FABACEAE Subfam. MIMOSOIDEAE [Draft]

含羞草亚科  han xiu cao ya ke

Wu Delin^[1]; Ivan Nielsen^[2]

Trees or shrubs, sometimes lianas or rarely herbs. Leaves alternate, usually bipinnate, rarely once pinnate or becoming a phyllodium, scaly or absent; stipules present or absent, sometimes developing into paired spines; petiole with pulvinus; pinnae usually opposite; leaf rachis or petiole usually with glands. Inflorescences: cylindric spikes or globose heads, rarely racemes or rearranged into panicles; bracts usually deciduous, small; bracteoles deciduous or absent. Flowers small, bisexual, sometimes unisexual, or some neuter and sterile, actinomorphic. Calyx tubular (rarely sepals free), usually 5 (rarely 3-, 4-, 6-, or 7)-toothed; lobes valvate in bud (rarely imbricate). Petals as many as calyx teeth, valvate in bud, free or connate into a tube. Stamens as many as corolla lobes or numerous, or many, free or connate into a tube at base, free part of filaments usually exserted; anthers small, dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits, often with a deciduous gland at tip; pollen grains in monads or very often in tetrads or polyads. Pistils usually 1, rarely 2–15 (not in China); ovary superior, 1-loculed; ovules mostly numerous; style slender; stigma small. Pod straight or contorted, dehiscent or indehiscent, sometimes breaking into 1-seeded segments. Seeds usually plano-compressed, in a few genera overgrown testa hard, usually with pleurogram.

About 78 genera, 3270 species*: widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, especially in Australia, Central and South America, only a few species extending into temperate areas; 15 genera and 67 species in China (including 20 introduced species) (seven endemic).

Dichrostachys cinera (Linnaeus) Wight & Arnott and Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) A. P. de Candolle were treated in the FRPS; however, they are omitted here because they are uncommon and not naturalized in China.

Wu Delin (Wu Telin) 1988. Leguminosae–Mimosoideae in Chen Techao, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 39: 2–74.

* Lewis, G. 2005. Legumes of the World, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, U.K.

Key to genera

1a.     Stamens 10 or fewer.

2a.    Climber or herb.

3a.     Woody climber; leaves with pinnae in 2 pairs, tendrils present; pod jointed .......  3. Entada

3b.     Perennial herb; leaves with pinnae in 4–10 pairs, without tendrils; pod not jointed  4. Neptunia

2b.    Tree, shrub, or subshrub.

4a.     Tall tree, 6–30 m tall.

5a.     Pinnae with leaflets in 28–60 pairs; flowers in club-shaped pendulous head; pod basally attenuate into a long stipe .................................................................................................  1. Parkia

5b.     Pinnae with leaflets in 4–7 pairs; flowers in racemes or panicles; pod basally not attenuate into a long stipe ..............................................................................................  2. Adenanthera

4b.     Small tree, shrub, or subshrub, 0.5–6 m tall.

6a.     Armed plant; pod dehiscent in several segments separating from persistent sutures; leaflets sensitive ..............................................................................................................  6. Mimosa

6b.     Unarmed plant; pod not dehiscent in several segments separating from persistent sutures; leaflets not sensitive.

7a.    Small tree or shrub, 2–6 m tall; pinnae with leaflets in 5–15 pairs; pod broadly linear  5. Leucaena

7b.    Subshrub, 0.5–1.3 m tall; pinnae with leaflets in 6–21 pairs; pod linear  7. Desmanthus

1b.     Stamens numerous, usually more than 10.

8a.    Filaments free or only connate at base ................................................................  8. Acacia

8b.    Filaments connate into a tube.

9a.     Pod dehiscent into 2 valves.

10a.   Pod curved into a circle; stipules spinescent .................................  10. Pithecellobium

10b.   Pod straight or slightly curved; stipules not spinescent.

11a.   Pod with thickened sutures, elastically dehiscing from apex and downward; seeds with pleurogram .....................................................................................................  9. Calliandra

11b.   Pod without thickened sutures, dehiscing along both dorsal and ventral sutures; seeds without pleurogram ..............................................................................  14. Archdendron

9b.     Pod indehiscent or tardy dehiscent.

12a.   Pod contorted into a half or full circle ............................................ 13. Enterolobium

12b.   Pod straight.

13a.   Flowers in spikes .........................................................................  11. Falcataria

13b.   Flowers in head or short corymbs.

14a.   Pod septate between seeds, thick, fleshy ..................................... 15. Samanea

14b.   Pod not septate between seeds, flat, thin ......................................... 12. Albizia

 

1. PARKIA R. Brown in Denham & Clapperton, Narr. Travels Africa 234. 1826.

球花豆属  qiu hua dou shu

Trees, unarmed. Leaves bipinnate, with numerous pinnae and leaflets. Inflorescences solitary and axillary, or several at apices of branches, large and clavate or depressed-globose, pedunculate. Flowers very numerous. Fertile flowers (bisexual) at upper part of heads, yellow to red, lower sterile ones (male or neuter) white or red. Calyx cylindric; teeth 5, very short and imbricate. Petals 5, linear-spatulate, free or connate to middle. Stamens 10, free or connate at base and adnate to corolla; anthers oblong, usually tipped by a gland. Ovary sessile or funiculate; ovules numerous; style filiform; stigma terminal. Petals of lower sterile flowers often free. Staminodes 10, in a long bundle, free distally, filiform. Pod straight or curved, oblong or elongate, compressed, rather woody or fleshy, 2-valved. Seeds transverse, ovoid, thick or compressed; pleurogram if present ± elliptic.

Thirty-four species: tropical regions of Africa, the Americas, and Asia; two species cultivated in China.

1a.     Leaflets 5–10 × 1–2 mm, lateral veins inconspicuous .......................................  1. P. timoriana

1b.     Leaflets 10–14 × 3–4.2 mm, lateral veins abaxially prominent ..........................  2. P. leiophylla

 

1. Parkia timoriana (A. P. de Candolle) Merrill, Philipp. J. Sci., C. 5: 33. 1910.

球花豆  qiu hua dou

Inga timoriana A. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 2: 442. 1825; Parkia roxburghii G. Don.

Trees, to 30 m tall. Branchlets brown. Leaf rachis more than 30 cm, glabrous or pubescent; petiolar gland elliptic to circular 2–4 mm; pinnae 20–30(–42) pairs, pinna rachis 9–12 cm; leaflets 50–60 pairs, falcate or slightly sigmoid, linear, 5–10 × 1–2 mm, lateral veins inconspicuous, base truncate, apex acute. Heads 3–4 cm in diam.; peduncles pendent, 20–45 cm. Flowers small. Calyx tubular, ca. 6 mm. Corolla tubular, 10–11 mm, 5-lobed; lobes 1–1.5 mm, villous. Stamens 10; filaments exserted 2–3.5 mm beyond calyx, base adnate to collar. Ovary funiculate. Pod straight, strap-shaped, flat, 20–36 × 3–4.5 cm, glabrous, base attenuate into a stipe 6–15 cm. Seeds 13–21, black, ovoid, ca. 2 cm, hard. Fr. Feb–Apr.

Cultivated in Taiwan [native to tropical Asia].

2. Parkia leiophylla Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 42(2): 73. 1873.

大叶球花豆  da ye qiu hua dou

Trees, to 30 m tall. Branchlets brown, pubescent when young. Leaf rachis 30–60 cm, petiolar gland broadly elliptic, 4–6 mm; pinnae (11–)15–20 pairs, pinna rachis 10–15 cm, fulvo-pubescent; leaflets sessile, 28–56 pairs, linear-falcate, 10–14 × ca. 3 mm, rigidly leathery, both surfaces glabrous except ciliate along margin, lateral veins prominent abaxially, base subtruncate, unilaterally slightly auriculate, apex obliquely acute. Heads with peduncles 30–45 cm, several together racemiform. Flowers yellow. Calyx 8–10 mm; lobes orbicular, yellow tomentose. Corolla tubular, 10.5–11.5 mm; lobes ca. 1.5 mm, oblong, acute. Staminal tube 9–9.5 mm; anthers 1–1.5 mm. Ovary funiculate. Pod black, slightly torulose, (15–)30–45 × ca. 3 cm, glabrous, shiny, base attenuate into a stipe 12–22 cm, apex rounded. Seeds obliquely arranged, 6–15. Fl. Mar, fr. Sep–Nov.

Dry evergreen and mixed deciduous forests, thickets, along brooks; 500–600 m. Cultivated in Yunnan (Xishuangbanna) [Myanmar, Thailand].

2. ADENANTHERA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 384. 1753.

海紅豆屬  hai hong dou shu

Trees, unarmed. Leaves bipinnate, spirally arranged, without glands; stipules caducous, small; leaflets alternate, in many pairs, small. Inflorescence a raceme or panicle, axillary or terminal. Flowers white or yellowish, bisexual or polygamous, shortly pedicellate. Calyx campanulate, shortly 5-toothed. Petals 5, lanceolate, coherent below middle or soon free. Stamens 10, free, slightly longer than petals; anthers ovoid, with a deciduous gland at apex. Ovary sessile, many ovuled; style filiform. Pod straight, falcate, or slightly twisted, strap-shaped, leathery, septate between seeds, dehiscent along sutures when ripe. Seeds thick; testa scarlet or 2-colored, hard, with pleurogram, mostly enclosed by a thin pulp.

Twelve species: tropical Asia and the Pacific islands; one species in China.

1. Adenanthera microsperma Teijsmann & Binnendijk, Natuurk. Tijdschr. Ned.-Indië 27: 58. 1864.

海紅豆  hai hong dou

Adenanthera microsperma var. luteosemiralis G. A. Fu & Y. K. Yang; A. pavonina Linnaeus var. microsperma (Teysmann & Binnendijk) I. C. Nielsen; [??A. pavonina subsp. microsperma [auth.??] var. luteo-semina Y. K. Yang et al.??where published??]

Trees, deciduous, 5–20 m tall. Branchlets puberulent. Petiole and rachis puberulent; pinnae 3–5 pairs; leaflets 4–7 pairs, with short petiolules, alternate, oblong or ovate, 2.5–3.5 × 1.5–2.5 cm, both surfaces puberulent, both ends rounded-obtuse. Racemes simple, axillary or arranged in panicles at apices of branchlets, puberulent. Flowers white or yellow, small, fragrant, shortly pedicellate. Calyx less than 1 mm, together with pedicel golden yellow puberulous. Petals oblong, 2.5–3.5 mm, usually glabrous but occasionally puberulous toward apex, slightly connate at base. Stamens 3–4.5 mm; anthers 0.5 mm. Ovary nearly sessile, villous; style filiform; stigma small. Pod narrowly oblong, 10–20 × 1.2–1.4 cm, valves contorted after dehiscence. Seeds scarlet or yellow, suborbicular to ellipsoidal, 5–8 × 4.5–7 mm. Fl. Apr–Jul, fr. Jul–Oct.

Valleys, along streams, forests, cultivated in gardens; sea level to 1000 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

3. ENTADA Adanson, Fam. Pl. 2: 318. 1763, nom. cons.

榼藤屬  ke teng shu

Shrubs, scandent, large, usually unarmed. Leaves bipinnate; stipules small, setaceous; petiolar gland absent; terminal pair of pinnae sometimes transformed into a tendril; leaflets opposite, 1 to many pairs. Spikes axillary or supra-axillary, slender, solitary or arranged in a racemelike panicle. Flowers bisexual or polygamous, 5-merous, sessile. Calyx campanulate, shortly dentate. Petals free or slightly united at base. Stamens 10, shortly connate at base and adnate to petals, much exserted; anthers with a deciduous gland at apex; filaments filiform. Ovary subsessile; ovules numerous; style filiform; stigma minute. Pod straight or curved to spirally twisted, plano-compressed, large and long, leathery or woody; valves splitting transversely at maturity into 1-seeded segments; segments falling away from suture, which persists as an empty frame. Seeds globose to orbicular, large; testa brown, thick, without pleurogram (in Asia).

Approximately 30 species: mainly in tropical Africa and the Americas; three species in China.

1a.     Shrub, trailing or scandent, with large fleshy tuber underground; leaflets 8–11 pairs per pinna, 1.1–1.9 × 0.4–0.8 cm ...............................................................................................................  1. E. parvifolia

1b.     Climber, very large, without fleshy tuber; leaflets 1–5 pairs per pinna, 2.3–9 × 1.3–4.5 cm.

2a.    Leaflets 1or 2 pair(s) per pinna; pod with a parchmentlike endocarp .......  2. E. phaseoloides

2b.    Leaflets 3 or 4(or 5) pairs per pinna; pod with a woody endocarp ....................  3. E. rheedii

 

1. Entada parvifolia Merrill, Philipp. J. Sci., C. 3: 229. 1908.

小叶榼藤  xiao ye ke teng

Entada philippinensis Gagnepain.

Shrubs, scandent, with large, fleshy tuber underground. Stems terete, glabrous. Pinnae 2 pairs, 4.5–7.5 cm; leaflets 8–11 pairs per pinna, obliquely oblong, 1.1–1.9 cm × 4–8 mm, base half cuneate, half rounded, apex rounded to mucronulate or slightly emarginate. Spikes supra-axillary, ca. 15 cm. Flowers bisexual or male. Calyx cup-shaped, to 1 mm. Petals oblong-linear, ca. 3 mm, apex mucronate. Stamens 5.5–7 mm. Ovary ca. 1.5 mm, glabrous. Pod dark brown, oblong, ca. 30 × 5 cm; segments 2.3–3 cm, epicarp rigidly papery, endocarp thinly parchmentlike. Seeds dark brown, irregularly ovoid, ca. 1.8 × 1.6 cm. Fl. and fr. Aug–Nov.

Forests; 100–600 m. Taiwan (Hengchun Peninsula) [Japan (Ryukyus), Philippines].

2. Entada phaseoloides (Linnaeus) Merrill, Philipp. J. Sci., C. 9: 86. 1914.

榼藤  ke teng

Lens phaseoloides Linnaeus in Stickman, Herb. Amboin. 18. 1754; E. koshunensis Hayata & Kanehira; E. scandens (Linnaeus) Bentham, p.p.; Mimosa scandens Linnaeus.

Climbers, evergreen, large, woody. Stems often spirally twisted. Branches glabrous. Leaves 10–25 cm; petiole short; pinnae usually 2 pairs; leaflets 1 or 2 pairs, apical pair of pinnae transformed into a tendril, elliptic or narrowly obovate, 3–9 × 1.5–4.5 cm, leathery, base slightly oblique, apex obtuse, emarginate. Spikes 15–25 cm, solitary or arranged in a panicle, villous; bracts pubescent. Flowers slightly fragant. Calyx campanulate, ca. 2 mm, 5-toothed. Petals 5, green with reddish base, oblong, ca. 4 mm, glabrous, slightly united at base, apex acute. Stamens white, slightly longer than corolla. Ovary glabrous; style filiform. Pod curved, flat, to 1 m × 8–12 cm, with a parchmentlike endocarp. Seeds dark brown, orbicular, flat, 4–6 cm in diam.; testa brown, brilliant, woody. Fl. Mar–Jun, fr. Aug–Nov. 2n = 28.

Forests; 200–1300 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan [tropical and subtropical Asia, tropical Australia].

This plant is poisonous; it is used medicinally.

3. Entada rheedii Sprengel, Syst. Veg. 2: 325. 1825.

眼镜豆  yan jing dou

Entada formosana Kanehira; E. laotica Gagnepain; E. monostachya A. P. de Candolle; E. pursaetha A. P. de Candolle; E. pursaetha subsp. sinohimalensis Grierson & Long.

