FABACEAE Tribe GENISTEAE [Draft]

Wei Zhi[1];

Six genera and 12 species (all introduced) in China.

LUPINUS Linn. Sp. Pl. 721. 1753.

Chinese Pinyin

Annual or perennial herbs, rarely shrublets. Leaves digitally 5–13(–18)-foliolate, the 1-foliolate species not introduced in China, long petioled; stipules usually linear, subulate, base adnate to petiole; leaflets entire, oblong to linear, subsessile. Racemes mostly terminal, many-flowered, bracts often caducous, bracteoles adnate to the base of calyx, persistent; calyx 2-lipped, teeth unequal, tube slightly gibbose; corolla various colored, vexillum orbicular or broadly ovate, wings connate at the apex, enclosing the incurved, beaked keel; stamens monadelphous, connate into a closed tube; ovary hairy, subsessile, 2-many-ovuled, style incurved, stigma terminal, bearded. Pod linear, compress, valves coriaceous, usually hairy, obliquely septate within between seeds. Seed flat, estrophiolate, funicle very short, with long radicle.

About 200 species, N and S America, Mediterranean, and Africa. Introduced to China more than ten species, commonly seen in cultivations seven species.

1a.       The proximal calyx-lip mostly connate and bifid; perennial, short-lived perennial, or annual.

            2a.       Perennial; stems subglabrous; flowers alternate, pedicels 4–10 mm.

            3a.       Leaflets usually 8, 2–5 Χ 0.7–1.4 cm; racemes lax          1. L. perennis

            3b.       Leaflets 9–15, 4–10 Χ 1–2.5 cm, racemes dense           2. L. polyphyllus

            2b.       Annual or short-lived perennial; stems hairy; flowers alternate or verticillate, pedicels 2–5 mm.

            4a.       Racemes 10–35 cm, flowers usually verticillate; leaflets densely villose on both surfaces; seed less 6 mm              7. L. pubescens

            4b.       Racemes 5–10 cm, flowers usually alternate; leaflets glabrous adaxially, appressed sericeous abaxially and margins; seed more 8 mm          6. L. albus

1b.       The proximal calyx-lip deeply lobed, split to most part of calyx; annual.

            5a.       Flowers alternate, corolla white or light blue.

            6a.       Leaflets oblanceolate to obovate, 5–15 mm in width, hirsute on both surfaces; racemes shorter than leaves; plant brown to rusty hirsute        3. L. micranthus

            6b.       Leaflets linear, 2–4 mm in width, glabrous adaxially; racemes longer than leaves; plant white appressed villose    4. L. angustifolius

            5b.       Flowers verticillate, corolla yellow; racemes longer than leaves; leaflets oblanceolate, appress sericeous on both surfaces     5. L. luteus

1. Lupinus perennis Linn. Sp. Pl. 721. 1753.

Chinese Pinyin

Perennial herbs, 20–60(–100) cm. Stems erect, strong, branchy, glabrous or puberulous. Leaves (7–)8(–11)-foliolate, petioles 5–10(–15) cm, stipules subulate, 8–12 mm, caducous; leaflets oblanceolate to oblong-obovate, (15–)20–50 ΄ (3–)7–14 mm, base cuneate, apex obtuse, mucronate, glabrous adaxially, more or less appressed pubescent abaxially. Racemes terminal, straight, longer than leaves, 10–20(–30) cm, lax, long pedunculate; flowers alternate, 12–16 mm; bracts subulate to linear, 3–6 mm, caducous; pedicels 4–6(–10) mm; calyx 2-lipped, 8 mm; corolla blue, rarely white or pale red. Pod linear-oblong, 3–5 Χ 0.8–1.2 cm, straight, apex with filiform persistent style, densely pubescent; seeds 4–6, ellipsoid. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Jun–Jul.

Cultivated, original N America.

