骆驼刺属 luo tuo ci shu
Xu Langran, Kai Larsen
Herbs perennial to subshrubs, spiny. Leaves simple, entire; stipules subulate. Racemes axillary, with bracts and bracteoles. Calyx campanulate; teeth subequal. Corolla red to purple. Stamens 9+1 diadelphous; anthers uniform. Ovary with many ovules; stigma capitate. Legume moniliform, indehiscent.
About five species distributed in Nepal, C Asia, and the Mediterranean to N Africa; one species in China.
This genus contains good foliage plants and sand-fixing plants. Sugar secreted on the leaves can be used to treat people for headaches caused by neuroses.
Xu Langran. 1998. Alhagi. In: Cui Hongbin, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 42(2): 163–164.
骆驼刺 luo tuo ci
Subshrubs, 25–50 cm tall. Stems erect, caespitose. Leaves alternate; stipules subulate, ca. 1 mm; stipes [petioles?] 3–4 mm; blades ovate, obovate, or obovate-orbicular to elliptic, 0.8–1.5 × 0.6–1 cm, glabrous. Peduncles ligneous; racemes lax, 3–8-flowered; rachis indurate, terminating in a strong spine; pedicels 1–3 mm; bracts subulate, ca. 1 mm; bracteoles 2 at base of calyx. Calyx campanulate, 4–5 mm, pubescent; teeth triangular to subulate-triangular, 1/4–1/3 as long as tube. Corolla red-purple; standard narrowly obovate, 8–9 mm; wings ca. 3/4 as long as standard; keel subequaling standard. Ovary sessile, glabrous. Legume straight to slightly curved, 1.2–2.5 cm, glabrous. Fl. Jun–Jul, fr. Jul–Aug. 2n = 14.
Desert plains, low hills; 100–700 m. N Gansu, W Nei Mongol, W Qinghai, Xinjiang [Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, W Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan].
The calyx teeth are variable, even on the same plant; therefore, it is difficult to distinguish from other species westward in neighboring countries.