaller; flower buds glabrous to sparsely hairy, receptacle 7–15 mm ..............  40a. subsp. glauca

1b.. Petiole 1–2(–3) cm, leaves relatively larger, 7–9 cm, primary veins 9–11, apex bifid to only 1/5; inflorescence relatively larger; flower buds hairy, receptacle 25–30 mm (longer than pedicel)  40b. subsp. tenuiflora

 

40a. Bauhinia glauca subsp. glauca

??vernacular name

Phanera glauca Wallich ex Bentham, Pl. Jungh. 265. 1852; Bauhinia viridiflora Blume ex Miquel.

Petiole 2–4 cm, leaves relatively smaller, primary veins 7–11, apex bifid to 1/3–1/2; inflorescence relatively smaller; flower buds glabrous to sparsely hairy, receptacle 7–15 mm.

Hong Kong and vicinity [India, Indonesia, peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand].

40b. Bauhinia glauca (Wallich ex Bentham) Bentham subsp. tenuiflora (Watt ex C. B. Clarke) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen, Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 25(1–2): 10. 1973.

??vernacular name

Bauhinia tenuiflora Watt ex C. B. Clarke, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 25: 18. 1889; B. caterviflora L. Chen; B. glauca subsp. caterviflora (L. Chen) T. C. Chen; B. glauca var. caterviflora (L. Chen) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen ex D. X. Zhang, Acta Bot. Austro Sin. 10: 64. 1995, without basionym ref.; B. glauca subsp. hupehana (Craib) T. C. Chen; B. glauca var. hupehana (Craib) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen ex D. X. Zhang, Acta Bot. Austro Sin. 10: 64. 1995, without basionym ref.; B. glauca subsp. pernervosa (L. Chen) T. C. Chen; B. glauca var. pernervosa (L. Chen) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen ex D. X. Zhang, Acta Bot. Austro Sin. 10: 64. 1995, without basionym ref.; B. hupehana Craib; B. hupehana var. grandis Craib; B. pernervosa L. Chen; Phanera tenuiflora (Watt ex C. B. Clarke) de Wit. [see Fl. Thailand for synonymy]

Petiole 1–2(–3) cm, leaves relatively larger, 7–9 cm, primary veins 9–11, apex bifid to only 1/5; inflorescence relatively larger; flower buds hairy, receptacle 25–30 mm (longer than pedicel).

?Guizhou, ?Hubei, ?Shaanxi, ?Yunnan [Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam].

41. Bauhinia corymbosa Roxburgh ex de Candolle, Mém. Lég. 487. 1825.

首冠藤 shou guan teng

Lianas, woody, with tendrils. Young branches, inflorescences and one side of tendrils rusty hirsutulous; twigs slender, glabrous; tendrils solitary or in pairs, pubescent on one surface. Stipules caducous, small; petiole 1–2 cm, slender; leaf blade suborbicular, 2–4 × 2–5 cm, papery, abaxially rusty pubescent on veins and near base, adaxially glabrous, veins 7, base cordate to truncate, apex bifid to 3/4 or more on flowering branches, lobes rounded at apex. Inflorescence corymbose-racemose or elongated racemose, terminal on lateral branches, ca. 5 cm, many flowered; peduncle short; bracts and bracteoles linear, ca. 3 mm. Pedicel slender. Flower buds ovoid, rusty pubescent, acute. Receptacle cylindric, 18–25 mm, slender; calyx lobes 5, reflexed, lanceolate, ca. 6 mm, outside pubescent. Petals white, with pink stripes, broadly spatulate or suborbicular, 8–11 × 6–8 mm, abaxially hairy at middle, shortly clawed, margin crisped, apex rounded. Fertile stamens 3; filaments pinkish, ca. 10 mm, glabrous. Staminodes 2–5. Floral disc not fleshy. Ovary stalked, glabrous; style stout; stigma peltate. Pod straight or curved, strap-form or oblong, tenure, compressed, 10–25 × 1.5–2.5 cm, tardily dehiscent, glabrous; valves slightly thickened. Seeds oblong, ca. 8 × 4–6 mm. Fl. Apr–Aug, fr. Jun–Dec.

Open forests in valleys, sunny slopes. ?Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan [Vietnam].

1a.. Raceme corymbose .................................................................................  41a. var. corymbosa

1b.. Raceme elongated, not corymbose ................................................................  41b. var. longipes

41a. Bauhinia corymbosa var. corymbosa

??vernacular name

Phanera corymbosa (Roxburgh ex de Candolle) Bentham.

Raceme corymbose.

Open forests in valleys and on sunny slopes. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan [Vietnam].

41b. Bauhinia corymbosa var. longipes Hosokawa, Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. Formos. 33: 196. 1942.

长序首冠藤 chang xu shou guan teng

Raceme elongated, not corymbose.

* Hainan (Lingshui).