Climbers, woody. Pinnae 2 pairs, 5–15 cm; leaflets 3 or 4(or 5) pairs per pinna, opposite, obovate to elliptic-lanceolate, unequal sided, 2.3–7 × 1.3–3.5 cm, papery, abaxially glaucous, base rounded to broadly cuneate, apex acuminate to obtuse, or emarginate. Spikes solitary or fasciculate, axillary, 12–25 cm. Flowers male or bisexual. Calyx green, cup-shaped, 0.8–1 mm. Petals white, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, 2.8–3 mm. Stamens white, turning yellow, 5–6.5 mm. Ovary glabrous. Pod straight to slightly curved, to 2 m × 7–15 cm; segments 6.5–7.5 cm, epicarp and endocarp woody. Seeds brown, brilliant, suborbicular, flat, 3.5–4 × ca. 1 cm. Fl. Mar–Apr, fr. Aug–Oct.

Forests; 100–900 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan [E Africa, Mascarene Islands, tropical Asia and Australia].

The bark and seeds contain saponin, which is used as a substitute for soap.

4. NEPTUNIA Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 653. 1790.

假含羞草属  jia han qiu cao shu

Subshrubs, diffuse, or herbs perennial, sometimes prostrate or floating, unarmed. Leaves bipinnate, sensitive to touch; stipules obliquely cordate, membranous; rachis with or without glands; pinnae not glandular; leaflets opposite, several to numerous pairs, small. Heads solitary, ovoid-globose, pedunculate, with bisexual flowers in distal part, and sterile flowers with elongate staminodes at base. Calyx campanulate, shortly 5-dentate. Petals 5, free or fused at base. Stamens 10, rarely 5, free; anthers with or without a small gland at apex. Staminodes 10, petaloid and elongate in neuter flowers. Ovary funiculate; ovules numerous; style filiform; stigma concave. Pod deflexed from stipe, oblong, plano-compressed, subseptate between seeds or rarely 1-seeded. Seeds transverse, ovoid, compressed, funicle filiform.

Eleven species: tropical and subtropical regions, especially in Australia and the Americas; one introduced species in China.

1. Neptunia plena (Linnaeus) Bentham, J. Bot. (Hooker) 4: 355. 1842.

假含羞草  jia han qiu cao

Mimosa plena Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 519. 1753.

Herbs, perennial, terrestrial or subaquatic. Stems erect or ascending, branched. Stipules persistent, lanceolate, ca. 1 cm, base obliquely cordate; pinnae 4–10 pairs, with a suppressed gland between or just below lowest pair of pinnae; leaflets 9–40 pairs per pinna, linear-oblong, 4–18 × 1.5–3 mm, both surfaces glabrous, base rounded, apex obtuse, acute, or mucronate. Heads ovoid, ca. 2 cm. Bisexual flowers on upper part, neuter at base. Calyx campanulate, ca. 1.5 mm, 5-dentate. Petals lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, fused at base. Stamens 10; filaments ca. 6 mm, with stipitate gland at apex. Staminodes petal-like, 8–10 mm. Pod oblong, 5–10 × 1.6–2 cm. Seeds 5–20. Fl. Aug–Oct, fr. Oct–Nov.

Planted or occasionally escaped in wet places; sea level to 100 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Taiwan [native to tropical America].

5. LEUCAENA Bentham, J. Bot. (Hooker) 4: 416. 1842.

銀合歡屬  yin he huan shu

Trees or shrubs, evergreen, unarmed. Leaves bipinnate; stipules deciduous, small, setaceous; petiole often glandular; leaflets opposite, numerous and small, or few and larger, oblique. Heads solitary or fasciculate, axillary, globose, pedunculate; bracts usually 2. Flowers sessile, usually bisexual. Calyx campanulate, 5-toothed. Petals 5, free or nearly so. Stamens 10, free, exserted; anthers apically eglandular. Ovary funiculate; ovules numerous; style filiform. Pod stipitate, broadly linear, plano-compressed, leathery, 2-valved, continuous within. Seeds transverse, ovoid, flat.

Twenty two species: all in the Americas, one introduced and naturalized in the Old World; one introduced species in China.

1. Leucaena leucocephala (Lamarck) de Wit, Taxon 10: 54. l961.

銀合歡  yin he huan

Mimosa leucocephala Lamarck, Encycl. Meth. Bot. 1: 12. 1783; Leucaena glauca (Willdenow) Bentham; M. glauca Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1504. 1763, not 1753.

Shrubs or small trees, 2–6 m tall. Branchlets pubescent, glabrous when old, with brown lenticels. Stipules caducous, deltoid, very small; pinnae 4–8 pairs, 5–9(–16) cm, rachis pubescent with black glands at location of lowest pinnae; leaflets 5–15 pairs, linear-oblong, 7–13 × 1.5–3 mm, main vein close to upper margin, base cuneate, margin ciliate, apex acute. Heads usually 1 or 2, axillary, 2–3 cm in diam.; peduncle 2–4 cm; bracts deciduous, pubescent. Flowers white. Calyx ca. 3 mm, outside glabrous at base, puberulous at apex, 5-toothed. Petals narrowly oblanceolate, ca. 5 mm, outside pubescent. Stamens 10, sparsely pubescent, ca. 7 mm. Ovary shortly funiculate, sparsely pubescent; stigma cupulate. Pod straight, strap-shaped, flat, 10–18 × 1.4–2 cm, leathery, base attenuate, pedicel to 3 cm, pubescent, beak acute, hard. Seeds 6–25, brown, glossy, narrowly ovoid, flat, 6–9 × 3–4.5 mm. Fl. Apr–Jul, fr. Aug–Oct. 2n = 104*.

Cultivated and naturalized in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [originally from tropical America, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions].

This plant is grown for use as green manure and fodder.

6. MIMOSA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 516. 1753.

含羞草屬  han xiu cao shu

Shrubs or herbs, rarely trees or climbers, usually armed. Stipules not spinescent, usually 2 per pinna, small, caducous. Leaves bipinnate, often sensitive. Heads globose or spikes cylindric, solitary or fasciculate, axillary, pedunculate. Flowers small, bisexual or polygamous, sessile, usually 4-merous. Calyx connate, valvate, campanulate, toothed. Petals connate at base. Stamens 4 or 8, free, exserted; anthers without glands. Ovary many ovuled; style filiform. Pod oblong or linear, usually plano-compressed, membranous or leathery, composed of 1-seeded segments, separating from persistent margins. Seeds elliptic or orbicular, flat.

About 500 species: mostly in tropical America; one naturalized species and two introduced species in China.

1a.     Pinnae 1 or 2 pairs ...........................................................................................  1. M. pudica

1b.     Pinnae 4–9 pairs.

2a.    Tall shrub or tree; stems terete ............................................................  2. M. bimucronata

2b.    Straggling woody shrub or semi-woody herb; stems angulate ....................  3. M. diplotricha

 

1. Mimosa pudica Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 518. 1753. 

含羞草  han xiu cao

Herbs, diffuse, shrubby, to 1 m tall. Stems cylindric, branched, with reflexed bristles and scattered, curved prickles. Stipules lanceolate, 5–10 mm, bristly; pinnae and leaflets sensitive; pinnae usually 2 pairs, digitate, 3–8 cm; leaflets 10–20 pairs, linear-lanceolate, 6–15 × 1.5–3 mm, abaxially slightly hispid, adaxially glabrous, margin ciliate, apex acute. Heads solitary or 2, axillary, globose, ca. 1 cm in diam.; peduncle long; bracts linear. Flowers numerous, pink, small. Calyx minute. Corolla campanulate; lobes outside pubescent. Stamens 4, exserted. Ovary shortly funiculate, glabrous; ovules 3 or 4; style filiform; stigma small. Pods arranged in a star, slightly recurved, flat, oblong, 1–2 cm × ca. 5 mm, consisting of 3–5 one-seeded segments which fall away from persistent, bristly sutures. Seeds light brown, ovoid, ca. 3.5 mm. Fl. Mar–Oct, fr. May–Nov. 2n = 52*. 

Wilderness, waste places, or cultivated; [sea level to 1500 m]. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Jiangsu, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [native to tropical America, naturalized in tropical regions of the world].

This plant is grown as an ornamental; and used medicinally as a sedative and a sleep aid.

2. Mimosa bimucronata (A. P. de Candolle) O. Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 198. 1891.

光荚含羞草  guang jia han xiu cao

Acacia bimucronata A. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 2: 469. 1825; Mimosa sepiaria Bentham.

Shrubs, deciduous, 3–6 m tall. Branchlets unarmed in distal parts, in lower parts armed by recurved prickles to 1 cm, densely yellow tomentose. Pinnae 4–9 pairs, to 1.5–8 cm; rachis unarmed, pubescent; leaflets 12–16 pairs, linear, 5–7 × 1–1.5 mm, leathery, glabrous to puberulous with ciliate margin, main vein near upper side, apex mucronate. Heads globose, forming a spreading panicle with compound, spreading lower branches. Flowers white, scented. Calyx cup-shaped, minute. Petals oblong, 2.5–4 mm, connate at base. Stamens 8; filaments 4–5 mm. Ovary initially glabrous. Pod brown, straight, strap-shaped, 3.5–4.5 × ca. 0.6 cm, unarmed, finely reticulate-venulose, usually with 4–8 segments. Seeds olivaceous, ovoid, compressed, ca. 4.5 mm. 2n = 26*.

Introduced in Guangdong, escaped in thin forests [South America (native to NE Argentina and E Brazil)].

3. Mimosa diplotricha C. Wright ex Sauvalle, Anales Acad. Ci. Med. Habana 5: 405. 1868.

巴西含羞草  guang jia han qiu cao

Subshrubs or perennial herbs Stems scandent or prostrate, to 5 m, 4-angulate, hirsute, with or without prickles along angles. Leaves 10–15 cm; petiole and rachis with 4 rows of recurved prickles; pinnae (3–)7 or 10 pairs, 2–4.5 cm; leaflets (11–)20–30 pairs per pinna, linear-oblong, 3–5 × 1–2 mm, both surfaces white villous. Heads 1 or 2, axillary, ca. 1 cm in diam. (including filaments); peduncles 5–10 mm. Flowers bisexual. Calyx inconspicuous, ca. 0.4 mm. Corolla narrowly funnel-shaped, ca. 2.5 mm, 4-lobed, outside slightly pubescent. Stamens 8; filaments pale purple-pink. Ovary ca. 1 mm. Pods in clusters, slightly curved, oblong, 1.5–3.5 × 0.4–0.5 cm, with or without prickly bristles. Seeds yellow-brown, ca. 3.5 mm. 2n = 26*.

Cultivated or naturalized in Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [Native to tropical America, introduced throughout the tropics].

This species is planted as a cover crop.

1a.. Plant with prickles .....................................................................................  3a. var. diplotricha

1b.. Plant without prickles .......................................................................................  3b. var. inermis

 

3a. Mimosa diplotricha var. diplotricha

巴西含羞草  ba xi han xiu cao

Mimosa invisa Martius (1837), nom. illeg., not Martius ex Colla (1834).

Plants with prickles.

Cultivated or naturalized in Guangdong, Hainan, Yunnan [native to tropical America, introduced throughout the tropics].

3b. Mimosa diplotricha var. inermis (Adelbert) Veldkamp, Fl. Males. Bull. 9: 416. 1987.

无刺巴西含羞草  wu ci ba xi han xiu cao

Mimosa invisa Martius ex Colla var. inermis Adelbert, Reinwardtia 2: 359. 1953.

Plants without prickles.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Yunnan [originally from Java, widely cultivated in tropical regions].

7. DESMANTHUS Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 4: 1044. 1806 ['1805'], nom. cons.

合欢草属  he huan cao shu

Trees, shrubs, or herbs perennial. Leaves bipinnate; stipules persistent, setaceous; pinnae 1–15 pairs; leaflets small; petiolar gland often between lower pair. Heads solitary, axillary, ovoid-globose. Flowers all bisexual, or lower male or neuter and sometimes without petals but with short staminodes. Calyx campanulate, shortly dentate. Petals free or nearly so. Stamens 10 or 5, free, exserted; anthers eglandular at apex. Ovary subsessile; ovules numerous; style subulate or thickened distally; stigma terminal. Pod straight or falcate, linear, plano-compressed to terete, 2-valved, continuous within or subseptate between seeds. Seeds oriented lengthwise or oblique, ovoid to ellipsoidal, compressed.

About 24 species: mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas; one introduced species in China.

1. Desmanthus pernambucanus (Linnaeus) Thellung, Mem. Soc. Nat. Sci. Cherbourgh, ser. 4, 38: 256. 1911-12.

合欢草  he huan cao

Mimosa pernambucana Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 519. 1753.

Subshrubs, to 2 m tall. Stem glabrous or slightly puberulent, angulate. Stipules subulate; petiolar gland on lowest pair of pinnae; pinnae 2–6 pairs, 1.2–2.5 cm; leaflets 6–21 pairs per pinna, oblong, 4–6 × ca. 2 mm, ciliate along margin, slightly asymmetric, base truncate, apex acute. Heads axillary, ca. 5 mm in diam., 4–10-flowered; bracteoles ovate, caducous. Flowers white, upper ones bisexual, lower ones male. Calyx campanulate, ca. 2.5 mm, 5-dentate. Petals 5, narrowly lanceolate, 3–4 mm. Stamens 10, ca. 5 mm, free. Ovary oblong, ca. 2 mm. Pod reddish brown, straight or slightly curved, linear, 4–11 × 0.2–0.4 cm. Seeds dark brown, rectangular, ca. 3 mm.

Naturalized in Guangdong, Taiwan, Yunnan [native to tropical America, widely cultivated in the tropics].

This species is planted as a cover crop.

8. ACACIA Miller, Gard. Dict. ed. 4. 1754.

金合欢属  jin he huan shu

Trees, shrubs, or lianas, armed or unarmed. Stipules spinescent or not. Leaves bipinnate or modified to phyllodes by dilation of petiole and proximal part of rachis; extrafloral nectaries usually present on petiole and rachis or absent; leaflets opposite (in China), sessile or shortly stalked. Inflorescences consisting of pedunculate glomerules or spikes borne in axillary clusters or aggregated into terminal panicles. Flowers bisexual, or male and bisexual, tetra- or penta-merous, uniform. Sepals connate, valvate. Petals valvate, rarely absent. Stamens numerous, exerted; filaments free or connate at base; anthers glandular or not. Ovary sessile or stiputate, ovules many or 2 rows; style filiform; stigma capitate, small. Pod extremely variable, dehiscent or indehiscent; endocarp not separated from exocarp, not forming envelope around each seed. Seeds usually elliptic to oblong, ± flattened, with a hard black-brown testa with pleurogram, wingless; aril usually absent, but present in some phyllodinous species.

About 1200 species: tropical and subtropical regions, especially Pacific and Africa; 18 species (including cultivated species) in China.

Acacia senegal (Linnaeus) Willldenow and A. nilotica (Linnaeus) Delile were compiled in the FRPS (39. 1988), but are not treated here because they are uncommonly cultivated in China.

1a.     Leaves reduced to phyllodes.

2a.    Phyllodes 10–20 × 1.5–6 cm; inflorescence a spike ..............................  1. A. auriculiformis

2b.    Phyllodes 6–10 × 0.4–1 cm; inflorescence a head .........................................  2. A. confusa

1b.     Leaves bipinnate.

3a.    Flowers in racemes.

4a.     Tree armed; pinnae 10–30 pairs ................................................................ 7. A. catechu

4b.     Shrub unarmed; pinnae 5–15 pairs.

5a.     Racemes 2–5 cm; midveins of leaflets close to upper margin .......... 8. A. yunnanensis

5b.     Racemes shorter than 2 cm; midveins of leaflets subcentral ..................... 5. A. glauca

3b.    Flowers in heads, then rearranged in panicles.

6a.     Tree or shrub.

7a.     Shrub armed; stipules spinescent .................................................... 18. A. farnesiana

7b.     Shrubs unarmed or rarely with sparse prickles.

8a.    Leaflets 4–8 mm.