2. Lupinus polyphyllus Lindley Bot. Reg. 13:t. 1096. 1827.

Chinese Pinyin

Perennial herbs, 50–100 cm. Stems erect, branched thickly, glabrous or sparsely puberulous at apical parts. Leaves 9–15-foliolate, petiole longer than leaflets, stipules lanceolate; leaflets elliptic-oblanceolate, (3–)4–10(–15) Χ 1–2.5 cm, base tapering, apex obtuse to acute, glabrous adaxially, appressed puberulous abaxially. Racemes rather long, 15–40 cm; flowers alternate, 10–15 mm, dense and numerous; bracts ovate-lanceolate, 5 mm, caducous; pedicels 4–10 mm; calyx 2-lipped; corolla blue to violet, keel beaked, tip blue-black. Pod oblong, 3–5 Χ 1.5–2 cm, densely silky; seeds 4–8, ovoid, 4 Χ 3 mm, gray brown, with dark brown spots, smooth. Fl. Jun–Aug, fr. Jul–Oct.

Cultivated. original N America.

3. Lupinus micranthus Guss. Fl. Sci. Prodr. 2: 400. 1828.

Chinese Pinyin

Annual herbs, 20–70 cm. Stems ascending or erect, branched at base, brown or rusty hirsute. Leaves 5–8-foliolate, petioles longer than leaflets; stipules 1 cm, subulate; leaflets oblong-obovate, oblanceolate to spatulate, 15–70 Χ 5–15 mm, base tapering, apex obtuse or acute, mucronate, hirsute on both surfaces. Racemes 5–12 cm, shorter than leaves, slender; flowers 10–14 mm, alternate basally, irregular verticillate apically; bracts 3–4 mm; pedicels 1–2 mm; calyx 2-lipped, persistent; l corolla blue with white spots. Pod linear-oblong, 25–50 Χ 8–12 mm, densely brown hirsute, apex downwards beaked, lament-like, seeds 3–4, ovoid, flat, yellow with red or brown spots, smooth. Fl. Mar–May, fr. Apr–Jul.

Cultivated, original Mediterranean.

4. Lupinus angustifolius Linn. Sp. Pl. 721. 1753.

Chinese Pinyin

Annual herbs, 20–80 cm. Stems erect, appressed villose. Leaves 5–9-foliolate, petioles longer than leaflets; stipules narrowly linear, 1 cm; leaflets linear to linear-oblong, 20–50 Χ 2–4 mm, base tapering, apex obtuse, glabrescent adaxially, appressed villose abaxially. Racemes 5–10 cm, flowers 11–13 mm, alternate; bracts ovate, caducous; calyx 2-lipped, 6–8 mm; corolla blue, light blue, rarely pale lilac. Pod linear-oblong, 3–6 Χ 0.7–1.2 cm, closely gathered, appressed villose, apex tapering beaked, lament-like; seeds 4–7, ovate-oblong, 4–7 mm, flat, gray brown, white spotted, smooth. Fl. Mar–Apr, fr. Apr–Jun.

Cultivated, original Mediterranean.

5. Lupinus luteus Linn. Sp. Pl. 722. 1753.

Annual herbs, 40–100 cm. Stems erect or ascending, branching basally, white, or sometimes rusty villose. Leaves 6–11-foliolate, petioles much longer to leaflets; stipules subulate, 1–2 cm; leaflets varied in shape, oblanceolate to narrowly obovate, 4–8 Χ 1 cm, base tapering, apex obtuse to acute, appressed sericeous on both surfaces, especially dense abaxially. Racemes longer than the leaves; flowers 1.3–1.7 cm, verticillate; bracts minute, pedicels short; corolla yellow, fragrant, somewhat purple at tip of keel. Pod linear-oblong, 3.5–6 Χ 1–1.4 cm, rusty wooly, lament-like, seeds 3–4. Seed oblate, 7 mm in diam. Pink mixed brown and white spots, smooth. Fl. Mar–May, fr. May–Jul.

Cultivated, original Mediterranean.

6. Lupinus albus Linn. Sp. Pl. 721. 1753.

Chinese Pinyin

Annual herbs, 20–120 cm. Stems erect, strong, silky villose. Leaves 5–9-foliolate, petioles longer than leaflets, stipules subulate, 1.5–2 cm; leaflets elliptic-oblong to obovate, 25–40 Χ 12–18 mm, base cuneate, apex obtuse to acute, margins ciliate, glabrous adaxially, appressed villose abaxially. Racemes many-flowered, 5–10 cm, longer than the leaves; flowers 1.5 cm, alternate; bracts subulate, pedicel 3–5 mm; calyx 2-lipped, 8–9 mm, green or light blue, persistent; corolla white, at tip of vexillum blue. Pod linear, 4–6 Χ 0.8–1.3 cm, apex sharp beaked, densely villose, become glabrescent, seeds 2–4. Seed lens-shaped, white to pale brown, smooth. Fl. Feb–Apr, fr. Mar–Jun.