42. Bauhinia didyma L. Chen, J. Arnold Arbor. 19: 131. 1938.

孪叶羊蹄甲 luan ye yang ti jia

Lianas, woody, with tendrils. Whole plant glabrous except for pedicel base and leaf buds; twigs slightly zigzag, slender; tendrils solitary, slender. Stipules caducous; petiole 1–2 cm, slender, glabrous; leaf blade 12–24 × 9–16 mm, membranous, base truncate, abaxially thinly pubescent on axils of primary veins, adaxially glabrous, veins 3 per lobe, veins dense, salient on both surfaces, bifoliate, lobe obliquely obovate, apex obtuse or rounded. Inflorescence corymbose-racemose, terminal on lateral branches, many flowered; peduncle more than 1 cm; pedicel 1–3 cm, slender; bracts and bracteoles linear, 1.5–4 mm. Flower buds ellipsoid, ca. 5 mm. Receptacle cylindric, 10–12 mm; calyx lobes 5, reflexed, broadly ovate or lanceolate. Petals white, broadly obovate, ca. 9 × 6 mm, abaxially hairy near base, shortly clawed. Fertile stamens 3; filaments ca. 1 cm, glabrous. Staminodes 3–5. Ovary shortly stalked, glabrous; style short; stigma disciform. Pod strap-form, tenure, compressed, ca. 10 × 2.5 cm, tardily dehiscent, glabrous, sutures slightly thickened. Seeds ellipsoid, compressed, ca. 6 × 4 mm, testa brown. Fl. Aug–Dec, fr. Sep–Feb.

* Open forests, thickets; 100–500 m. Guangdong, Guangxi.

43. Bauhinia touranensis Gagnepain in Lecomte, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 2: 181. 1912.

囊托羊蹄甲  nang tuo yang ti jia

Bauhinia genuflexa Craib; B. henryi Craib; B. rocheri H. Léveillé.

Lianas, woody, with tendrils. Tendrils compressed, slender, pubescent on one side. Stipules caducous; petiole 1–2 cm, glabrous; leaf blade suborbicular, 3.5–6 × 4–6.5 cm, papery, abaxially thinly pubescent at first, pubescent only on veins and axils of primary veins in mature leaves, adaxially glabrous, veins 7–9, base cordate, apex bifid to 1/6–1/5, lobes obtuse or rounded at apex. Inflorescence corymbose racemes 3 or 4, terminal on lateral branches, 6–9 cm, rusty pubescent; peduncle 1.5–4 cm, with a tendril at base; bracts and bracteoles threadlike, 6–9 mm, acuminate. Pedicel slender, lowest ones to 20 mm, rusty pubescent. Flower buds ellipsoid to globose, rusty hirsute. Receptacle cylindric, 6–10 mm, base strongly enlarged on one side and appearing bladderlike, curved at straight angles with pedicels, pubescent; calyx lobes 5, ovate, 3–5 mm, acuminate. Petals greenish or yellowish white, suborbicular, ovate, or obovate, ca. 6 mm, abaxially hairy at middle, prominently clawed. Fertile stamens 3; filaments glabrous. Staminodes 7. Ovary stalked, 4–5 mm, pubescent on sutures and stalk; style short; stigma capitate. Pod strap-form, tenure, compressed, 12–16 × 3–3.5 cm, indehiscent, glabrous, sutures slightly thickened. Seeds ellipsoid, compressed, ca. 8 × 6 mm, testa brown. Fl. Mar–Jun, fr. Aug–Oct.

Open forests and thickets in valleys and on slopes; 500–1200 m. ?Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan [Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam].

44. Bauhinia quinnanensis T. C. Chen, Guihaia 8: 48. 1988.

黔南羊蹄甲 qian nan yang ti jia

Lianas, woody, with tendrils. Tendrils opposite the leaves, pubescent. Stipules caducous; petiole 1–2 cm, pubescent; leaf blade broadly ovate to suborbicular, 5–8 × 4–6.5 cm, papery, abaxially rusty pubescent, adaxially glabrous, veins 9, base shallowly cordate or nearly truncate, entire or apex emarginate. Inflorescence corymbose racemes 1 or 2, terminal, 3.5–6 × 3.5–6 cm, 8–20-flowered, rusty pubescent; peduncle short, 5–12 mm; bracts threadlike, 5–7 mm; pedicels 15–22 mm, rusty pubescent; bracteoles linear, 4–6 mm, inserted at middle of pedicel. Flower buds ovoid, rusty hirsute. Receptacle cylindric, 8–9 mm, base slightly swollen on one side, pubescent; calyx lobes 5, reflexed, lanceolate, 5–6 × ca. 2 mm, outside rusty pubescent. Petals white, 3 rhombic, 2 elliptic, 6–8 (including a claw 3–4 mm) × 4–7 mm, abaxially pubescent at middle, base cuneate, margin smooth. Fertile stamens 3; filaments 9–11 mm, glabrous. Staminodes 7, 2 free ones longer, others joined at base. Ovary stalked, glabrous; style short; stigma capitate. Pod strap-form, tenure, much compressed, to 28 × 4–4.5 cm, indehiscent, glabrous, reticulate veined, sutures slightly salient. Seeds ellipsoid, compressed, ca. 8 × 6 mm, testa brown. Fl. May, fr. Aug.