9a.     Leaflets glabrous; heads 6–8 mm in diam. ...............................  4. A. decurrens

9b.     Leaflets sparsely pubescent; heads ca. 10 mm in diam. ..............  13. A. teniana

8b.    Leaflets 2–4 mm.

10a.   Leaflets 2.6–3.5 × 0.4–0.5 mm; pod 7–12 mm wide, glabrous, glaucous  3. A. dealbata

10b.   Leaflets 2–3 × 0.8–1 mm; pod 4–5 mm wide, pubescent .............  6. A. mearnsii

6b.     Climber.

11a.   Midvein of leaflets starting centrally or subcentrally.

12a.   Base of leaflets truncate, leaflets densely puberulous ..................  9. A. tonkinensis

12b.   Base of leaflets rounded to cuneate, leaflets abaxially glabrous to faintly adpressed puberulous     10. A. caesia

11b.   Midvein starting marginally.

13a.   Lateral veins of leaflets abaxially not forming a reticulate pattern.

14a.   Petiolar gland in lower half of petiole, usually just above basal pulvinus; leaflets apically sharply acute, often bent forward ........................................................  16. A. pennata

14b.   Petiolar gland at or above middle of petiole; leaflets apically obtuse, straight  17. A. megaladena

13b.   Lateral veins of leaflets abaxially forming a reticulate pattern.

15a.   Midvein parallel to upper margin of leaflets ........................  11. A. vietnamensis

15b.   Midvein not parallel to upper margin of leaflets.

16a.   Leaflets membranous, with a wrinkled appearance when dried; pod fleshy, with wrinkled surfaces seeming to break into segments ............................  12. A. concinna

16b.   Leaflets papery, without a wrinkled appearance when dried; pod papery, smooth, not seeming to break into segments.

17a.   Branchlets glaucous, puberulous to tomentose when young  14. A. pruinescens

17b.   Branchlets brownish, glabrous ........................................  15. A. delavayi

 

1. Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunningham ex Bentham, London J. Bot. 1: 377. 1842.

大叶相思  da ye xiang si

Trees, evergreen, to 20 m tall. Bark gray-white, smooth. Branches pendulous; branchlets angular, glabrous, with conspicuous lenticels. Phyllodes falcate-oblong, 10–20 × 1.5–4(–6) cm, conspicuous main veins 3 or 4, both ends attenuate. Spikes 1 to several, fasciculate, axillary or terminal, 3.5–8 cm. Flowers orange-yellow. Calyx 0.5–1 mm, shallowly dentate. Petals oblong, 1.5–2 mm. Filaments 2.5–4 mm. Ovary densely puberulous. Pod contorted when mature, 5–8 × 0.8–1.2 cm, valves woody. Seeds ca. 12, black, ca. 5 × 3.5 mm. 2n = 26*.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Zhejiang [native to N Australia and New Guinea].

2. Acacia confusa Merrill, Philipp. J. Sci., C. 5: 27. 1910.

臺灣相思  tai wan xiang si

Trees, evergreen, 6–15 m tall, glabrous. Branches gray or brown, unarmed; branchlets slender, angular. Phyllodes straight or slightly falcate, linear-lanceolate, 6-10 × 0.5-1.3 cm, leathery, both surfaces glabrous, conspicuous longitudinal veins (3–)5(–8), both ends acuminate, apex slightly obtuse, usually with hooked acumen. Heads solitary or 2- or 3-fasiculate, axillary, globose, ca. 0.7 cm in diam.; peduncles 7–13 mm, slender. Flowers golden-yellow, fragrant. Calyx 1–1.3 mm. Petals greenish, 1.5–1.9 mm. Stamens numerous, ca. 3.5 mm. Ovary yellow-brown villous; style ca. 4 mm. Pod black-brown, flat, 4–9(–12) × 0.7–1 cm. Seeds broadly elliptic, 5–6 × 3.5–5 mm. Fl. Mar–Oct, fr. Aug–Dec. 2n = 26*.

Widely cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Philippines].

This tree is grown for its wood and tannins. The seeds are poisonous.

3. Acacia dealbata Link, Enum. Pl. Berol. 2: 445. 1822.

银荆  yin jing

Acacia decurrens Willdenow var. dealbata (Link) Maiden.

Shrubs or trees, small, ca. 15 m tall, unarmed. Young branchlets slightly angular with ridges gray tomentose, glaucous. Leaves argenteous to greenish or golden when leaves not extended; rachis not angulate; glands at rachis of pinna insertion; pinnae 10–20(–25); leaflets 26–46 pairs, dense, distance between leaflets not more than itself, linear, 2.6–3.5 × 0.4–0.5 mm, abaxially or both surfaces gray-white pubescent. Heads 6–7 mm in diam., arranged in axillary racemes or panicles; peduncles ca. 3 mm. Flowers yellowish or orange-yellow. Pod red-brown or black, glaucous, oblong, flat, 3–8 cm × 7–12 mm, glabrous. Seeds elliptic, flat. Fl. Apr, fr. Jul–Aug. 2n = 26.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [native to Australia].

This species is grown for its tannins and as a honey plant.

4. Acacia decurrens Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 4: 1072. 1806.

线叶金合欢  xian ye jin he huan

Trees, unarmed, 7–15 m tall. Branchlets glabrous, conspicuously angulate. Leaf glands on rachis between leaflets; pinnae (3–)7–15 pairs; leaflets widely spaced, 15–45 pairs, linear, 5–10 × 0.3–0.8 mm, main vein close to upper margin. Heads 6–8 mm in diam., arranged in racemes or panicles. Flowers yellow. Calyx shortly ciliate. Petals with conspicuous midvein. Stamens exerted. Pod oblong, flat, 2–10.5 cm × 4–8.5 mm, almost leathery, constricted between seeds. Seeds ovoid. Fl. Jan–Apr, fr. May–Aug. 2n = 26*.

Cultivated in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang [native to Australia].

This plant is grown for its tannins.

5. Acacia glauca (Linnaeus) Moench, Methodus 466. 1794.

灰合欢  hui he huan

Mimosa glauca Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 520. 1753; Acaciella villosa (Swartz) Britton & Rose; A. villosa (Swartz) Willdenow; M. villosa Swartz.

Shrubs, unarmed, 3–8 m tall. Branchlets and petioles pubescent. Stipules deciduous, lanceolate; pinnae 5–8 pairs, 3–6 cm, not glandular; leaflets 10–30 pairs, oblong, 4–8 × 1–3 mm, both surfaces glabrous or abaxially sparsely pubescent, midvein near middle, bilaterally slightly asymmetric, base rounded, margin ciliate, apex obtuse-rounded, or very shortly mucronate. Racemes 2–6-fasciculate, axillary, oblong or subglobose, 1–1.5 cm, 20–30-flowered; peduncles 1–1.5 cm. Flowers slightly fragrant; pedicels 1–2 mm. Calyx cup-shaped, ca. 0.5 mm. Corolla 2.5–3 mm, base tubular. Stamens numerous, initially white, turning yellow, 6–7 mm. Pod oblong, compressed, 4.5–6.6 × 1.5–2 cm, membranous, often irregularly constricted, villous. Seeds 3–6. Fl. and fr. Jul–Nov.

Introduced in Fujian, Guangdong [native to West Indies].

This is a host plant of the lac insect.

6. Acacia mearnsii de Wildeman, Pl. Bequaert. 3: 62. 1925.

黑荆  hei jing

Trees, 9–15 m tall. Branchlets angulate, gray-white tomentose. Young leaves golden tomentose, mature leaves gray pubescent; rachis not angulate; pinnae 6–30 pairs, 0.5–5.5 cm, glands at rachis of pinna insertion and elsewhere; leaflets to 10–68 pairs, dense, linear, to 0.7–6 × 0.4–0.8(–1) mm, margin, abaxially, or sometimes both surfaces pubescent. Heads globose, 6–7 mm in diam., arranged in axillary racemes or terminal panicles; peduncles 7–10 mm; rachis yellow, densely tomentose. Flowers yellowish or white. Pod black, oblong, flat, 5–10 cm × 4–5 mm, slightly constricted between seeds, pubescent. Seeds black, shiny, ovoid. Fl. Jun, fr. Aug.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Native to Australia].

This species is grown for its tannins and as a honey plant.

7. Acacia catechu (Linnaeus f. ) Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 4: 1079. 1806.

儿茶  er cha

Mimosa catechu Linnaeus f., Suppl. Pl. 439. 1781; Acacia catechu var. wallichiana (A. P. de Candolle) P. C. Huang.

Trees, deciduous, small, 6–10 m tall. Bark laminarly split. Branchlets pubescent, often with a pair of flat, brown, hooked spines below stipules or without spines. Leaf glands near petiolar base and between several upper leaflets of rachis, rachis villous; pinnae 10–30 pairs; leaflets 20–50 pairs, linear, 2–6 × 1–1.5 mm, ciliate. Spikes 1–4, axillary, 2.5–10 cm. Flowers yellowish or white. Calyx campanulate, 1.2–1.5 cm; teeth deltoid, hairy. Petals lanceolate or oblanceolate, ca. 2.5 cm, sparsely pubescent. Stamens numerous, Ovary ca. 1 mm, glabrous. Pod brown, straight, strap-shaped, 12–15 × 1–1.8 cm, nitid, dehiscent, stalk 3–7 mm, apex rostrate. Seeds 3–10. Fl. Apr–Aug, fr. Sep to following Jan. 2n = 26.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan (escaped in wild), Zhejiang [Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand; Africa].

This plant is used medicinally.

8. Acacia yunnanensis Franchet, Pl. Delavay. 193. 1890.

云南相思树  yun nan xiang si shu

Shrubs, 4–5 m tall, pubescent throughout, generally unarmed; old branches with recurved prickles on internodes. Stipules deciduous, oblong; petiole with raised, elliptic gland; pinnae 5–15 pairs, 2–5 cm; leaflets oblong, 4–10 × 1.8–2 mm, midvein close to upper margin, both surfaces sparsely pubescent, base obtuse-rounded, apex acute. Racemes 2–5 cm, 2- or 3-fasciculate or arranged in panicle. Calyx ca. 2.5 mm. Corolla ca. 5 mm; lobes ca. 2 mm, densely golden tomentose. Filaments ca. 1.1 cm. Ovary pubescent, with ca. 1 mm funicle; style ca 3 mm. Pod oblong, ca. 15 × 2–3 cm, base attenuate, stalklike, apex long acuminate, slightly constricted between seeds. Seeds brown, flat. Fl. May.

* Thickets; 1700–2200 m. Sichuan, Yunnan.

9. Acacia tonkinensis I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 358. 1980.

滇南金合欢  dian nan jin he huan

Climbers, armed with scattered, recurved prickles on internodes. Branchlets hirsute, with light glands. Stipules caducous, filiform, 4–6 mm; petiole 3.2–5.5 cm, with 2 hollow glands above base and at or above middle, ca. 1.5 mm in diam.; leaflets 17–33 pairs, oblong to subfalcate, 5–9.5 × 2–2.5 mm, adaxial surface and margin strigose, main vein starting centrally at base, running eccentrically toward apex, not parallel to upper margin, lateral veins inconspicuous, base fully truncate, apex asymmetrically rounded-truncate, apiculate, bent forward. Heads with bracts projecting beyond flowers in bud. Calyx lobes adnate at base only, oblong, ca. 2 mm. Corolla ca. 2.5 mm; lobes triangular-ovate, ca. 1 mm. Stamens numerous. Ovary puberulous. Pod red-brown, oblong, flat, 1.3–2.4 × ca. 1.2–1.3 cm, papery, margin slightly sinuate, with glandular hairs, dehiscent. Seeds irregularly ellipsoidal, 8–12 × 5–7 mm.

Thin forests; 400–700 m. S Yunnan [Laos, N Vietnam].

10. Acacia caesia (Linnaeus) Willdenow, Sp. Pl., ed. 4. 4: 1090. 1806.

尖叶相思  jian ye xiang si

Mimosa caesia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 522. 1753; Acacia caesia var. subnuda (Craib) I. C. Nielsen; A. intsia Willdenow var. caesia (Linnaeus) Wight & Arnott ex Baker; A. intsia var. oxyphylla Geahan ex Baker.

Climbers, with recurved prickles on internodes. Branchlets and leaf rachis tomentose or glabrous. Stipules filiform, ca. 3 × 1 mm. Leaf petiole with gland 0.3–1 cm above base, in lower half of petiole, and glands on rachis between several upper; pinnae 6–8(–13) pairs, 3.5–9.5 cm; leaflets 8–19 pairs, oblong, (0.6–)1–1.2 cm × (1.1–)4–5 mm, both surfaces glabrous, main vein starting from center of leaf base, close and parallel to upper margin, apex apiculate. Heads less than 1.2 cm in diam., 1–4 arranged in panicles; peduncles tomentose. Flowers yellow. Calyx 1.5–2 mm; lobes ovate, 0.3–0.5 mm, apex acute. Corolla 2–3 mm; lobes ovate-elliptic, (0.5–)1 mm. Ovary 0.8–1 mm, puberulous to velutinous; funicle ca. 1.5 mm. Pod strap-shaped, 10–15 × 2–3 cm, dehiscent, sutures straight or slightly sinuous, base attenuate, stalklike. Seeds 8–12. Fl. Sep, fr. Nov.

Secondary forests; 200–2500 m. Guangdong, Hainan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].

11. Acacia vietnamensis I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 360. 1980.

越南金合欢  yue nan jin he huan

Shrubs, scandent, armed with scattered, recurved thorns. Young branchlets puberulous, with glandular hairs, glabrescent. Leaf petiole 4–5 cm; glands above base, elliptic, 0.5–1 mm, raised, flat to slightly concave, rachis glands sessile; leaflets 25–40 pairs, sessile, oblong, 4–6.5 × 1–1.5 mm, midvein starting eccentrically at base, running parallel to upper margin, lateral veins reticulate, base asymmetrically truncate, apex very asymmetrically acute, bent forward. Calyx campanulate, 1.8–2 mm; teeth triangular, ca. 0.5 mm, glandular puberulous. Corolla ca. 2.5 mm, glandular puberulous; lobes elliptic, ca. 1.1 mm. Stamens numerous. Ovary velutinous. Pod (immature) red-brown, oblong, flat, ca. 11 × 2.8 cm, papery, with light glandular hairs. Seeds unknown. Fl. Mar–Jul, fr. Jun–Dec.

Thickets. Guangxi, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang [Laos, Vietnam].

12. Acacia concinna (Willdenow) A. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 2: 464. 1825.

藤金合歡  teng jin he huan

Mimosa concinna Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 4: 1039. 1806; A. sinuata (Loureiro) Merrill (1935), not Jacques (1860); M. sinuata Loureiro.

Climbers, scandent shrubs, or small trees. Branchlets and leaf rachises gray tomentose; prickles abundant, minute, hooked. Stipules deciduous, ovate-cordate, 3–8 × 1.5–6 mm. Leaf 10–20 cm; pinnae 6–18 pairs, 8–12 cm; glands near base of petiole and one between uppermost pinnae; leaflets 15–25 pairs, glaucous abaxially, greenish adaxially, linear-oblong, 8–12 × 2–3 mm, membranous, with a wrinkled appearance when dry, both surfaces hirsute or glabrescent, margin ciliate, midvein near upper margin. Heads globose, 9–12 mm in diam., arranged in a panicle; branches tomentose. Flowers white or yellowish, fragrant. Calyx funnel-shaped, ca. 2 mm. Corolla slightly exserted. Ovary glabrous or sericeous, funiculate. Pod brown, strap-shaped, 8–15 × 2–3 cm, fleshy, with wrinkled surfaces, sutures straight or slightly sinuate, seeming to break into segments. Seeds 6–10. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Jul–Dec.

Thin forests, thickets; 200–1100 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Yunnan [tropical Asia].

This plant is important for its tannins, and is used medicinally.