Cultivated, original Mediterranean.

7. Lupinus pubescens Benth. Pl. Hartw. 169. 1845.

Chinese Pinyin

Annual or short-lived perennials, to 100 cm. Stems erect, branched at cauline, dense white villose, usually mixed crimping and spreading hairs. Leaves 7-9-foliolate, petioles and leaflets subequal; stipules subulate, 3–8 mm; leaflets oblanceolate-linear to narrowly oblong, 30–50 Χ 5–12 cm, base tapering, apex obtuse, densely villose on both surfaces. Racemes many-flowered, 10–35 cm, flowers 10–15 mm, subverticillate; bracts lanceolate, 6–8 mm; pedicels 2–4 mm; calyx 7–9 mm; corolla white, light blue, to pale purple, vexillum orbicular, pale red spot in center. Pod elliptic-oblong, 2.5–4 Χ 1–1.3 cm, densely villose, apex short beaked, seeds 4–6. Seed elliptic-oblong, 6 Χ 4 mm, pale brown, with dark brown spots, a black line on each sides, smooth.

Cultivated, original S America.

00. LABURNUM Fabr. Enum. Meth. Pl. 228. 1759.

Chinese Pinyin

Deciduous trees or small tree. Branches of two kinds, long and very short. Leaves digitally 3-foliolate, pedicellate, stipule small, leaflets entire. Racemes terminal at leaflets branchlets, pendulous; bracts and bracteoles minute, calyx 2-lipped, teeth inconspicuous; corolla yellow, vexillum orbicular or ovate, wings obovate, keel incurved, shorter than the wings, claws all free, stamens monadelphous, connate into tube, anthers dimorphic; ovary stipitate, ovules numerous. Pod linear, compressed, suture thicken, dehiscent 2-valved, continuous within; seed reniform, estrophiolate, funicle very short.

Two species, Europe, N Africa, and W Asia. one species introduced to China.

1. Laburnum anagyroides Medic. Vorles. Churpf. Phys.-Okon. Ges. 2: 363. 1787.

Chinese Pinyin

Small tree, 2–5 m. Branches spreading or pendulous, yellow appressed pubescent at first, then shedding, matured twigs brown and smooth. Leaves with long petioles, 3–8 cm; stipules minute, caducous; leaflets elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 3–8 Χ 1.5–3 cm, papery, base broadly cuneate, apex rounded, mucronate, glabrous and flat adaxially, appressed pubescent abaxially, especially on veins; lateral veins 6–7 pairs. Racemes 10–30 cm, argent pubescent; flowers many, 2 cm, pedicels 8–14 mm, slender; bracteoles linear; calyx 2-lipped, corolla yellow, glabrous; ovary stipitate, ovules 8. Pod linear, 4–8 cm, acute, dorsal suture thicken but not winged, appressed pubescent; seed black. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Aug.

Cultivated in NE and NW China, original S Europe.

00. CYTISUS Linn Sp. Pl. 739. 1753.

Chinese Pinyin

Shrubs; leaves digitally 1- or 3-foliolate, rarely leafless; stipules minute, inconspicuous. Racemes either terminal and elongated, or axillary and short become fascicle-like; bracts and bracteoles minute and deciduous; calyx 2-lipped, teeth very short; corolla yellow, rarely violet or white, petals glabrous, claws free; ovary usually hairy, sessile or short stipitate, ovules numerous; pod linear to oblong, 2-valved, continuous within; seed ellipsoid, estrophiolate.

33 species, Europe, N Africa, and W Asia. Commonly one species cultivated in China.

1. Cytisus scoparius (Linn.) Link Enum. Hort. Berol. 2: 241. 1822.

Chinese Pinyin

Spartium scoparium Linn. Sp. Pl. 709. 1753.