* Thickets on mountain slopes; 1000–1300 m. Guizhou.

45. Bauhinia damiaoshanensis T. C. Chen, Guihaia 8: 49. 1988.

大苗山羊蹄甲  da miao shan yang ti jia

Lianas, woody, with tendrils. Twigs slender, glabrous; tendrils solitary, pubescent on one surface. Stipules caducous, lanceolate, small; petiole 1–3 cm, slender; leaf blade broadly orbicular, 2–5 × 2.5–6 cm, papery, abaxially pubescent on veins and near base, adaxially glabrous, veins 7, base cordate, apex bifid to 1/4–1/3 on flowering branches, lobes obtuse at apex. Inflorescence corymbose-racemose, terminal on lateral branches, 5–14 cm with a peduncle 1–4.5 cm; bracts linear-lanceolate, 4–7 mm; pedicels slender; bracteoles linear, ca. 4 mm, inserted at middle of pedicel. Flower buds ovoid, rusty hirsute. Receptacle 6–9 mm, slender, base swollen on one side and curved at anthesis; calyx lobes 5, reflexed, lanceolate, 4–5 mm, outside pubescent. Petals white, broadly obovate or ovate, spatulate, 8–8.5 mm (including a prominent claw 3–4 mm), base cuneate, margin crisped, apex rounded. Fertile stamens 3; filaments ca. 9 mm, glabrous. Staminodes 2–7. Floral disc not fleshy. Ovary shortly stalked, oblique, glabrous; style stout; stigma peltate. Pod strap-form or oblong, tenure, compressed, 12–15 × 3–3.5 cm, indehiscent, glabrous, reticulate veined, sutures slightly swollen, apex beaked. Seeds 15–18, oblong. Fl. Jun, fr. Jul–Oct.

* Open forests. Guangxi.

46. Bauhinia ovatifolia T. C. Chen, Guihaia 8: 50. 1988.

卵叶羊蹄甲  luan ye yang ti jia

Lianas, woody, with tendrils. Young branches, petioles, and inflorescences rusty pubescent, later subglabrous. Stipules caducous; petiole 8–17 mm, pubescent; leaf blade ovate, 3–4 × 2–3 cm, papery, abaxially pubescent on veins and near base, adaxially glabrous, veins 7, base rounded, margin entire or emarginate. Inflorescence corymbose-racemose, terminal on lateral branches, 5–7 cm; peduncle short, 5–6 mm. Pedicel 15–20 mm, slender. Flower buds ovoid, ca. 6 mm, apex acute. Receptacle elongate, ca. 15 mm, striped; calyx lobes 5, reflexed, lanceolate, 6–7 mm, adnate from middle downward, upper part rusty pubescent outside. Petals white, subrhombic, broadly obovate, or elliptic, abaxially brown crinite from middle downward, claw prominent and 6–8 mm, base cuneate, margin crisped, apex rounded. Fertile stamens 3; filaments 11–12 mm, glabrous. Staminodes 7, largest 2 separate, ca. 5 mm, others much smaller, joined in a digitate structure. Ovary shortly stalked, glabrous; style ca. as long as ovary, stout; stigma capitate. Pod oblong, tenure, 20–25 × 4–4.5 cm, glabrous, indehiscent. Seeds numerous, oblong. Fl. Dec, fr. Apr–Jun.

* Open habitats on hill slopes; ca. 700 m. Guangxi, ?Yunnan.

47. Bauhinia tianlinensis T. C. Chen & D. X. Zhang, Nordic J. Bot. 18: 141. 1998.

??vernacular name

Lianas, with tendrils. Branches and tendrils pubescent. Stipules caducous; petiole 1–2 cm, pubescent; leaf blade ovate, 5–8 × 4.5–5.5 cm, abaxially pubescent, veins 7–9, base ± cordate, apex bifid to 1/4 with acute to rounded lobes. Inflorescence and flowers not seen. Pod oblong-strap-form, 20–30 × 5–6 cm, pubescent, indehiscent. Seeds many, oblong-ellipsoid, 6–10 × 3–5 mm.

* Disturbed open habitats on karst hills. Guangxi (Tianlin).

4. DETARIEAE de Candolle, Prodr. 2: 521. 1825.

gan dou zu

Leaves pinnate, sometimes only with one pair of leaflets or single leaflet. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic to conspicuously zygomorphic. Receptacle shallowly cup-shaped or tubular. Sepals usually 4 or 5, often enclosing petals when flowers in bud. Petals absent to 5. Perfect stamens 2–10 or numerous; anthers basifixed or dorsifixed, cells opening lengthwise, sometimes with staminodes. Ovary stalked or sessile; stalk free or adnate to receptacle.

About 54 genera: tropical regions; five genera (three introduced) in China.