Because E. D. Merrill did not mention any type specimens of Acacia sinuata (Loureiro) Merrill based on Mimosa sinuata Loureiro, the name is regarded by us as dubious (cf. I. C. Nielson 1980).

13. Acacia teniana Harms, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 17: 133. 1921.

无刺金合欢  wu ci jin he huan

Trees, small, or shrubs, ca. 3 m tall, armed with recurved prickles at internodes. Bark brown or grayish, often split. Young branchlets pubescent, glabrescent. Leaf gland at middle part of petiole, soon deciduous or without gland; pinnae 7–13 pairs, 7–12 cm or longer, pubescent; leaflets 20–40 pairs, obliquely lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 4–8 mm, sparsely sericeous when young, margin ciliate, midvein oblique, apex acute or slightly acute. Heads ca. 1 cm in diam., 2–6 in axillary or terminal panicles; peduncles 2–4 cm, villous. Flowers puberulent or subglabrous. Calyx ca. 2 mm. Corolla ca. 3 mm. Filaments ca. 5 mm. Ovary glabrous. Pod oblong, 8–10 × 2.5–3 cm. Fl. May–Jun., fr. Jan of following year.

* Forests; 800–1500 m. Sichuan, Yunnan.

14. Acacia pruinescens Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal. 45(2): 298. 1876.

粉被金合欢  fen bei jin he huan

Acacia pruinescens var. luchunensis C. Chen & H. Sun.

Climbers, woody, or scandent shrubs. Branchlets with recurved spines, glaucous and pubescent when young. Stipules cordate-hastate, pubescent; petiole with oblong gland above base; pinnae 9–11 pairs, 3.3–9 cm, rachis pubescent, with few recurved spines; leaflets numerous, sessile, linear, 7–11(–16) × 1.8–2.5(–4) mm, glabrous or ciliate, midvein close to upper margin, base truncate, apex obtuse. Heads arranged in axillary panicles to 25 cm; peduncles 1.5–2.2 cm. Flowers yellow. Calyx tubular, 2–3 mm, pubescent, apex truncate. Corolla 3–4 mm; tube glabrous; lobes 0.5–1.5 mm, sparsely pubescent or glabrous. Stamens numerous, with deciduous gland at apex. Ovary apically sparsely pubescent. Pod brownish, oblong, flat, 18–20 × 2.9–3.2 cm, both ends acute, sutures thickened, glabrous. Seeds oblong, 7–10 mm. Fl. Apr, fr. Jun–Oct.

Thin forests; 1200–1600 m. Guangxi, Yunnan [Myanmar, Vietnam].

15. Acacia delavayi Franchet, Pl. Delavay. 194. 1890.

光叶金合欢  guang ye jin he huan

Climbers. Branchlets brownish, glabrous, angulate, with short straight or slightly recurved prickles. Leaf petiole short, spinose; pinnae 3–5 pairs, 14–20 cm; leaflets dense, linear, 6–7 mm × less than 2 mm wide, glabrous, base obtuse or auriculate, apex obtuse. Heads solitary or paired, axillary, globose, ca. 1 cm in diam.; peduncles 3–4 cm. Calyx ca. 2 mm; lobes ca. 0.4 mm, apex acute. Corolla 3–3.5 mm; lobes ca. 1 mm, glabrous. Stamens ca. 2 × as long as corolla. Ovary ca. 1 mm, velutinous; funicle ca. 1.5 mm. Pod oblong, very flat, 8–10 × 2–3 cm, subleathery, both ends subrounded or obtuse, dehiscent. Seeds 7–9, gray, oblong-rhombic, flat. Fl. Jul, fr. Sep.

* Mountains; 1700–2200 m. Guizhou, Yunnan.

1a.. Base of leaflets obtuse .................................................................................  15a. var. delavayi

1b.. Base of leaflets auriculate ....................................................................  15b. var. kunmingensis

15a. Acacia delavayi var. delavayi

光叶金合欢  guang ye jin he huan

Acacia cavaleriei H. Léveillé.

Base of leaflets obtuse.

* Mountains; 1700–2200 m. Yunnan.

15b. Acacia delavayi var. kunmingensis C. Chen & H. Sun, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 12: 262. 1990.

昆明金合欢  kun ming jin he huan

Base of leaflets auriculate.

* Secondary forests; ca. 1500 m. Guizhou, Yunnan (Kunming).

16. Acacia pennata (Linnaeus) Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 4: 1090. 1806.

羽葉金合歡  yu ye jin he huan

Mimosa pennata Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 522. 1753.

Climbers, with copious, scattered prickles. Branchlets and leaf rachis ferruginous pubescent. Stipules (ovate-)lanceolate, 3–5 × 1–1.5 cm, cuspidate. Leaves: petiolar glands subpulvinate, narrowly terete or slightly obconic, 0.3–3 mm in diam., below middle of petiole, usually just above basal pulvinus and several between distal pinnae. Pinnae 8–22 pairs; leaflets 30–54 pairs, densely crowded, linear, 5–10 × 0.5–1.5 mm, midvein near upper margin, base truncate, margin ciliate, apex sharply acute, asymmetrical, bent forward, often nearly hooked. Heads solitary or 2- or 3-fasciculate, globose, ca. 1 cm in diam., arranged in axillary or terminal panicles; peduncles 1–2 cm, yellow pubescent or reddish glandular hairy. Flowers pedicellate or subsessile. Calyx subcampanulate, 1.5–2.5 mm, 5-toothed. Corolla 2–3.2(–4.2) mm. Ovary puberulent, funiculate. Pod strap-shaped, 9–20 × 2–3.5 cm, glabrous or finely puberulent when young, sutures slightly sinuate. Seeds black, 8–12, narrowly elliptic, 6–10 × 4.5–7 mm, flat. Fl. Mar–Oct, fr. Jul–Apr of following year.

Thin forests. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, ?Guizhou, Hainan, Yunnan, ?Zhejiang [Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, ?Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].

1a.. Leaflets broadly acute, straight at apex ........................................................... 16a. subsp. kerrii

1b.. Leaflets sharply acute, asymmetrical at apex, bent forward ...................  16b. subsp. hainanensis

 

16a. Acacia pennata subsp. kerrii I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 353. 1980.

羽叶金合欢  yu ye jin he huan

Glands subpulvinate, elliptic, 1–3 mm in diam. Leaflets broadly acute, straight at apex, main vein not parallel to upper margin. Inflorescences yellow pubescent. Corolla 2.5–3.2 mm.

Thin forests, thickets. Yunnan [Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].

16b. Acacia pennata subsp. hainanensis (Hayata) I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 352. 1980.

海南羽叶金合欢  hai nan yu ye jin he huan

Acacia hainanensis Hayata, Icon. Pl. Formosan. 3: 86. 1913.

Glands narrowly terete or slightly obconic, 0.3–0.8 mm in diam. Leaflets sharply acute, bent forward. Inflorescences reddish glandular hairy. Flowers subsessile. Corolla 2–2.5 mm.

Thin forests, thickets. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan [India, Myanmar, Vietnam].

17. Acacia megaladena Desvaux, J. Bot. (Desvaux) 1: 69. 1814.

钝叶金合欢  dun ye jin he huan

Climbers, woody. Young branchlets pubescent and glandular hairy, glabrescent when old. Stipules linear to filiform, 2–3 cm; petiole 2.5–6.5 cm; glands at or above middle, elliptic and raised, rarely flat; pinnae 8–20 pairs, rachis 2–12 cm; leaflets 19–81 pairs, oblong, (2–)3.5–7.5 × 0.8–1.5 mm, both surfaces glabrous, except ciliate along margin, midvein close to upper margin, base truncate, unequal, apex obtuse, straight. Heads globose, arranged in terminal or axillary panicles. Flowers sessile or subsessile. Calyx 1.7–2.9 mm, glabrous, puberulent, or velutinous, 5-toothed. Corolla light yellow, 2–4.2 mm, glabrous or puberulent; lobes oblong or narrowly obovate, 0.8–1.1 mm. Stamens numerous. Ovary sericeous, shortly funiculate. Pod red-brown, oblong, flat, 9.5–17 × 1.3–3.5 cm, papery, glabrous. Seeds brown, ovoid-ellipsoidal to ellipsoidal, flat, 7–9 × 4.5–5.5 mm. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct.

Thin forests, thickets; [800–1600 m]. Guangxi, Yunnan [widely distributed in tropical Asia].

1a. Calyx glabrous to faintly puberulent; corolla 2–3.4 mm ..............................  17a. var. megaladena

1b. Calyx velutinous; corolla ca. 4.2 mm ...............................................................  17b. var. garretii

17a. Acacia megaladena var. megaladena

钝叶金合欢  dun ye jin he huan

Acacia arrophula D. Don ex Wallich; A. pennata (Linnaeus) Willdenow var. arrophula (D. Don ex Wallich) Baker.

Calyx glabrous to faintly puberulent. Corolla 2–3.4 mm.

Thin forests, thickets; [800–1600 m]. Guangxi, Yunnan [widely distributed in tropical Asia].

17b. Acacia megaladena var. garrettii I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, Ser. 2, 19: 351. 1980.

盘腺金合欢  pan xian jin he huan

Calyx velutinous. Corolla c a. 4.2 mm.

Thin forests, thickets; ca. 1600 m. Guangxi, Yunnan [Thailand].

18. Acacia farnesiana (Linnaeus) Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 4: 1083. 1806.

金合欢  jin he huan

Mimosa farnesiana Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. l: 521, 1753; Vachellia farnesiana (Linnaeus) Wight & Arnott.

Shrubs or small trees, 2–4 m tall. Bark brown, rough. Branches numerous; branchlets zigzag, with small lenticels. Leaves 2–7 cm; stipules spinelike, spines 1–2 cm, shorter on short branchlets; leaf rachis villous, glandular; pinnae 4–8 pairs, axillary, 1.5–3.5 cm in diam; leaflets 10–20 pairs, linear-oblong, 2–6 × 1–1.5 mm, glabrous. Heads 1–3, axillary, 1–1.5 cm in diam.; peduncles 1–3 cm, hairy; bracts at or near tip of peduncle. Flowers yellow, fragrant. Calyx ca. 1.5 mm, 5-toothed. Corolla ca. 2.5 mm, 5-toothed. Stamens ca. 2 × as long as corolla. Ovary cylindric, puberulent. Pod brown, straight or curved, turgid, subcylindric, 3–7 cm × 8–15 mm, glabrous, scarcely dehiscent, filled with a pith, which separates seeds from each other. Seeds several, brown, ovoid, ca. 6 mm. Fl. Mar–Jun, fr. Jul–Dec. 2n = 26, 52.

Cultivated. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [native to tropical America, cultivated throughout the tropics].

This species is grown as a hedge plant, and is used medicinally and for dyes and gums.

9. CALLIANDRA Bentham, J. Bot. (Hooker) 2: 138. 1840, nom. cons.

朱缨花屬  zhu ying hua shu

Shrubs or small trees, usually unarmed. Leaves bipinnate, eglandular; stipules often persistent, or sometimes spinescent, rarely absent; pinnae 1 to several pairs; leaflets opposite, small and numerous, or larger and from few pairs to only one. Heads globose and axillary, or racemes terminal. Flowers (5- or)6-merous, polygamous. Calyx campanulate, toothed. Petals united to middle; middle flowers sometimes heteromorphic with an elongated tubular corolla. Stamens numerous (to 100), red or white, ± united into a tube and long exerted, showy; anthers mostly glandular hairy. Ovary sessile, ovules numerous; style filiform. Pod slightly falcate, strap-shaped, flat, rigidly leathery, often narrowed to base, margin thickened, 2-valved, valves elastically opening from apex to base, continuous inside. Seeds obovoid or orbicular, compressed, testa hard, with pleurogram, without aril.

About 200 species: mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, a few in India, Madagascar, and Myanmar; two species (one native, one cultivated) in China.

Calliandra riparia Pittier (C. surinanensis Bentham) is not treated here because it is not commonly cultivated in China.

1a.. Stipules spinelike ...............................................................................................  1. C. umbrosa

1b.. Stipules not spinelike, ovate-lanceolate ....................................................  2. C. haematocephala

 

1. Calliandra umbrosa (Wallich) Bentham in Bentham & Hooker, Gen. Pl. 1: 597. 1865.

云南朱缨花  yun nan zhu ying hua

Inga umbrosa Wallich, Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 23, t. 124. 1831.

Shrubs, 1–2 m tall. Branchlets terete. Stipules spinelike, 0.5–1.5 cm; petiole 0.4–5 cm, glabrous; pinnae 1 pair, 2–5.5 cm, with a pair of large sessile leaflets at apex and an odd one much smaller below on outside, all with a gland on rachis at base; leaflets oblong to elliptic, 3–15 × 1.5–7.5 cm, subleathery, base cuneate, often oblique, apex acuminate. Heads axillary or on old branches; peduncles 3–4 cm. Flowers homogenous, tetramerous. Calyx campanulate, ca. 1.3 mm, slightly 4-toothed. Corolla funnel-shaped, ca. 7 mm. Stamens numerous; filaments white. Ovary glabrous. Pod strap-shaped, flat, 10–14 × 2–2.4 cm, margin thickened, base attenuate, apex rounded, oblique, mucronate, dehiscent from apex to base. Seeds 4. Fl. Aug–Oct, fr. Jan–Mar.

Thickets; 300–400 m. Yunnan (Ying Jiang) [India].

2. Calliandra haematocephala Hasskarl, Retzia 1: 216. 1855.

朱缨花  zhu ying hua

Shrubs or small trees, deciduous, 1–3 m tall. Branchlets brown, cylindric, rough. Stipules persistent, ovate-lanceolate; petiole 1–2.5 cm; pinnae 1 pair, 8–13 cm; petiolules ca. 1 mm; leaflets 7–9 pairs, obliquely lanceolate, 2–4 cm × 7–15 mm, sparsely pilose along margin, midvein close to upper margin, base oblique, apex obtuse, mucronate. Heads axillary, ca. 3 cm in diam. (including filaments); peduncles 1–3.5 cm. Calyx campanulate, ca. 2 mm. Corolla purplish; tube 3.5–5 mm, 5-lobed; lobes reflexed, ca. 3 mm, glabrous. Stamens numerous, scarlet, very brilliant; staminal tube white, ca. 6 cm, mouth inside with a subulate appendix; filaments deep red, ca. 2 cm. Pod dull brown, linear-oblanceolate, 6–11 cm × 5–13 mm, valves elastically open from apex to base along sutures when ripe, reflexed. Seeds 5 or 6, brown, oblong, 7–10 × ca. 4 mm. Fl. Aug–Sep, fr. Oct–Nov.

Cultivated in gardens of Fujian, Guangdong, Taiwan [native to South America].

This plant is grown as an ornamental.

10. PITHECELLOBIUM Martius, Flora 20(2) (Beibl. 8): 114. 1837, as "Pithecollobium," nom. cons.

牛蹄豆属  niu ti dou shu

Trees or shrubs, armed by spinescent stipules and stipels. Leaves bipinnate, not sensitive to touch; rachis and pinnae usually with extra-floral nectaries; leaflets 1 to several pairs per pinna. Inflorescences pedunculate glomerules or corymbs aggregated in terminal or axillary panicles. Flowers uniform, bisexual, 5-merous. Calyx shortly toothed. Corolla gamopetalous, 5-lobed. Stamens numerous, united into a tube at base. Ovary solitary. Pod straight or spirally contorted, in most species dark brown outside, reddish orange within, flat, dehiscing along both sutures. Seeds brown or blackish, obovoid or asymmetric; testa hard, with a pleurogram; funicle developed into an aril.

About 18 species: indigenous to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas; one introduced species in China.

1. Pithecellobium dulce (Roxburgh) Bentham, London J. Bot. 3: 213 . 1844.

牛蹄豆  niu ti dou

Mimosa dulcis Roxburgh, Pl. Coromandel. 1: 67. 1798.