18. LYSIDICE Hance, J. Bot. 5: 298. 1867.

yi hua shu

Chen Dezhao (Chen Te-chao); Ding Hou

Shrubs or trees. Leaves abruptly pinnate; leaflets 3–5 pairs, opposite, base slightly oblique, asymmetrical on two sides; petiolules short; stipules caducous or late deciduous, small, subulate or narrowly triangular. Panicles terminal. Flowers showy, purplish red or pink, with large, red or white bracts at base; bracteoles small, in pairs inserted at apex or near apex on pedicels. Calyx tubular, 4-lobed; lobes imbricate, reflexed after anthesis. Petals 5: 3 at back large, obovate, long clawed; 2 in front small, reduced, scalelike or subulate. Perfect stamens 2, free or slightly connate at base; filaments elongated, reflexed in bud; anthers elliptic, opening lengthwise; staminodes 3–8, unequal in length, subulate, without anthers or with 1–3 orbicular, small, abortive anthers. Ovary compressed, oblong, stalked, stalk adnate to calyx tube, 6–14-ovuled; style filiform, long; stigma capitate, small. Pod compressed, oblong or obovoid-oblong, thickly leathery or woody, with stipe, 2-valved, valves flat or slightly curling or spirally twisted. Seeds shiny, compressed, oblong, obliquely broadly elliptic to suborbicular, margin not thickened or conspicuously thickened into a narrow edged ring; cotyledons flat; embryo small.

About two species: S and SW China, and Vietnam; both in China.

1a.    Bracts and bracteoles pink; calyx tube 1.2–1.5 cm, longer than lobes; seeds marginally not thickened, testa thin, inside without gelatin; shrubs or small trees ........................................  1. L. rhodostegia

1b.    Bracts and bracteoles white; calyx tube 3–9 mm, shorter than lobes; seeds marginally conspicuously thickened into a narrowly edged ring; testa thicker, inside with a layer of spongy gelatin; trees  2. L. brevicalyx

 

1. Lysidice rhodostegia Hance, J. Bot. 5: 299. 1867.

yi hua

Shrubs or small trees, 2–5 m tall, rarely more than 10 m tall. Petiolules short, 2–3 mm; leaflets oblong or ovate-lanceolate, 5–16 × 2–6.5 cm, papery, lateral veins subparallel, slender, evident on both surfaces, base rounded, apex caudate-acuminate. Panicles 20–40 cm; rachis, bracts, and bracteoles sparsely puberulous; bracts and bracteoles pink, ovate-oblong or elliptic; bracts 1.2–2.8 × 0.5–1.4 cm; bracteoles small, 2–5 mm. Calyx tube 1.2–1.5 cm, much longer than lobes (8–10 mm); lobes dark purplish red, oblong. Petals purplish red, broadly obovate, ca. 1.2 cm (including claw), apex rounded, emarginate. Anthers ca. 4 mm; staminodes usually 4, subulate. Ovary hairy, 6–9-ovuled; style slender, hairy. Pod obovoid-oblong, 12–20 cm, sutures unequal in length, ventral suture longer and curved, dehiscent; valves often spirally twisted. Seeds 2–7, brownish red, oblong, 2.2–2.5 × 1.2–1.5 cm, margin not thickened, testa thinner and fragile, surface slightly wrinkled, inside without gelatin. Fl. Jun–Aug, fr. Sep–Nov. 2n = 24*.

Mountain slopes, jungles, in bushes, near roads, along valleys by streams; below 500 m. Guangdong, Guangxi (Longzhou), Guizhou, Yunnan [Vietnam; introduced in tropical Africa, C America, the Caribbean, USA (Florida)].

The roots, stems, and leaves are somewhat toxic, and used medicinally to relieve pain from rheumatism and arthritis, and for detumescence.

2. Lysidice brevicalyx C. F. Wei, Guihaia 3: 12. 1983.

duan e yi hua

Trees, 10–20 m tall. Trunk 20–30 cm d.b.h. Leaflets oblong, obovate-oblong, or ovate-lanceolate, 6–12 × 2–5.5 cm, subleathery, base cuneate or obtuse, apex obtuse or caudate-acuminate. Panicle spreading, 13–20 cm; bracts and bracteoles white, broadly ovate, ovate-oblong, or oblong, bracts 1.5–3.1 cm, bracteoles 0.5–1.5 cm. Calyx tube short, 3–9 mm; lobes oblong to broadly oblong, longer than calyx tube. Petals purple, obovate, 1.6–1.9 cm (including claw), apex subtruncate, emarginate. Anthers 3–4 mm; margin of cells purplish red; staminodes 8 or 5 or 6, unequal in length. Ovary villous along sutures, 9–14-ovuled. Pod oblong or obovoid-oblong, 15–26 × 3.5–5 cm, base rounded, dorsal and ventral sutures equal or subequal in length, dehiscent; valves flat or slightly twisted. Seeds 7–10, chestnut-brown or grayish green, shiny, oblong or obliquely broadly oblong to subglobose, 2–2.8 × 1.5–2.2 cm, margin thickened into a narrowly edged ring; testa crustaceous, inside with a layer of white spongy gelatin, ferruginous red when dry. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 24*.

* Sparse or dense forests, along valleys, by streams; 500–1000 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan.

19. SARACA Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. 12, 2: 469. 1767; Mant. Pl. 1: 98. 1767.

wu you hua shu

Chen Dezhao (Chen Te-chao); Ding Hou

Trees. Leaves abruptly pinnate, with few pairs of leaflets, leathery; petiole robust, with glandular nodes; stipules 2, usually united to a conical sheath, caducous. Corymbose panicles axillary or terminal; involucre caducous; bracts 1, deciduous or persistent, smaller or larger than bracteoles, hairy or glabrous; bracteoles 2, usually persistent, subopposite, colored. Flowers bisexual or unisexual, yellowish to deep red, with short pedicels. Calyx tubular; tubes elongated, slightly inflated in upper part, with a disc at apex; lobes 4, rarely 5 or 6, petaloid, ovate-oblong, slightly unequal in size, imbricate. Petals absent. Stamens 4–10, all perfect or 1 or 2 reduced, inserted in disc on throat of calyx tube; filaments free, elongated, often reflexed in bud; anthers oblong or suborbicular, dorsifixed, cells opening lengthwise. Ovary compressed, oblong, hairy or glabrous, shortly stalked, stalk adnate to calyx tube; ovules few to more than 10; style filiform; stigma terminal, capitate. Pod compressed, oblong, slightly curved and oblique, leathery to rather woody, 2-valved. Seeds 1–8, compressed, elliptic to ovoid; testa thin, crustaceous; radicle small, straight.

About 20 species: tropical Asia; two species in China.

1a.    Perfect stamens 4; bracts and bracteoles small, equal in size, not longer than 5 mm, persistent; pedicels articulate ...................................................................................................  1. S. griffithiana

1b.    Stamens 8–10 including 1 or 2 reduced; bracts and bracteoles larger, usually longer than 1 cm, bracts much larger than bracteoles, deciduous or nearly persistent; pedicels not articulate .........  2. S. dives

 

1. Saraca griffithiana Prain, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 66(2): 491. 1897.

yun nan wu you hua

Trees, to 18 m tall. Petiolules robust, compressed, 4–6 mm; leaflets 4–6 pairs, oblong or obovate-oblong, 23–36 × 6.5–10 cm, papery, midvein robust, raised on both surfaces, lateral veins 11 or 12 pairs, base rounded or cuneate, apex rounded. Inflorescence axillary, with crowded, short branches, forming nearly a sphere ca. 13 cm in diam. at anthesis; peduncles and rachis yellowish green puberulous; bract and bracteoles persistent, ovate, equal in size, ca. 3 mm, ciliate, bracts spreading; bracteoles straight, enclosing the pedicels. Flowers numerous, crowded, with long pedicels, articulate between calyx and apex of pedicels. Calyx tube shorter than pedicels, 1.5–1.8 cm; lobes ovate, ca. 1 cm, apex obtuse or slightly acute. Perfect stamens 4, ca. 3 mm; anthers subovoid, small, 1.5–1.8 mm. Ovary compressed, ca. 7 mm, thin, densely yellowish green puberulous; style ca. 2.8 cm; stigma small. Fruit not seen. ?Fl., fr. unknown.

Dense or sparse forests, mountain slopes, along valleys, by streams; 300–1200 m. W Yunnan (Yingjiang) [Myanmar].

2. Saraca dives Pierre, Fl. Cochinch. 5: t. 386B. 1899.

zhong guo wu you hua

Saraca chinensis Merrill & W. Y. Chun.

Trees, 5–20 m tall. Trunk ca. 25 cm d.b.h. Leaflets 5 or 6 pairs, slightly purplish red when young, pendulous; petiolules 7-12 mm; blades narrowly elliptic, ovate-lanceolate, or narrowly obovate, 15–35 × 5–12 cm, subleathery, lateral veins 8–11 pairs, lowest pair often smaller, base cuneate, apex acuminate, acute, or obtuse. Inflorescence axillary, larger; rachis hairy or glabrous; involucre caducous, broadly ovate, large, hairy; bract caducous or late deciduous, ovate, lanceolate, or oblong, 1.5–5 × 0.6–2 cm, lowest one largest, gradually smaller upward, hairy or glabrous; bracteoles equal to bracts in shape but much smaller. Flowers bisexual or unisexual, yellow, base of calyx lobes, disc, stamens, and style becoming red. Pedicels shorter than calyx tube, not articulate. Calyx tube 1.5–3 cm; lobes 4(–6), oblong, ciliate. Stamens 8–10 including 1 or 2 often reduced to subulate; filaments exserted; anthers oblong, 3–4 mm. Ovary slightly curved, glabrous or hairy along sutures and stalk. Pod brownish, compressed, 22–30 × 5–7 cm, valves twisted. Seeds 5–9, unequal in shape, shallowly depressed sulcate at middle of both surfaces. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Jul–Oct.

Dense or sparse forests, river sides, along valleys, by streams; 200–1000 m. Guangdong, SE and SW Guangxi, SE Yunnan [Laos, Vietnam].