Trees, evergreen. Branches often pendulous; branchlets armed with spinescent stipules. Pinnae 1 pair, with glands at junction of pinnae and leaflets; leaflets sessile, 1 pair per pinna, elliptic or obovate-elliptic, 2–5 × 0.2–2.5 cm, both surfaces glabrous, reticulate veins raised abaxially, base slightly oblique, apex obtuse or emarginate. Inflorescence pedunculate glomerules, aggregated in terminal panicles. Calyx infundibular, 1–1.5 mm, tomentose. Corolla ca. 6 mm. Stamens numerous, connate into a tube at base. Pod blackish brown, curved into a circle, flat, 5–7 cm in diam. Seeds dark brown, shiny, ovoid-ellipsoid, ca. 1.5 cm, hard, with pleurogram. Fl. Mar–Jun, fr. Jul. 2n = 26.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [native to tropical regions of Central and northern South America, cultivated throughout the tropics].

The timber is used for general construction, and the bark for its tannins.

11. FALCATARIA (I. C. Nielsen) R. C. Barneby & J. W. Grimes, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 74(1): 254. 1996.

南洋楹屬  nan yang ying shu

Paraserianthes sect. Falcataria I. C. Nielsen, Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat., B, Adansonia, 1983: 327. 1983.

Trees, unarmed. Leaves bipinnate; stipules caducous; pinnae 6–20 pairs; leaflets numerous, subsessile, opposite. Inflorescence axillary, consisting of 2- or 3- times branched panicles of few flowered spikes. Flowers homomorphic, sessile. Calyx broadly campanulate or hemispherical, 5(or 6)-toothed. Corolla sericeous; lobes as many as calyx teeth, ca. 1/4 connate into a tube. Stamens numerous. Ovary with an intrastaminal disc around base. Pod straight, broadly linear, plano-compressed, stiffly papery, narrowly winged along ventral suture, late dehiscent through both sutures. Testa hard, with pleurogram.

Three species: the Moluccas, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Queensland, one species cultivated in the New World; one introduced species in China.

1. Falcataria moluccana (Miquel) Barneby & J. W. Grimes, Mem. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 74(1): 255. 1966.

南洋楹  nan yang ying

Albizia moluccana Miquel, Fl. Ned. Ind. 1: 26. 1855; Adenanthera falcataria Linnaeus; Albizia falcata (Linnaeus) Backer; A. falcataria (Linnaeus) Fosberg; Paraserianthes falcataria (Linnaeus) I. C. Nielsen.

Trees, large, to 45 m tall. Branchlets minutely pubescent with many, tiny, pale lenticels. Stipules caducous, small; leaf rachis to 40 cm, usually with a large, oval, disc-shaped gland near base; pinnae 6–20 pairs, densely rusty tomentose, to 10 cm; leaflets 6–26 pairs, sessile, slightly falcate, obliquely oblong, 1–1.5 cm × 3–6 mm, abaxially sparsely (densely so on veins) puberulous, adaxially glabrous, midvein at ca. 1/4 lamina width along distal margin, other basal veins conspicuous, base obtuse-rounded or nearly cuneate, apex acute. Spike solitary, axillary, or several arranged in a panicle. Flowers greenish yellow to cream. Calyx broadly campanulate or hemispherical, ca. 2.5 mm, sericeous, with small teeth. Corolla 5–7 mm, sericeous; lobes oblong-ovate, 2.4–4 mm. Stamens ca. 1 cm. Pod straight, strap-shaped, flat, 10–13 × 1.3–2.3 cm, late dehiscent through both sutures. Seeds 10–15, compressed-ellipsoid, ca. 7 × 3 mm, testa brown, with narrow U-shaped pleurogram. Fl. Apr–Jul, fr. Sep–Dec. 2n = 26*.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan [New Guinea, Pacific islands (Moluccas, New Britain, Solomon Is.)].

This species is grown as an ornamental, and is widely planted in tropical countries as a fast-growing timber tree.

12. ALBIZIA Durazzini, Mag. Tosc. 3(4): 13. 1772.

合歡屬  he huan shu

Trees or shrubs, usually unarmed, rarely scandent and with short, recurved hooks. Leaves bipinnate; stipules usually small, rarely larger and caducous; petiole and rachis with glands; leaflets small in numerous pairs or larger in few pairs. Inflorescences of globose heads, arranged in axillary or terminal panicles. Flowers bisexual. Calyx campanulate or funnel-shaped, 5-toothed. Corolla funnel-shaped, upper part 5-lobed. Stamens numerous, connate into a tube at base, free part of filaments long exserted; anthers small. Central flowers of heads with broader calyx and much longer filament tube. Ovary flattened; style long, slender; stigma minute. Pod broadly linear or oblong, straight, plano-compressed, indehiscent, or dehiscent along both sutures, continuous inside. Seeds ovoid or orbicular, compressed, funicle filiform.

About 120–140 species: tropical to warm regions of the world; 16 species in China (two species endemic).

1a.     Midvein of leaflets medial or eccentrically close to lower margin.

2a.    Shrub or climber, with a recurved prickle below leaf scar .......................... 1. A. corniculata

2b.    Tree, unarmed.

3a.     Main vein of leaflets slightly eccentrical close to lower margin ...................  2. A. procera

3b.     Main vein medial.

4a.     Pinnae 1 pair; corolla 8–10 mm; seeds with U-shaped pleurogram ..  3. A. attopeuensis

4b.     Pinnae 1–4 pairs; corolla 6–7 mm; seeds with single pleurogram.

5a.    Flowers sessile; pedicel of pod without a joint ...........................  4. A. crassiramea

5b.    Flowers pedicellate; pedicel of pod with a joint.

6a.     Marginal flowers with glabrous calyces; pod indehiscent; seeds narrowly elliptic  5. A. retusa

6b.     Marginal flowers with puberulous to velutinous calyces; pod dehiscent; seeds orbicular in outline .................................................................................................  6. A. lucidior

1b.     Midvein of leaflets eccentrically close to upper margin.

8a.    Leaflets (1.5–)1.8–4.5 × 0.7–2 cm.

9a.     Flowers sessile; pedicel of pod not jointed ..........................................  7. A. odoratissima

9b.     Flowers pedicellate (except central flower); pedicel of pod jointed.

10a.   Both surfaces of leaflets hairy, 5–14 pairs.

11a.   Ovary glabrous ..............................................................................  8. A. kalkora

11b.   Ovary puberulous ........................................................................  9. A. duclouxii

10b.   Both surfaces of leaflets glabrous or abaxially sparsely puberulent.

12a.   Leaflets 4–8 pairs, apically rounded-obtuse or emarginate ...............  10. A. lebbeck

12b.   Leaflets 13–20 pairs, apically rounded and apiculate .....................  11. A. calcarea

8b.    Leaflets smaller than 1.8 × 1 cm.

13a.   Both surfaces of leaflets hairy.

14a.   Leaflets 8–15 pairs, falcate-oblong, 12–17 mm, apex acute .....................  12. A. mollis

14b.   Leaflets 10–22 pairs, oblong, 6–10 mm, apex obtuse ...........................  13. A. garrettii

13b.   Leaflets glabrous except at margin.

15a.   Corolla 10–12 mm; stamens 3–3.8 cm ...............................................  14 A. sherriffii

15b.   Corolla 6.5–8 mm; stamens shorter than 2.5 cm.

16a.   Stipules smaller than leaflets, linear; rachis of inflorescence short and zigzag; stamens pink          15. A. julibrissin

16b.   Stipules larger than leaflets, half-cordate; rachis of inflorescence long and straight; stamens green-white or yellow ..........................................................................  16. A. chinensis

 

1. Albizia corniculata (Loureiro) Druce, Rep. Bot. Exch. Cl. Brit. Isles 4: 603. 1917.

天香藤  tian xiang teng

Mimosa corniculata Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 2: 651. 1790; A. milletii Bentham.

Shrubs, scandent, or lianas ca. 20 m long. Branchlets often with a curved prickle below petiole. Stipules deciduous, small; petiole with a complanate gland near base; pinnae 2–6 pairs; leaflets 4–10 pairs, oblong or obovate-oblong, 1.2–2.5 × 0.7–1.5 cm; main vein at middle, abaxially puberulent, adaxially glabrous, base oblique, apex obtuse or emarginate or hardly mucronate. Heads usually 6–12-flowered, arranged in terminal or axillary panicles; peduncles 5–10 mm, soft, sparsely pubescent. Flowers dimorphic, sessile. Calyx less than 1 mm, calyx and corolla puberulent. Corolla white; tube ca. 4 mm; lobes ca. 2 mm. Filaments ca. 1 cm. Ovary glabrous, funiculate. Pod dehiscent, lorate, flat, 10–20 × 3–4 cm, glabrous. Seeds, brown, oblong. Fl. and fr. Apr–Nov.

Open fields and forests; 100–1000 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan [Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Philippines, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam].

2. Albizia procera (Roxburgh) Bentham, London J. Bot. 3: 89. 1844.

黄豆树  huang dou shu

Mimosa procera Roxburgh, Pl. Coromandel. 2: 12. 1798.

Trees, deciduous, to 15 m tall. Branchlets slightly pubescent or subglabrous. Leaf petiole with an oblong gland ca. 1 cm above base; pinnae 3–5 pairs, 15–20 cm; petiolules ca. 2 mm; leaflets 6–12 pairs, ovate to subrhombic, 3–4.5 × 1.2–2.2 cm, subleathery, sparsely appressed pubescent, main vein closer to lower side, base oblique, apex obtuse or emarginate. Heads ca. 20-flowered, arranged in axillary or terminal panicles. Flowers uniform, sessile. Calyx 2–3 mm, glabrous. Corolla yellow-white, ca. 6 mm; lobes lanceolate, ca. 2.5 mm, apex pubescent. Staminal tube longer than corolla tube. Ovary glabrous, subsessile. Pod lorate, flat, 10–15 × 1.5–2.5 cm, glabrous. Seeds 8–12, obovoid-elliptic; pleurogram obovate-elliptic. Fl. May–Sep, fr. Sep–Feb of following year.

Thin forests, thickets; 100–600 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [S and SE Asia].

3. Albizia attopeuensis (Pierre) I. C. Nielsen var. lauii (Merrill) I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 210. 1979.

海南合欢  hai nan he huan

Pithecellobium attopeuense Pierre, Fl. For. Cochinch. t. 396A. 1899; Albizia laui Merrill; Serialbizzia attopeuense (Pierre) Kostermans.

Trees, deciduous, ca. 10 m tall. Branchlets conspicuously lenticellate. Stipules inconspicuous. Pinnae 1 pair, 10–15 cm; glands at junction of pinnae and leaflets; petiolules 5–7 mm, shortly tomentose; leaflets 2–4 pairs, rarely 1 pair, oblong or narrowly ovate, 5–10 × 2.5–5.5 cm, leathery or subleathery, abaxially puberulent on veins, main vein central, net veins raised on both surfaces, base subrounded to broadly cuneate, slightly asymmetric. Heads several to more than 10-flowered, arranged in panicles, ferruginous-pubescent; peduncles 5–25 mm. Flowers dimorphic, yellowish, fragrant. Calyx tubular, 2–2.5 mm; teeth ovate-deltoid, outside densely pubescent. Corolla funnel-shaped, 8–10 mm; lobes oblong. Stamens 30–40; filaments ca. 3 cm, staminal tube shorter than corolla tube. Ovary linear, ca. 3.5 mm, sessile, glabrous. Pod oblong, compressed, 10–15 × 3–4 cm, glabrous, indehiscent. Seeds 9–12, black-brown, ellipsoidal; pleurogram shortly U-shaped. Fl. Feb–Jun, fr. Jun–Oct.

Forests; 200–300 m. Hainan [Laos, Thailand, Vietnam].

4. Albizia crassiramea Lace, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1915: 402. 1915.

白花合欢  bai hua he huan

Albizia lancangensis Y. Y. Qian; A. laotica Gagnepain; A. yunnanensis T. L. Wu.

Trees, 8–10 m tall. Branchlets ferruginous-pubescent, lenticellate. Stipules inconspicuous. Leaf glands elliptic, near base of petiole and near apex of rachis; pinnae 2–4 pairs; petiolules ca. 2 mm; leaflets 4–6 pairs, elliptic, ovate, or obovate, 2–7 × 1.5–4 cm, abaxially pubescent, adaxially glabrous, main vein central, slightly asymmetric, base obliquely truncate, apex rounded-obtuse. Heads 7–10-flowered, arranged in panicles; peduncles 2.5–3.5 cm, densely pubescent. Flowers dimorphic, sessile, white. Calyx cup-shaped, ca. 1 mm, 5-dentate, calyx and corolla yellowish or white tomentose. Corolla tube ca. 3.5 mm; lobes deltoid-ovate, ca. 2.5 mm. Stamens ca. 25; filaments ca. 2.5 cm, basally connate into a tube. Ovary glabrous, funicle ca. 1 mm. Pod dehiscent, red-brown, lorate, 15–22 × ca. 3.5 cm, thin, glabrous. Seeds 8–11, brown, elliptic, ca. 9 × 6 mm; pleurogram narrowly elliptic. Fl. Aug, fr. Nov.

Forests; 500–1300 m. Guangxi, Yunnan [Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

5. Albizia retusa Bentham, London J. Bot.:3: 90.1844.

兰屿合欢  lan yu he huan

Albizia littoralis Teijsmann & Binnendijk.

Trees, to 25 m tall. Branchlets terete, glabrous. Stipules inconspicuous. Leaf glands circular, with somewhat raised margins, ca. 0.5 cm above base; pinnae ca. 3 pairs; leaflets 4–6 pairs, ovate-subrhombic, 2–3 × 1–1.7 cm, both surfaces sparsely puberulous, main vein medial or almost so, base asymmetrical, broadly cuneate, apex rounded. Corymbs ca. 10-flowered, arranged in puberulous to tomentose panicles; peduncles ca. 2.5 cm. Flowers dimorphic, pedicellate. Calyx tubular, 2–3.5 mm; teeth inconspicuous. Corolla white, narrowly funnel-shaped, 7–9.5 mm; tube glabrous to faintly puberulous; lobes ± narrowly triangular, ca. 2.5 mm, puberulous to sericeous, apex acute. Stamens purple to pink; staminal tube irregularly split, intermediate between corolla tube and corolla. Ovary glabrous; funicle 1–2 mm. Pod indehiscent, yellowish, oblong, ca. 14 × 2.8 cm, bullate over seeds, glabrous. Seeds brown, narrowly elliptic, 8.5–9 × ca. 4.5 mm; pleurogram narrowly elliptic.

Sandy beaches, mangroves; low elevations. Taiwan [Indonesia, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Malaysia, Philippines, S Thailand; Australia, Pacific islands (Vanuatu)].

6. Albizia lucidior (Steudel) I. C. Nielsen ex H. Hara, Enum. Fl. Pl. Nepal 2: 104. 1979.

光叶合欢  guang ye he huan

Inga lucidior Steudel, Nomencl. Bot. ed. 2, 1: 810. 1840; Albizia bracteata Dunn; A. lucida Bentham; A. meyeri Ricker; Mimosa lucida Roxburgh (1832), non Vahl (1807).

Trees, 8–20 m tall. Branchlets glabrous, angulate. Stipules inconspicuous. Pinnae 1–3 pairs, with a gland near base of petiole and between uppermost pinnae; petiolules ca. 3 mm; leaflets 1–6 pairs, elliptic, oblong, or obliquely obovate, 5–11 × 1.5–6 cm, both surfaces glabrous or puberulent, midvein central, base attenuate to subrounded, apex acute, acuminate, or obtuse, sometimes mucronate. Heads arranged in terminal or axillary panicles. Calyx campanulate, 1.5–3 mm. Corolla funnel-shaped, 6–7 mm; lobes lanceolate, ca. 4 mm. Stamens numerous; tube 3–4 mm. Ovary glabrous. Pod dehiscent, brownish, straight, lorate, 10–30 × 2–4.5 cm. Seeds 4–9, brown, orbicular, 8–9 mm in diam. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Sep–Nov.