This is a fine parasitifer plant, which can be used for breeding lac insects. The bark is used medicinally for relieving rheumatism and menorrhagia. The flowers are large and showy, and the trees are often cultivated ornamentally.

20. AFZELIA J. E. Smith, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 4: 221. 1798, nom. cons.

mian qie shu

Chen Dezhao (Chen Te-chao); Ding Hou

Pahudia Miquel.

Trees. Leaves abruptly pinnate; leaflets in few pairs; stipules caducous, minute. Panicles terminal; bracts and bracteoles deciduous or ± persistent, ovate, slightly thick, not colored. Flowers bisexual, pedicellate. Calyx tubular, with a disc in throat; lobes 4, slightly unequal in size, leathery, imbricate. Petal 1, suborbicular or reniform, clawed, others rudimentary or absent. Stamens 7 or 8; filaments elongated, base partly united or free; anthers ovoid or oblong, opening lengthwise; staminodes 2, very small. Ovary stalked, stalk adnate to calyx tube; ovules few to numerous; style filiform; stigma subcapitate, small. Pod slightly compressed, oblong or obliquely oblong, woody, thick, 2-valved, transversely septate between seeds. Seeds ovoid or oblong, with horny aril at base, without endosperm; cotyledons fleshy, ± flat; embryo straight.

About 14 species: tropical Asia and Africa; one introduced species in China.

1. Afzelia xylocarpa (Kurz) Craib, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1912: 267. 1912.

mian qie

Pahudia xylocarpa Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 45(2): 290. 1876; Afzelia cochinchinensis (Pierre) Léonard; P. cochinchinensis Pierre.

Trees, 15–25 m tall, sometimes to 40 m tall. Trunk ca. 90 cm d.b.h. Bark brown. Leaflets 3–5 pairs, opposite; petiolules short, less than 5 mm; blades ovate or broadly elliptic to suborbicular, 4–14 × 3.5–6 cm, papery, base rounded and slightly oblique, apex rounded or emarginate. Inflorescence densely grayish yellow-green or grayish white puberulous; bracts and bracteoles persistent, ovate or triangular-ovate, equal in size, ca. 6 mm. Calyx tube 1–1.3 cm; lobes elliptic, 1–1.5 cm, apex rounded. Petal pale purple, obovate to suborbicular; claw white villous. Stamens 7, united at base; filaments exserted, 3–3.5 cm, pubescent in lower part. Ovary narrowly oblong, hairy; style elongated and exserted. Pod blackish brown, compressed, oblong, 11–17 × 7–8.5 cm, hard. Seeds 2–5, deep brownish red, shiny, slightly compressed, ovoid or suborbicular, ca. 2 cm, with a horny, hard, arillode funicle. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Nov–Dec.

Cultivated in Guangdong (Maoming, Xuwen), Guangxi (Hepu, Nanning), Hainan, Yunnan (Shiping, Xishuanbanna) [Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

The seeds are used for carving; the plant is also used medicinally for relieving toothaches and eye diseases.

21. HYMENAEA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1192. 1753.

luan ye dou shu

Trachylobium Hayne.

Trees. Leaves with one pair of leaflets; leaflets paired, thickly leathery, entire, often translucent glandular punctate, with short petiolules or subsessile; stipules caducous. Flowers white, in terminal panicles or corymbose panicles; bracts and bracteoles caducous, ovate or orbicular, concave. Calyx tubular, solid in lower part, expanded and campanulate or turbinate in upper part; lobes 4, thickly leathery, imbricate. Petals 5 or 3, clawed or sessile, subequal in size or lower two small and squamose. Stamens 10, all perfect, free; filaments glabrous or hairy at base; anthers oblong, dorsifixed, cells opening lengthwise. Ovary shortly stalked, stalk adnate to calyx tube, glabrous or hairy, few ovuled; style filiform; stigma terminal, small. Pod drupelike, obliquely obovoid or oblong, thickly leathery or woody, rough and tuberculate, not dehiscent. Seeds few, of various shapes; testa hard, bony, without endosperm and aril; cotyledons thickened, fleshy; radicle short, straight.

About 26 species: tropical America and Africa; two species introduced to China.

1a.     Petals narrowly ovate, sessile or subsessile, subequal in size; pod rough, without tubercles on surface; petiolules obscure ........................................................................................................  1. H. courbaril

1b.     Petals suborbicular, clawed, unequal (two petals smaller, squamose) or subequal in size; pod tuberculate on surface; petiolules conspicuous, ca. 3 mm ......................................................  2. H. verrucosa

 

1. Hymenaea courbaril Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1192. 1753.

luan ye dou

Trees, evergreen, 5–10 m tall. Branchlets grayish green, with numerous brown, small lenticels and adpressed puberulous. Leaves alternate; petiolules obscure; leaflets ovate or ovate-oblong, slightly incurved, 5–10 × 2.5–4 cm, abaxially adpressed shortly pubescent on veins, adaxially glabrous or sparsely puberulous, base obliquely rounded, asymmetrical, apex acute. Inflorescences corymbose panicles. Flowers large, 2.5–3 cm; pedicels articulate, adpressed densely puberulous. Calyx tube 1.3–1.5 cm, expanded and campanulate in upper part; lobes broadly ovate or suborbicular, ca. as long as calyx tube, outside densely adpressed puberulous, inside densely silky at middle part. Petals 5, ovate or narrowly ovate, subequal in size, ca. as long as calyx lobes, clawed or subsessile. Stamens exserted; filaments 2.5–3 cm. Ovary compressed, glabrous; style elongated, curved in upper part; stigma capitate. Pod reddish brown, oblong or obovoid-oblong, 5–10.5 × 2.5–5 cm, woody, rough and not tuberculate; stipe short, ca. 5 mm. Fl. Aug–Oct, fr. May–Jun.