Secondary forests, thickets; 600–1900 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Taiwan, Yunnan [S to SE Asia].

This species is grown as an ornamental.

7. Albizia odoratissima (Linnaeus f.) Bentham, London J. Bot. 3: 88. 1844.

香合欢  xiang he huan

Mimosa odoratissima Linnaeus f., Suppl. 437. 1781.

Trees, evergreen, 5–15 m tall. Branchlets pubescent when young. Stipules filiform, ca. 2.5 mm, caducous. Leaf glands 1–2 cm above base of petiole and rachis between first and second pinnae, elliptic; pinnae 2–4(–6) pairs; leaflets sessile, 6–14 pairs, oblong, 2–3 × 0.7–1.4 cm, papery, both surfaces sparsely appressed pubescent, main vein eccentric, close to upper margin, base obliquely truncate, apex obtuse, sometimes mucronate. Heads arranged in panicles, ferruginous pubescent. Flowers dimorphic, 10–15, sessile, yellowish, fragrant. Calyx cup-shaped, 1–1.5 mm, puberulous to tomentose; teeth shorter than 0.25 mm. Corolla funnel-shaped, 4.5–6.5 mm; lobes lanceolate, 2–2.5 mm. Staminal tube ca. as long as corolla tube. Ovary ferruginous-tomentose; funicle ca. 1 mm. Pod oblong, compressed, 10–18 × 2–4 cm, densely pubescent when young, sparsely pubescent when mature. Seeds 6–12, ovate in outline, ca. 9 × 6 mm; pleurogram narrowly ovate. Fl. Apr–Jul, fr. Jun–Oct.

Thin forests; sea level to 1500 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].

8. Albizia kalkora (Roxburgh) Prain, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, 66: 511. 1897.

山槐  shan huai

Mimosa kalkora Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. ed 2, 2: 547. 1832; Acacia macrophylla Bunge; Albizia duclouxii Gagnepain; A. esquirolii H. Léveillé; A. henryi Ricker; A. longepedunculata Hayata; A. simeonis Harms.

Trees, small, or shrubs, deciduous, 3–8 m tall. Branchlets dark brown, pubescent, with conspicuous lenticels. Stipules inconspicuous. Leaf glands 1.5–3 cm above base, and at junctions of distal pairs of pinnae, circular to elliptic in outline. Pinnae 2–4 pairs; leaflets 5–14 pairs, oblong or oblong-ovate, 0.8–4.5 × 0.7–2 cm, both surfaces pubescent, main vein slightly close to upper margin, base oblique, apex obtuse, mucronate. Heads 2–7, axillary or terminal, arranged in panicles. Flowers dimorphic, primarily white, turning yellow, with conspicuous pedicels. Calyx tubular, 2–3 mm, 5-toothed, calyx and corolla villous. Corolla 6–8 mm; lobes lanceolate. Stamens 2.5–3.5 cm, basally connate into a tube; tube shorter than corolla tube. Ovary glabrous, funicle ca. 1 mm. Pod dehiscent, lorate, 7–17 × 1.5–3 cm, pubescent when young, glabrescent when mature. Seeds 4–12, obovoid or suborbicular; pleurogram oblong. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Oct. 2n = 26.

Thickets, thin forests; sea level to 2600 m. Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Zhejiang [India, Japan, Myanmar, Vietnam].

9. Albizia duclouxii Gagnepain, Notul. Syst. (Lecomte) 2: 116. 1911.

巧家合欢  qiao jia he huan

Trees, ca. 15 m tall. Branchlets brown, whitish tomentose. Stipules not observed. Leaf gland elliptic, close to base of petiole. Pinnae 1–3 pairs, ca. 10 cm; leaflets 7–13 pairs per pinna; oblong-falcate, 1.5–2.5 × 0.7–1.0 cm, both surfaces densely grayish tomentose, main vein excentric, close to distal margin, base asymmetrically rounded, apex obtuse to shortly attenuate. Peduncles 2 or 3 together, axillary at distal leaves, with dimorphic flowers in corymbs, ca. 3.5 cm in diam.; pedicels to 4 mm. Calyx narrowly campanulate-obconical, ca. 4 mm, hirsute; teeth deltoid, obtuse. Corolla broadly funnel-shaped, ca. 8 mm, tomentose; tube very short, only ca. 2 mm. Staminal tube ca. 4 mm, longer than corolla tube. Ovary fusiform, densely puberulous in distal half; style glabrous, funiculate. Pod and seeds unknown. Fl. Apr–May.

Forests; ca. 1000 m. Sichuan, Yunnan (Kien-che-pao, Lien-hoa-tang).

10. Albizia lebbeck (Linnaeus) Bentham, London J. Bot. 3: 87. 1844, ["lebbek”].

大葉合歡  da ye he huan

Mimosa lebbeck Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 516. 1753; ?Albizia longepedunculata Hayata, [‘Albizzia longepedunculata’].

Trees, deciduous, 8–12 m tall. Bark rough. Branchlets minutely pubescent, glabrous when old. Stipules caducous, small. Leaf rachis with disclike glands near base and at base of pinnae, pubescent or glabrous; pinnae 2–4 pairs, 6–15 cm; leaflets 4–8 pairs, narrowly elliptic or slightly obliquely oblong, 2–4.5 × (0.9–)1.3–2 cm, both surfaces glabrous or abaxially sparsely finely pubescent, main vein slightly closer to upper margin, apex obtuse or retuse. Peduncles axillary, 2 or more together, to 10 cm; corymbs 30–40-flowered. Flowers dimorphic, fragrant; pedicels 3–4 mm, puberulous. Calyx funnel-shaped, ca. 4 mm, puberulous, with short teeth. Corolla green-yellow, funnel-shaped, 7–8 mm; lobes deltoid-ovate. Stamens white or light yellow-green, tube shorter than corolla tube. Ovary glabrous, sessile. Pod straw-colored, strap-shaped, flat, 15–28 × 2.5–4.5 cm, remaining on trees long after ripening. Seeds brown, 4–12, ellipsoidal, ca. 10 × 6–7 mm; pleurogram parallel to margins of seed. Fl. May–Sep, fr. Oct–May of following year. 2n = 26*.

Planted along roadsides and in gardens. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka; native to tropical Africa, introduced and naturalized through tropical monsoon Asia].

This plant is grown as a roadside tree, and is used ornamentally and for timber.

11. Albizia calcarea Y. H. Huang, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 5: 132. 1983.

光腺合欢  guang xian he huan

Trees, ca. 15 m tall. Branchlets subglabrous, with small, orbicular lenticels. Petiole and rachis glabrous; glands near base of petiole, oblong, (2.5–)5–6 mm; pinnae (2–)4–9 pairs; petiolules absent or very short; leaflets 13–20 pairs, oblong, 1.5–3 × 0.8–1.4(–1.8) cm, both surfaces glabrous or abaxially sparsely villous, midvein slightly close to upper margin, base oblique, apex obtuse and mucronate. Heads solitary or fasciculate, terminal or axillary, ca. 20-flowered, arranged in panicles; peduncles to 15 cm. Pedicels ca. 3 mm. Calyx ca. 4 mm; teeth 1–1.5 mm, outside villous, apex acute. Corolla yellow-white, villous. Stamens ca. 3.5 mm; filaments connate into a tube at base. Ovary linear, glabrous. Pod brown, lorate, compressed, 10–20 × 2.5–4 cm, glabrous. Seeds oblong, ca. 8 mm. Fl. Jun, fr. Dec.

* Thin forests of limestone areas; 200–300 m. Guangxi.

12. Albizia mollis (Wallich) Boivin, Encycl. 19(2): 33. 1838.

毛叶合欢  mao ye he huan

Acacia mollis Wallich, Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 76. 1831; A. julibrissin Durazzini var. mollis (Wallich) Bentham.

Trees, 3–18(–30) m tall. Branchlets pubescent, angulate. Leaf glands near base of petiole and rachis of first pinnae insertion; rachis sulcate, villous. Pinnae 3–7 pairs, 6–9 cm; leaflets 8–15 pairs, falcate-oblong, 1.2–1.7 cm × 4–7 mm, densely villous or adaxially glabrescent when old, midvein close to upper margin, base truncate, apex mucronate. Heads arranged in axillary panicles. Flowers white; pedicels very short. Calyx campanulate, ca. 2 mm, calyx and corolla tomentose. Corolla ca. 7 mm; lobes deltoid, ca. 2 mm. Filaments ca. 2.5 cm. Pod brown, lorate, compressed, 10–16 × 2.5–3 cm. Seeds oblong, ca. 7 mm. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Dec. 2n = 26*.

Forests; 1500–2500 m. Guizhou, Xizang, Yunnan [India, Nepal].

This species is planted as a roadside tree and is used for wood.

13. Albizia garrettii I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 212. 1979.

黄毛合欢  huang mao he huan

Trees, 10–15 m tall. Young branchlets puberulous, glabrescent. Stipules inconspicuous; leaf glands 1–1.5 cm above base, and between junctions of 1 or 2 distal pairs of pinnae, elliptic or slitlike, 2–2.5 mm; pinnae 5–8 pairs, 4–10 cm; leaflets 10–22 pairs, sessile, oblong, 6–10(–15) × (3–)4–6 mm, abaxially puberulous with yellow hairs, adaxially glabrous with few scattered hairs, main vein close to upper margin, base asymmetrically truncate on one side, narrowly cuneate on other side, apex asymmetrically obtuse, mucronate. Corymbs ca. 35-flowered, axillary; peduncles ca. 5 cm. Flowers dimorphic, marginal flowers pedicellate. Calyx narrowly campanulate, ca. 3 mm; teeth triangular, 0.3–0.5 mm. Corolla funnel-shaped, 6.5–7 mm, puberulous; lobes ovate, ca. 2.5 mm. Staminal tube ca. as long as corolla tube. Ovary ca. 2.5 mm, glabrous; funicle ca. 0.5 mm. Pod dehiscent, brown, flat, ca. 14 × 3 cm, stalk ca. 6 mm, apex mucronate. Seeds ca. 10, elliptic, ca. 10 × 6–7 mm; pleurogram ca. 5 × 2 mm, parallel to margins of seed. Fl. May, fr. Aug–Nov.

Forests; ca. 1500 m. Yunnan [India (Assam), Myanmar, Thailand].

14. Albizia sherriffii Baker f., London J. Bot. 76: 20. 1938.

藏合欢  zang he huan

Trees, 6–9 m tall. Branchlets brown tomentose. Leaf petiole 2–3.5 cm, with gland at base of petiole and junction of first pinnae; rachis 10–20 cm, brown tomentose; pinnae 8–16 pairs, opposite or subopposite, 5–10 cm, subsessile; leaflets 13–27 pairs, subfalcate-oblong, 5–10 × 1.5–3 mm, abaxially pubescent, adaxially glabrous, midvein close to upper margin, base truncate, apex acute. Heads 6.5–7.5 cm in diam., 40–50-flowered; peduncles 7–10 cm, brown tomentose, with a gland apart from head ca. 1 cm. Calyx 6–6.5 mm, 5-toothed. Corolla yellow-white, 1–1.2 cm, pubescent. Stamens numerous, spreading, 3–3.8 cm; filaments marginally white, centrally golden yellow, basally connate into a tube 7–8 mm. Ovary linear, subglabrous. sessile. Pod dehiscent, lorate, flat, 10–14 × ca. 1.5 cm, densely tomentose, margin thickened. Seeds 6–10, oblong, ca. 5 × 3 mm; pleurogram parallel to margins of seed. Fl. Mar, fr. Sep.

Dense forests; 1200–1900 m. Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Myanmar].

15. Albizia julibrissin Durazzini, Mag. Tosc. 3: 11. 1772.

合歡  he huan

Trees, deciduous, to 16 m tall; crown open. Branchlets angular; branchlet, leaf rachis, and inflorescence tomentose or pubescent. Stipules deciduous, linear-lanceolate, smaller than leaflets; pinnae 4–12 pairs, sometimes to 20 pairs in cultivated species; glands near base of petiole and leaf rachis of uppermost pinnae; leaflets 10–30 pairs, obliquely linear to oblong, 6–12 × 1–4 mm, margin ciliate, main vein close to upper margin, base truncate, apex apiculate. Panicles terminal. Flowers pink. Calyx tubiform, ca. 3 mm, pubescent. Corolla ca. 8 mm; lobes deltoid, ca. 1.5 mm. Filaments pink, ca. 2.5 cm. Pod strap-shaped, flat, 9–15 × 1.5–2.5 cm, glabrous. Fl. May–Jul, fr. Aug–Oct. 2n = 26*.

Widely cultivated in Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, ?Liaoning, ?Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [C, E, and W Asia].

16. Albizia chinensis (Osbeck) Merrill, Amer. J. Bot. 3: 575. 1916.

楹樹  ying shu

Mimosa chinensis Osbeck, Dagb. Ostind. Resa 233. 1757; Acacia stipulata A. P. de Candolle; Albizia stipulata (A. P. de Candolle) Boivin.

Trees, deciduous, to 30 m tall. Branchlets yellow pubescent. Stipules deciduous, cordate, large, membranous, apex apiculate. Glands just below junctions of pinnae; pinnae 6–12 pairs; leaflets 20–35(–40) pairs, sessile, oblong-linear, falcate, 6–10 × 2–3 mm, abaxially villous, margin ciliate, main vein close to upper margin, base subtruncate, apex acuminate. Heads 10–20-flowered, arranged in a terminal panicle; peduncles long or short, densely villous. Flowers dimorphic, green-white or yellowish, densely yellow-brown tomentose. Calyx funnel-shaped, ca. 3 mm, shortly 5-toothed. Corolla ca. 2 × as long as calyx; lobes ovate-deltoid. Stamens ca. 2.5 cm, tube ca. as long as or slightly longer than corolla tube. Ovary yellow-brown villous, sessile. Pod indehiscent, or irregularly breaking up, plano-compressed, 10–15 × ca. 2 cm, slightly pubescent when young, glabrous when mature. Seeds elliptic, flat, ca. 7 × 4–5 mm, pleurogram minute, ca. 1 mm in diam., near micropyle. Fl. Mar–May, fr. Jun–Dec.

Forests and open fields; sea level to 1000 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [most areas with a seasonal climate in S and SE Asia].

This tree is used for its timber.

13. ENTEROLOBIUM Martius, Flora 20(2) (Beibl.): 117. 1837.

象耳豆属  xiang er dou shu

Trees, unarmed. Leaves bipinnate; stipules not conspicuous; petiole with gland; pinnae and leaflets in numerous pairs. Heads globose, solitary or in racemes, axillary. Flowers dimorphic or uniform, bisexual. Calyx campanulate, shortly 5-dentate. Corolla funnel-fshaped, 5-lobed. Stamens numerous, basally connate into a tube; anthers eglandular. Ovary sessile, many ovuled; style filiform. Pod broadly circinate or incurved-reniform, thick, hard, not dehiscent; mesocarp spongy, at length hardened. Seeds transverse, compressed, with pleurogram; funicle filiform.

Five species: tropical regions of the Americas; one introduced species in China.

1. Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Jacquin) Griseb, Fl. Brit. W. Ind. Isl. 226. 1860.

象耳豆  xiang er dou

Mimosa cyclocarpa Jacquin, Fragm. Bot. 30. 1801.