Cultivated in Guangdong, Taiwan [W India; C America (S Mexico)].

The wood is hard, and is used for shipbuilding and making furniture. It also yields a gum-resin (copal). The pulp is edible.

2. Hymenaea verrucosa Gaertner, Fruct. 2: 306. 1791.

you guo luan ye dou

Trachylobium verrucosum (Gaertner) Oliver.

Trees, 6–24 m tall. Branchlets grayish white. Petiolules ca. 3 mm; leaflets ovate-oblong, asymmetrical, 5–8(–12) × 2.5–5 cm, both surfaces glabrous, base obliquely rounded, apex acute. Inflorescences panicles; bracts and bracteoles deciduous, ovate or orbicular. Flowers small. Calyx tube expanded and turbinate in upper part; lobes 7–11 mm, outside densely adpressed puberulous, inside densely white silky. Petals unequal in size, uppermost inside 3 larger, suborbicular, clawed; other 2 small, scaly, or sometimes 5 subequal and all clawed. Ovary shortly stalked, densely strigose at base. Pod blackish brown, slightly compressed, obovoid, 3–4.2 cm, tuberculate. Fl. Sep–Nov, fr. May–Jun.

Cultivated in Taiwan [cultivated in Indonesia (Java), Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Polynesia (Hawaii); native of Madagascar].

22. SINDORA Miquel, Fl. Ind. Bat. Suppl. 287. 1861 ['1860'].

you nan shu

Chen Dezhao (Chen Te-chao); Ding Hou

Trees. Leaves abruptly pinnate; leaflets 2–10 pairs, leathery; stipules leaflike. Flowers bisexual, in terminal panicles or racemes; bracts and bracteoles caducous, ovate. Calyx tube very short, with disc at base; lobes 4, valvate or margin narrowly imbricate, ± with soft bristles. Petals 1, rarely 2. Stamens 10: 9 shortly united into a oblique tube, upper stamen free and reduced to an antherless, slightly short staminode; anthers oblong, dorsifixed, opening lengthwise. Ovary 2–5-ovuled, shortly stalked; style filiform, circinate; stigma small. Pod compressed, usually orbicular or oblong, ± oblique, large, dehiscent, often shortly prickly on surface of valves, rarely without prickles. Seeds 1 or 2, black, shiny, with a large fleshy aril at base.

About 18–20 species: WC Africa (Gabon) and mostly in SE Asia; two species (one cultivated) in China.

1a.    Calyx lobes outside with soft bristles; pod with dispersed, hard and straight prickles  1. S. glabra

1b.    Calyx lobes without bristles; pod smooth, without prickles ..........................  2. S. tonkinensis

 

1. Sindora glabra Merrill ex de Wit, Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, ser 3, 18: 46. 1949.

you nan

Trees, 8–20 m tall. Trunk 30–60 d.b.h. Leaves 10–20 cm; petiolules ca. 5 mm; leaflets 2–4 pairs, opposite, elliptic-oblong, rarely ovate, 5–10 × 2.5–5 cm, lateral veins slender, together with reticulate veinlets obscure, base rounded, slightly oblique, apex obtusely acute or shortly acuminate. Panicles in axils of apical leaves, 15–20 cm, densely yellowish pubescent; bracts ovate, leaflike, 5–7 mm. Pedicels 2–4 mm, with 1 or 2 bracteoles from middle upward, bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 5–6 mm; bracts, pedicels, and bracteoles densely yellowish pubescent. Calyx lobes yellowish pubescent on both surfaces, dimorphic, uppermost one broadly ovate, ca. 5.5 × 5 mm, back arcuate, with 21–23 soft bristles; other 3 elliptic-lanceolate, with 6–10 soft bristles. Petal 1, enclosed in uppermost calyx lobe, oblong-orbicular, ca. 5 × 2–6 mm, outside densely pubescent, inside glabrous, base subtruncate, obscurely clawed, margin ciliate, apex rounded. Fertile stamens 9, staminal tube ca. 2 mm, both sides adpressed brown strigose, especially inside; anthers subequal in size, 2–3 mm, apex emarginate, sometimes cuspidate. Ovary ca. 3 mm, densely strigose, 4- or 5-ovuled; stalk ca. 0.8 mm; style convolute, glabrous. Pod orbicular or elliptic, 5–8 × ca. 5 cm, with dispersed, hard, straight prickles, valves often shed glue when cut. Seed solitary, blackish, spheroidal, ca. 1.8 cm in diam. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Jun–Aug.

* Mixed forests, mountain slopes, river bank; near sea level to 800 m. Fujian, Hainan, Guangdong, Yunnan.

The wood has good qualities, and is used for building houses and making furniture.

2. Sindora tonkinensis A. Chevalier ex K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen, Fl. Cambodge, Laos & Vietnam 18: 122. 1980.

dong jing you nan

Trees, to 15 m tall. Branches glabrous. Leaves 10–20 cm, glabrous; stipules caducous; petiolules ca. 5 mm; leaflets 4 or 5 pairs, ovate, narrowly ovate, or elliptic-lanceolate, 6–12 × 3.5–6 cm, glabrous, asymmetrical, upper side narrower than lower side, base rounded or broadly cuneate, margin entire, apex acuminate or shortly acuminate. Panicles in axils of apical leaves, 15–20(–30) cm, together with bracteoles, calyx, petal, and ovary densely yellowish pubescent; bracts triangular, 5–10 mm. Pedicels 2–4 mm, with 1 or 2 bracteoles from middle upward; bracteoles elliptic-lanceolate, ca. 5 mm. Calyx lobes 4, outside with bristles, inside densely yellowish hirsute. Petal thick, ca. 8 mm. Filaments filiform, 1–1.5 cm, densely yellowish pubescent at base; anthers 3–4 mm. Ovary shortly stalked, without prickles; style convolute, 1–1.5 cm, glabrous. Pod suborbicular or elliptic, 7–10 × 4–6 cm, apex beaked, smooth, without prickles. Seeds 2–5, blackish, spheroidal. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Sep.

Cultivated in Guangdong (Guangzhou) [?Cambodia, Vietnam].

5. AMHERSTIEAE Bentham, Hooker's J. Bot. 2: 73. 1840, emend. J. Leon, Mém. Acad. Roy. Belg. Cl. Sci. 30(2): 163. 1957.

ying luo mu zu

Leaves pinnate. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic; bracteoles often persistent, sepaloid or petaloid, valvate, completely enclosing flower bud. Receptacle very short or tubular. Sepals absent to 5(–7). Petals absent to 5. Fertile stamens 3–10 or numerous; anthers dorsifixed, cells opening lengthwise. Stalk usually adnate to receptacle.

About 25 genera: mainly in tropical Africa; one genus introduced to China.

23. TAMARINDUS Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 34. 1753.

suan dou shu

Trees. Leaves abruptly pinnate, alternate; leaflets 10 to numerous paired; stipules caducous, small. Racemes or racemes arranged in panicles at ends of shoots; bracts and bracteoles often caducous, colored, ovate-oblong. Calyx tube narrowly turbinate, segments 4, imbricate. Petals only upper 3 developed, subequal in length, lower 2 reduced, scalelike, concealed at base of staminal tube. Perfect stamens 3, connate into an ascending, curved tube or sheath from middle downward; filaments short; anthers dorsifixed; staminodes few, minute, at apex of sheath. Ovary stalked, stalk adnate to calyx tube; ovules numerous; style elongated; stigma capitate. Pod narrowly terete, indehiscent, epicarp thin, crustaceous, mesocarp thick and pulp, endocarp membranous, septate between seeds. Seeds compressed, obliquely oblong or obliquely ovoid-orbicular; cotyledons thick, fleshy; embryo erect.

Monotypic; native of Africa, widely cultivated in the tropics, also in China.

1. Tamarindus indica Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 34. 1753.

suan dou

Trees, 10–15(–25) m tall. Trunk 30–50(–90) cm d.b.h. Bark dark ashy, irregularly longitudinally splitting. Leaflets oblong, small, 1.3–2.8 cm × 5–9 mm, glabrous, base obliquely rounded, apex rounded or emarginate. Flowers few, yellowish tinged with purplish red stripes; peduncles and pedicels yellowish green puberulous; bracteoles 2, ca. 1 cm, enclosing flower bud before anthesis. Calyx tube ca. 7 mm; lobes lanceolate-oblong, ca. 1.2 cm, reflexed after anthesis. Petals obovate, subequal to calyx lobes, margin repand, curled. Stamens 1.2–1.5 cm, pubescent near base, free parts of filaments ca. 7 mm; anthers elliptic, ca. 2.5 mm. Ovary slightly incurved, terete, ca. 8 mm, hairy. Pod brownish, straight or arcuate, terete-oblong, turgid, 5–14 cm, often irregularly constricted. Seeds 3–14, brownish, shiny. Fl. May–Aug, fr. Dec–May. 2n = 24, 26, 28*.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, ?Hainan, Yunnan (Jinsha Jiang valley) [native of Africa, widely cultivated in tropics].

The pulp of the fruit and the seed oil are edible. The fruit can be used medicinally for relieving fever and constipation, and as an antiscorbutic. The wood is hard and heavy, used for building houses, and making farm tools and furniture. The trunk is robust, with wind resistant strength, and suitable to plant on seashores.