Trees, unarmed, deciduous, large, 10–20 m tall; crown spreading, thin. Young branchlets, leaves, and inflorescences white pubescent. Stipules caducous, small; petiole and rachis with glands; pinnae (3 or)4–9 pairs; leaflets 12–25(–30) pairs, subsessile, falcate-lanceolate, 8–14 × 3–6 mm, both surfaces sparsely pubescent, midvein close to upper margin, base truncate, apex mucronate. Heads globose, 1–1.5 cm in diam., fasciculate or in racemes. Flowers greenish or white. Calyx ca. 3 mm, calyx and corolla pubescent. Corolla ca. 6 mm. Stamens numerous, basally connate into a tube. Pod black-brown, curved, auriculate-reniform, 5–7 cm in diam., fleshy, both ends rounded, indehiscent. Seeds dark brown, 10–20, arranged in 2 rows, shiny, narrowly ellipsoidal, ca. 1.5 cm, hard. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Oct–Dec.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Zhejiang [Native to Central and South America, commonly cultivated in tropical areas].

14. ARCHIDENDRON F. v. Mueller, Fragm. Phyt. Austr. 5: 59. 1865.

猴耳環屬  hou er huan shu

Trees or shrubs, unarmed. Leaves bipinnate; stipules present or not; petiole, rachis, and pinnae with glands; pinnae in few pairs; leaflets few to several pairs, rarely in 1 pair. Inflorescence a globose head or arranged in panicle, terminal or axillary, or cauliflorous. Flowers white, small, bisexual or polygamous, uniform. Calyx campanulate or tubular, 5-toothed. Petals connate below middle; lobes 5. Stamens numerous; filaments exserted, united into a tube; anthers small, apex eglandular. Carpels 1 to several, free, sessile or funiculate, many ovuled; style filiform; stigma terminal, capitellate. Pod much curved or spirally twisted, or straight, cylindric, flat or swollen. Seeds ovoid or orbicular, without pleurogram.

About 94 species: tropical Asia; 15 species in China (two endemic).

A. Specimen in fruit:

1a.     Pod contorted.

2a.    Pinnae 1 or 2 pairs; leaflets alternate or opposite.

3a.     Leaflets alternate except for terminal pair, obliquely ovate or oblong, 5–9 × 2–4.5 cm  1. A. lucidum

3b.     Leaflets opposite, elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 7–18 × 3–9 cm .............................  2. A. ellipticum

2b.    Pinnae 2–8 pairs; leaflets opposite.

4a.     Branchlets angulate; pinnae 3–8 pairs; leaflets 3–12(–16) pairs, both surfaces pubescent .......              3. A. clypearia

4b.     Branchlets terete; pinnae 2 or 3 pairs; leaflets 4–7 pairs, abaxially pubescent only ..  4. A. utile

1b.     Pod straight or slightly curved.

5a.    Inflorescence cauliflorous; pod valves slightly contorted after dehiscence, conspicuously netted  5. A. cordifolium

5b.    Inflorescence on leafy branches, terminal or axillary; pod valves not as above.

6a.     Pinnae (1 or)2 pairs, if 1 pair than leaflets alternate.

7a.     Young branchlets and leaf rachis conspicuously angulate; leaflets 8–30 × 5–12 cm  6. A. eberhardtii

7b.     Young branchlets and leaf rachis not angulate; leaflets smaller than above.

8a.    Leaflets opposite, abaxially sparsely ferruginous pubescent, lateral veins 5–7 pairs  7. A. balansae

8b.    Leaflets alternate, except terminal one, both surfaces glabrous, lateral veins 3–5 pairs  8. A. alternifoliolatum

6b.     Pinnae 1 pair; leaflets opposite or subopposite.

9a.     Glands at petiole flat or concave.

10a.   Leaflets 1 or 2 pairs ..............................................................................  13. A. kerrii

10b.   Leaflets 2 or 3 pairs.

11a.   Lateral veins 3 or 4 pairs ...........................................................  14. A. robinsonii

11b.   Lateral veins 6–11 pairs ...............................................................  15. A. turgidum

9b.     Glands at petiole and leaf rachis raised, more than 1 mm high, hollow.

12a.   Leaflets 2 pairs.

13a.   Petiolar gland 3–7 mm in diam. ...................................................  9. A. xichouense

13b.   Petiolar gland 0.5–3 mm in diam. ................................................  10. A. chevalieri

12b.   Leaflets 2 or 3 pairs.

14a.   Petiolar gland (1.5–)2(–3) mm in diam. ..........................................  11. A. laoticum

14b.   Petiolar gland 0.5–1.5 mm in diam. ............................................  12. A. tonkinense

 

B. Specimen in flower:

1a.     Branchlets angular or winged.

2a.    Flowers pedicellate .........................................................................................  3. A. clypearia

2b.    Flowers sessile ............................................................................................  6. A. eberhardtii

1b.     Branchlets terete.

3a.    Ovary sessile ................................................................................................  15. A. turgidum

3b.    Ovary funiculate.

4a.     Inflorescence cauliflorous; pod valves conspicuously netted .......................  5. A. cordifolium

4b.     Inflorescence on leafy branches, terminal or axillary, pod valves not netted.

5a.     Leaflets alternate except for distal pair.

6a.    Glands on leaf rachis depressed; calyx 1.5–2 mm; pod twisted into a circle  1. A. lucidum

6b.    Glands on leaf rachis globose; calyx ca. 4 mm; pod cylindric ....  8. A. alternifoliolatum

5b.     Leaflets all opposite or subopposite.

7a.    Tertiary veins of leaflets forming ladderlike connections between secondary ones  10. A. chevalieri

7b.    Tertiary veins of leaflets not forming ladderlike connections.

8a.     Petiolar gland raised, hollow.

9a.     Calyx glabrous ........................................................................  11. A. laoticum

9b.     Calyx faintly to densely puberulous.

10a.   Calyx subtubular, ca. 2 mm; corolla ca. 5.5 mm, sericeous .  12. A. tonkinense

10b.   Calyx campanulate, ca. 3 mm; corolla ca. 8 mm, puberulous  9. A. xichouense

8b.     Petiolar gland circular, elliptic, or oblong.

11a.   Calyx tube puberulous to tomentose.

12a.   Pinnae 3 pairs per leaf; funicle of ovary longer than calyx ..............  4. A. utile

12b.   Pinnae 1 or 2 pairs per leaf; funicle of ovary shorter than calyx  1. A. lucidum

11b.   Calyx tube glabrous.

13a.   Distal leaves with only 1 pair of leaflets per pinnae ....................  13. A. kerrii

13b.   Distal leaves with more than 1 pair of leaflets per pinnae.

14a.   Corolla (9–)12.5–15 mm ...............................................  14. A robinsonii

14b.   Corolla to 8 mm.

15a.   Corolla tube glabrous ......................................................  13. A. kerrii

15b.   Corolla tube puberulous to woolly.

16a.   Glomerules 2–6-flowered .......................................  2. A. ellipticum

16b.   Glomerules 10- or more flowered ............................  7. A. balansae

 

1. Archidendron lucidum (Bentham) I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 19. 1979.

亮葉猴耳環  liang ye hou er huan

Pithecellobium lucidum Bentham, London J. Bot. 3: 207. 1844; Abarema lucida (Bentham) Kostermans.

Trees, 2–10 m tall, unarmed. Branchlets terete. Branchlet, petiole, and inflorescence shortly brown tomentose. Pinnae 1 or 2 pairs; base of petiole, and leaf rachis with round, sunken glands; leaflets 2 or 3 pairs in lower pinnae, 4 or 5 pairs in upper pinnae, adaxially shiny and deep green, obliquely ovate or oblong, 5–9(–11) × 2–4.5 cm, apical ones larger, opposite, proximal ones alternate and smaller, both surfaces glabrous or puberulous on veins, base oblique, apex acuminate, mucronate. Heads globose, 10–20-flowered, arranged in panicles; peduncles to 1.5 cm. Flowers sessile. Calyx less than 2 mm, calyx and corolla shortly brown tomentose. Corolla white, 4–5 mm; lobes connate at middle. Staminal tube slightly shorter than corolla tube. Ovary shortly funiculate, glabrous. Pod twisted into a circle, 2–3 cm wide, margin between seeds constricted. Seeds black, ca. 1.5 × 1 cm. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Jul–Dec.

Thin forests; 100–1400 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam].

2. Archidendron ellipticum (Blume) I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 21. 1979.

椭圆叶猴耳环  tuo yuan ye hou er huan

Inga elliptica Blume, Cat. Gew. Buitenz. 88. 1823.

Trees, small, to 20 m tall. Branchlets terete, with white lenticels; young branchlets brown pubescent. Pinnae 1 or 2 pairs; glands at upper part of petiole and rachis; petiolules 3–4 mm; leaflets 2 or 3 pairs, opposite or subopposite, elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 7–18 × 3–9 cm, both surfaces glabrous, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, apex acuminate to long acuminate. Heads 2–6-flowered, arranged in terminal and axillary panicles. Calyx 4.5–5 mm; teeth 0.5–1 mm. Corolla 4.5–5 mm; lobes 2–2.5 mm. Staminal tube equalling corolla tube. Ovary puberulous. Pod curved into a circle, 4.5–8 mm in diam., valves 2–3.5 cm wide. Seeds 1.7–2.1 × 1–1.1 cm. Fl. and fr. throughout the year.

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; ca. 1500 m. Yunnan [Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand].

This is possibly based on a misidentification.

3. Archidendron clypearia (Jack) I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 15. 1979.

猴耳環  hou er huan

Inga clypearia Jack, Malay. Misc. 2(7): 78. 1822; Abarema angulata (Bentham) Kostermans; A. clypearia (Jack) Kostermans; Pithecellobium angulatum Bentham; P. clypearia (Jack) Bentham; P. clypearia var. acuminatum Gagnepain.

Trees, to 10 m tall. Branchlets angulate, densely yellow tomentose. Leaf petiole 4-angulate; leaf rachis and base of petiole with glands, glands flat or hollow; pinnae (3 or)4 or 5(–8) pairs, densely yellow tomentose, lowermost pinna with 3–6 pairs of leaflets, uppermost one with 10–12 pairs of leaflets; leaflets subsessile, adaxially shiny, oblique, rhombic–trapezoid, 1–7 × 0.7–3 cm, upper one largest, downward smaller, leathery, both surfaces slightly brown pubescent, base very unequally sided. Corymbs several flowered, arranged in terminal or axillary panicles. Flowers pedicellate. Calyx campanulate, 1–3 mm, 5-toothed, calyx and corolla densely brown villous. Corolla white or yellowish, 4–5 mm; lobes lanceolate. Stamens ca. 2 × as long as corolla, staminal tube equalling corolla tube. Ovary funiculate, hairy. Pod twisted, 1–1.5 cm wide, margin constricted between seeds. Seeds 4–10, black, ellipsoidal or broadly ellipsoidal, ca. 1 cm, testa wrinkled when dry. Fl. Feb–Jun, fr. Apr–Aug.

Forests; 500–1800 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [tropical Asia].

This plant is important for the tannins contained in its bark.

4. Archidendron utile (W. Y. Chun & F. C. How) I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 20. 1979.

薄葉猴耳環  bo ye hou er huan

Pithecellobium utile W. Y. Chun & F. C. How, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 7: 17. 1958; Abarema utilis (W. Y. Chun & F. C. How) Kostermans.

Shrubs, 1–2 m tall, rarely small trees. Branchlets terete, brown pubescent. Pinnae 2 or 3 pairs, 10–18 cm, glands on petiole and rachis of apical 1 or 2 leaflets at places of insertion, glands circular, sessile; leaflets 4–7 pairs, opposite, oblong-rhombic, 2–9 × 1.5–4 cm, apical ones larger, downward smaller, membranous, abaxially pubescent, adaxially glabrous, base obtuse or acute, apex obtuse, mucronate. Heads ca. 15-flowered, ca. 1 cm in diam. (not including filaments), arranged in terminal panicles ca. 30 cm. Flowers sessile, white, fragrant. Calyx campanulate, 1.5–3 mm, teeth and corolla pubescent. Corolla 6–8 mm; lobes ovate-oblong, 1.5 mm. Staminal tube shorter than corolla tube. Ovary funiculate, glabrous. Pod red-brown, falcate, 6–10 × 1–1.3 cm. Seeds black, shiny, suborbicular, ca. 1 cm. Fl. Mar–Aug, fr. Apr–Dec.

Forests; 100–700 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Zhejiang [Vietnam].

5. Archidendron cordifolium (T. L. Wu) I. C. Nielsen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 21: 167. 1983.

心叶猴耳环  xin ye hou er huan

Zygia cordifolia T. L. Wu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 19: 220. 1981; Albizia cordifolia (T. L. Wu) Y. H. Huang.

Trees. Branchlets brown, terete, glabrous, lenticellate. Pinnae 1 pair; petiole 16–25 cm; petiolar gland orbicular, flat or concave; rachis 20–22 cm; petiolules 5–7 mm; leaflets 3 or 4 pairs, obovate-oblong, 8–30 × 5–18 cm, both surfaces glandular hairy, more densely so abaxially, lateral veins 10–21 pairs, base slightly cordate, apex rounded or acute. Heads 20–50-flowered, arranged in panicles on old branches or stems. Calyx ca. 1.2 mm. Corolla ca. 2.2 mm. Filaments ca. 2 mm. Ovary ca. 1 mm. Pod brownish outside, orange-red inside, strap-shaped, 23–46 × 3.5–4 cm, dehiscent along both sutures, valves slightly contorted, leathery, conspicuously net-veined. Seeds 6–10, ovoid, compressed, ca. 2.5 × 1.7 × 0.7 cm, testa black. Fl. May, fr. Nov.

Valleys; 200–300 m. Yunnan [Vietnam].

6. Archidendron eberhardtii I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 30. 1979.

大棋子豆  da ye zi dou

Cylindrokelupha eberhardtii (I. C. Nielsen) T. L. Wu; Albizia eberhardtii (I. C. Nielsen) Y. H. Huang; C. macrophylla T. L. Wu.

Trees, to 10 m tall. Branchlets strong, 1–1.5 cm in diam., obviously angulate. Leaves large; leaf rachis to 34 cm, obviously angulate; glands urceolate, raised; pinnae 2 pairs, rachis ca. 35 cm; petiolules ca. 6 mm; leaflets 3 pairs, opposite, oblong, 8–30 × 5–12 cm, both surfaces glabrous, midvein central, lateral veins 6–11 pairs, base attenuate, apex acuminate. Heads 4- or 5-flowered, arranged in panicles ca. 20 cm, fasciculate on old branches. Flowers sessile. Calyx cup-shaped, ca. 3 mm; lobes deltoid. Corolla infundibular, 1.1–1.2 cm, sericeous; lobes narrowly ovate, 3–3.5 mm, apex acute. Staminal tube ca. as long as corolla tube. Ovary glabrous, ca. 2.5 mm; funicle ca. 4 mm. Pod cylindric, ca. 20 × 5 cm, dehiscent along both sutures; valves brown, ca. 5 mm thick, subwoody, squarrose-scaly. Seeds large, bullet-form on both ends, ca. 6 cm high, ca. 4 cm in diam., middle ones Chinese chessman-form, ca. 4 cm high. Fr. Jan.

Valleys, along streams in forests; ca. 1000 m. Guangxi [N Vietnam].

The seeds are rich in starch.

7. Archidendron balansae (Oliver) I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 23. 1979.

锈毛棋子豆  xiu mao qi zi dou

Pithecellobium balansae Oliver in Hooker's Icon. Pl. 20: t. 1976. 1891; Albizia balansae (Oliver) Y. H. Huang; Cylindrokelupha balansae (Oliver) Kostermans.

Trees, 8–25 m tall. Branchlets red-brown, obviously lenticellate. Leaf petiole 6–8 cm; glands elliptic, flat; pinnae 2 pairs; leaf rachis 16–24 cm; petiolules 5–8 mm; leaflets 4 pairs, opposite, with 1 gland per leaflet pair, oblong or oblanceolate, (5–)10–18 × 3–6.5 cm, abaxially ferruginous-pubescent, more densely so on veins, adaxially glabrous or very sparsely ferruginous-pubescent; lateral veins 5–7 pairs, conspicuous on both surfaces, base attenuate or obtuse, apex shortly acuminate. Flowers sessile, ca. 20 in globose head, heads arranged in panicle ca. 20 cm, ferruginous-tomentose, branches sparse. Calyx cup-shaped, ca. 1.5 mm. Corolla tube ca. 2.5 mm; lobes 5, ca. 2 mm. Staminal tube equalling corolla tube; filaments 8–10 mm. Ovary glabrous, funiculate. Pod cylindric, 7–15 × ca. 6 cm. Seeds 2–6, bullet-form at both ends, middle ones Chinese chessman-form, ca. 4.5 cm high and in diam. Fl. Apr–Mar, fr. Jul.

Thin forests; 600–1300 m. S Yunnan [Vietnam].

8. Archidendron alternifoliolatum (T. L. Wu) I. C. Nielsen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 21: 164. 1983.

长叶棋子豆  chang ye qi zi dou

Cylindrokelupha alternifoliolata T. L. Wu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 19: 219. 1981; Albizia alternifoliolata (T. L. Wu) Y. H. Huang; Archidendron glabrifolium (T. L. Wu) I. C. Nielsen; C. glabrifolia T. L. Wu.

Trees, to 6 m tall. Branchlets brown, yellow pubescent. Leaf petiole 2.5–6 cm, with globose gland above middle; pinnae 1 pair; pinna rachis 10–13 cm, sparsely pubescent; petiolules 5–7 mm; leaflets 3 pairs, alternate except terminal opposite pair, oblong, 7–15 × 4–8 cm, lateral veins 3–5 pairs, base acute, apex acuminate. Heads more than 20-flowered, arranged in panicles. Calyx tubular, ca. 4 mm, 5-toothed, sparsely pubescent. Corolla tube ca. 5 mm; lobes lanceolate, ca. 4 mm, yellow pubescent. Filaments ca. 1.5 cm. Ovary glabrous. Pod cylindric, 18–21 × 4–5 cm, dehiscent along both sutures. Seeds broadly cylindric, ca. 2.8 cm high, ca. 3.5 cm in diam. Fl. Mar, fr. Nov.

* Forests; 1400–2000 m. Guangxi, Yunnan.

9. Archidendron xichouensis (C. Chen & H. Sun) T. L. Wu, comb. nov.

巨腺棋子豆  ju xian qi zi dou

Basionym: Cylindrokelupha xichouensis C. Chen & H. Sun, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 12: 120. 1990.

Trees, ca. 15 m tall. Branchlets terete. Leaf petiole 4–6 cm; petiolar gland above middle, raised and concave, 1.5–3 mm high, 3–7 mm in diam.; pinnae 1 pair, 6–10 cm; petiolules 5–7 mm; leaflets 2 pairs, opposite, elliptic, 9–25 × 4–10 cm, terminal one larger, base cuneate, apex acuminate. Heads 10–15-flowered, arranged in panicles 10–20 cm. Calyx campanulate, ca. 3 mm, teeth ca. 0.5 mm. Corolla tubular, ca. 8 mm, puberulent; lobes ovate, ca. 2 mm. Staminal tube ca. as long as corolla tube. Ovary ca. 3 mm, glabrous. Pod slightly curved, cylindric, ca. 4.5 cm in diam. Seeds cylindric, 2–3 cm high, ca. 3 cm in diam., both ends truncate, testa hardened.

* Dense forests; 1000–1400 m. Guangxi, Yunnan.

10. Archidendron chevalieri (Kostermans) I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 28. 1979.

坛腺棋子豆  tan xian qi zi dou

Cylidrokelupha chevalieri Kostermans, Reinwardtia 5: 248. 1960; Albizia chevalieri (Kostermans) Y. H. Huang (1983), not Harms (1907).

Trees, small, to 10 m tall. Branchlets gray, terete, glabrous. Leaf petiole 1–4 cm; petiolar gland raised, pot-form, ca. 2 mm high, 0.5–3 mm in diam.; pinnae 1 or 2 pairs, with similar gland at apex; petiolules 3–7 mm; leaflets 2 pairs, opposite, elliptic, 8–14 × 4–8 cm, upper one larger, both surfaces glabrous, midvein central, lateral veins 3 or 4 pairs, connected by parallel veins, base attenuate, apex shortly acuminate. Heads 10–20-flowered, arranged in narrow panicles to 15 cm. Flowers white, fragrant, sessile. Calyx 2.5–3 mm, glabrous; teeth inconspicuous. Corolla campanulate, 7–8 mm; lobes linear-oblong, only margin pubescent. Staminal tube ca. as long as corolla tube; anthers minute. Ovary glabrous; funicle ca. 2.5 mm. Pod slightly curved or straight, cylindric, 4–10 × 2.5–3 cm, dehiscent along both sutures, valves brown, leathery, netted. Seeds 1–4, ca. 3 cm high, ca. 2.5 cm in diam., middle one Chinese chessman-form, ca. 2 cm high, both ends turbinate. Fl. May, fr. Jul.

Dense, wet forests; up to 1700 m. Guangxi [N Vietnam].

11. Archidendron laoticum (Gagnepain) I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 27. 1979.

老挝棋子豆  lao wo qi zi dou

Pithecellobium laoticum Gagnepain, Bull. Soc. Bot. France 99: 48. 1952; Cylindrokelupha laoticum (Gagnepain) C. Chen & H. Sun.

Trees, ca. 10 m tall. Branchlets brownish, terete, glabrous. Leaf petiole 3–4.5 cm; petiolar glands at apex and insertion of first leaf pair, more than 1 mm high, 1.5–3 mm in diam., hollow inside; pinnae 1 pair, pinna rachis 5–12 cm; petiolules ca. 3 mm; leaflets 3 pairs, opposite, sublanceolate or oblanceolate, 6–10 × 2–3 cm, terminal one largest, firmly papery, lateral veins 5–9 pairs, glabrous on both surfaces, base attenuate, apex mucronate, slightly unequally sided. Heads ca. 20-flowered, ca. 2 cm in diam. (including filaments), 1 or 2 axillary or arranged in panicles; peduncles 1.5–2 cm. Calyx campanulate, 2–3 mm; teeth deltoid. Corolla 4.5–5.5 mm; lobes lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, margin and apex golden pubescent. Stamens ca. 1 cm, staminal tube equalling corolla tube. Ovary glabrous, funiculate. Pod and seeds unknown. Fl. Mar.

Margins of dense forests; 500–700 m. Yunnan [Laos, Vietnam].

12. Archidendron tonkinense I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 24. 1979.

绢毛棋子豆  juan mao qi zi dou

Cylindrokelupha tonkinensis (I. C. Nielsen) T. L. Wu; Albizia tonkinensis (I. C. Nielsen) Y. H. Huang.

Trees, small, 5–7 m tall. Branchlets brown, terete, glabrous, with small lenticels. Leaf petiole ca. 2.5 cm; petiolar gland raised, subglobose, hollow, 0.5–1 mm high, 0.5–1.5 mm in diam.; pinnae 1 pair; petiolules 2–3 mm; leaflets 2 or 3 pairs, opposite or subopposite, oblong or elliptic, (2.5–)5.5–10 × (1–)2–3.5 cm, both surfaces glabrous, lateral veins 4 pairs, raised abaxially, inconspicuous adaxially, base narrowly cuneate, apex obtuse-acuminate. Heads 12–15-flowered, ca. 1.2 cm in diam. (including filaments), arranged in panicles to 10 cm. Calyx ca. 2 mm; teeth deltoid, ca. 0.5 mm, densely ferruginous pubescent. Corolla campanulate or infundibular, ca. 5.5 mm, sericeous; lobes narrowly oblong, ca. 2 mm. Staminal tube shorter than corolla tube, ca. 3 mm. Ovary ca. 1.5 mm, glabrous; funicle ca. 1.5 mm. Pod ovoid, 7–8 × ca. 5 cm, glabrous, dehiscent along both sutures; valves brown. Seeds 2, brown, turbinate, 3–4 cm high, ca. 3.5 cm in diam.

Thin evergreen forests of valleys; ca. 300 m. Guangxi [N Vietnam].

13. Archidendron kerrii (Gagnepain) I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 29. 1979.

碟腺棋子豆  die xian qi zi dou

Pithecellobium kerrii Gagnepain, Bull. Soc. Bot. France 99: 49. 1952; Abarema kerrii (Gagnepain) Kostermans; A. yunnanensis Kostermans; Albizia yunnanensis (Kostermans) Y. H. Huang (1983), not T. L. Wu (1981); Archidendron yunnanense (Kostermans) I. C. Nielsen; Cylindrokelupha kerrii (Gagnepain) T. L. Wu; C. yunnanensis (Kostermans) T. L. Wu.

Trees, small, 3–8 m tall. Branchlets brown, terete, glabrous. Leaf petiole 2–5 cm; petiolar gland plate-form, at insertion of pinna and first leaflet pair; pinnae 1 pair; leaflets 1 to 3 pairs, opposite or subopposite, ovate, elliptic, or lanceolate, 6–14 × 3–6 cm, papery, both surfaces glabrous, lateral veins 4–6 pairs, abaxially conspicuous, base cuneate or acute, apex acuminate or acute. Heads 10–15-flowered, 8–10 mm in diam., arranged in axillary or terminal loose panicles. Calyx urceolate or cup-shaped, 2.3–3 mm; teeth irregular. Corolla tubular or narrowly infundibular, 6–8 mm, glabrous; lobes narrowly deltoid or oblong, 2–3 mm, apex puberulent. Staminal tube ca. as long as corolla tube or shorter. Ovary glabrous; funicle ca. 1.5 mm. Pod cylindric, ca. 10 × 2–2.5 cm, straight; valves brown. Seeds 6 or 7, shortly cylindric at middle, 5–7 mm high, 1.3–2 cm in diam., both ends turbinate, testa black, crustaceous. Fl. May, fr. Aug.

Dense forests; 200–1800 m. Guangxi, Yunnan [Laos, Vietnam].

14. Archidendron robinsonii (Gagnepain) I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 26. 1979.

棋子豆  qi zi dou

Pithecellobium robinsonii Gagnepain, Not. Syst. (Lecomte) 2: 281. 1912; Abarema robinsonii (Gagnepain) Kostermans; Albizia robinsonii (Gagnepain) Y. H. Huang; Cylindrokelupha robinsonii (Gagnepain) Kostermans; Paralbizzia robinsonii (Gagnepain) Kostermans.

Trees, 8–9 m tall. Branchlets brown or reddish, cylindric, glabrous, with curved leaf scars. Leaf petiole 2–6 cm; petiolar gland circular, less than 0.5 mm high, 0.5–0.7 mm in diam., at upper portion of petiole and insertion of leaflets; rachis of pinnae 6–11 cm; pinnae 1 pair; petiolules ca. 4 mm; leaflets 3 pairs, opposite or subopposite, elliptic or lanceolate, 5–14(–20) × 3–5(–10) cm, both surfaces glabrous, lateral veins 3 or 4 pairs, conspicuous, base cuneate or acute, symmetric or not, apex acuminate. Heads 6–8-flowered, arranged in axillary panicles to 20 cm; peduncles 1–1.5 cm. Calyx urceolate or cup-shaped, 4.5–7 mm, glabrous; teeth inconspicuous. Corolla funnel-shaped or campanulate, (0.9–)1.2–1.5 cm; lobes narrowly ovate or elliptic, 4–5 mm, abaxially and apically sericeous. Staminal tube equalling corolla tube. Ovary glabrous; funicle 6–8 mm. Pod straight, cylindric, 10–20 × 3–3.5 cm, valves brown, leathery. Seeds to 7, ca. 2.5 × 2.5 cm, both ends turbinate; testa brown, crustaceous.

Dense forests of valleys; 300–700 m. Guangxi, Yunnan [Vietnam].

15. Archidendendron turgidum (Merrill) I. C. Nielsen, Adansonia, ser. 2, 19: 32. 1979.

大叶合欢  da ye he huan

Pithecellobium turgidum Merrill, Philipp. J. Sci. 15: 239. 1919; Albizia croizatiana Metcalf; A. turgida (Merrill) Merrill ex Chung; Cylindrokelupha turgida (Merrill) T. L. Wu; Paralbizzia turgida (Merrill) Kostermans.

Trees, small, 4–9 m tall. Branches terete. Young branchlets and leaf rachis ferruginous tomentose. Leaf glands near tip of petiole and on rachis at places of leaflet insertion; pinnae 1 pair; petiolules 2–6 mm; leaflets opposite, 2 or 3 pairs, oblong, elliptic, obliquely lanceolate, or obliquely elliptic, 7–20 × 3.5–7 cm, papery, abaxially very sparsely appressed pubescent, more densely so on veins, adaxially glabrous, midvein central, lateral veins 6–11 pairs, base acute or rounded, apex long or shortly acuminate. Heads ca. 1.5 cm in diam., ca. 20-flowered, arranged in axillary or terminal panicles. Flowers white. Calyx cup-shaped, ca. 2 mm, 5-toothed. Corolla ca. 6 mm; lobes oblong, corolla and calyx white tomentose. Staminal tube much shorter than corolla tube Ovary glabrous, sessile or nearly so. Pod swollen, oblong to strap-shaped, 7–20 × 2.5–3.5 cm. Seeds brown, ellipsoidal, 1.8–2.5 × ca. 2 cm, glabrous. Fl. Mar–May, fr. Jul–Dec.

Forests; 1000–1500 m. Guangdong, Guangxi [N Vietnam].

15. SAMANEA (Bentham) Merrill, J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 6: 46. 1916.

雨树属  yu shu shu

Pithecellobium sect. Samanea Bentham, London J. Bot. 3: 197, 215. 1844.

Trees, large, unarmed, with spreading crown. Leaves bipinnate; stipules deciduous, lanceolate; pinnae 3–6 pairs, with glands between pinnae on rachis; leaflets opposite. Inflorescences axillary corymbs, pedunculate; bracts small. Flowers dimorphic; central flowers enlarged, 7- or 8-merous; marginal flowers smaller, 5-merous. Calyx shortly lobed. Petals connate to middle. Stamens many, united at base into a tube; anthers not glandular. Ovary sessile; style filiform; ovules many. Pod straight or slightly curved, turgid with thickened margins, woody, indehiscent, septate between seeds. Seeds numerous, strongly biconvex, with pleurogram; aril absent.

Three species: mainly around the Amazon and in Central America; one introduced species in China.

1. Samanea saman (Jacquin) Merrill, J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 6: 47. 1916.

雨树  yu shu

Mimosa saman Jacquin, Fragm. Bot. 15, t. 9. 1800; Albizia saman (Jacquin) von Mueller; Enterolobium saman (Jacquin) Prain; Pithecellobium saman (Jacquin) Bentham.

Trees, 10–25 m tall. Branchlets puberulous to tomentose. Petiole 15–40 cm; pinnae 3–5(or 6) pairs, to 15 cm; glands at junctions of pinnae and leaflets; leaflets 3–8 pairs per pinnae, asymmetrically oblong, 2–4 × 1–1.8 cm, abaxially pubescent, adaxially shiny, base half rounded, half truncate, apex rounded or obtuse, often emarginate and mucronulate. Heads 1–5, together axillary, 5–6 cm in diam.; peduncles 5–6 cm. Marginal flowers pedicellate; calyx funnel-shaped, ca. 6 mm; corolla red or yellowish red, ca. 12 mm; stamens white at base, purple toward apex, ca. 3.5 cm; staminal tube shorter than corolla tube. Central flowers sessile; corolla to 1.2 cm; staminal tube longer than corolla. Pod black, oblong, compressed, 10–20 × 1.2–2.5 cm, sutures thickened, septate between seeds. Seeds brown, ellipsoidal, ca. 8 × 5 mm. Fl. Aug–Sep, fr. Dec.

Cultivated in Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [Native to northern part of tropical South America, planted throughout the tropics].