Shrubs, 80–250 cm. Twigs thickly, erect, branchlets long and slender, angular, glabrous. Leaves at basal 3-foliolate, at apical simple; stipules minute or absent; leaflets obovate to elliptic, 5–15 Χ 3–5 mm, base tapering, apex rounded, entire, glabrous adaxially, sparsely appressed puberulent abaxially. Flowers solitary leafy axillary, at tip of branches arranged racemose; pedicel 1 cm, calyx 2-lipped, usually glaucous, 4 mm; corolla lemon-yellow, 1.5–2.5 cm. Pod oblong, 4–5 Χ 1 cm, black, flat, villose along suture, seeds numerous. Seed ellipsoid, 3 mm, gray yellow. Fl. May–Jul.

Cultivated, original Europe.

00. SPARTIUM Linn. Gen. Pl. ed. 1: 218. 1737.

Chinese Pinyin

Shrubs. Stems green, often leafless. Leaves rare, simple, stipule absent. Racemes terminal, many-flowered, bract and bracteole minute, caducous; calyx subspathaceous and split proximally, teeth inconspicuous; corolla golden yellow, 25 cm, glabrous except the apical margin tomentose, vexillum large, keel firmly beaked; stamens monadelphous, connate into tube, anthers dimorphic; ovary sessile, ovules numerous. Pod elongate linear, flat, suture thicken, septate within between seeds; seeds ellipsoid, smooth, base callosity, estrophiolate.

Monotypic genus, original Europe, widely cultivated as ornamental.

1. Spartium junceum Linn. Sp. Pl. 708. 1753.

Chinese Pinyin

Evergreen shrubs, 1–3 m, crown rounded. Stems erect, terete, ridged, glabrous, branchlets slender, young twigs green, mature bark gray. Leaves simple, narrowly elliptic to linear-lanceolate, 10–40 Χ 5–17 mm, papery, base tapering, apex rounded, glabrous adaxially, sparsely appressed puberulent abaxially, midrib prominent, leaf-blade caducous. Flowers solitary leafy axillary, at the apical tip scattered racemose, flowers 5–20; bracts ovate-lanceolate, 4 mm; pedicels 2–3 mm; calyx spathaceous, membranous, 6–7.5 mm; vexillum largest, 20–25(–30) mm, wings shortest, keel acuminate with 2 mm beak. Pod linear, 6–9 Χ 0.6–0.8 cm, acute both ends, dark brown, seeds 12–20. Seed ellipsoid, 4 Χ 3 mm, red brown, shining. Fl. Apr–Jul.

Cultivated.

00. GENISTA Linn. Sp. Pl. 710. 1753.

Chinese Pinyin

Shrubs unarmed or spiny; twigs alternate or opposite. Leaves simple or absent, rarely digitally 3-foliolate; stipule minute or absent. Racemes fasciculate leafy axillary, flowers alternate or opposite; calyx 2-lipped, teeth short; corolla bright yellow, rarely pale yellow, petals subequal, claw adnate to staminal tube; stamens monadelphous, anthers dimorphic; ovary linear, ovules numerous. Pod linear-oblong to broadly ovate, flat, 2-valved, continuous within, seed estrophiolate.

More 80 species, Europe, N Africa to W Asia. one species introduced to China.

1. Genista tinctoria Linn. Sp. Pl. 710. 1753.

Chinese Pinyin

Shrubs, 50–200 cm, glabrous to densely sericeous. Stems erect, ridged, branched slender, spineless. Leaves simple, elliptic, lanceolate, oblanceolate to linear, 9–50 Χ 4–15 mm, base tapering, apex acute, shorter and narrower on the flowering branchlets. Flowers crowded at the tip in racemose or panicles; bracts leaf-like, pedicels 1–3 mm; bracteole 1 mm, at middle of pedicels; calyx 3–7 mm, glabrous to dense pubescent; corolla yellow, 8–15 mm, petals short clawed. Pod linear, slightly curved, 15–25 Χ 3–4 mm, seeds 4–10. Seed ellipsoid, 2.5–2 mm, dark brown, shining. Fl. Jun–Aug.

Cultivated, original Europe.

00. ULEX Linn. Sp. Pl. 741. 1753.

Chinese Pinyin

Shrubs, branchlets sharply spiny. Leaves reduced to spine-like or small scale, merely at sprout shoots emerge 3-foliolate; stipules absent; petioles spiny. Flowers solitary or 2–3 in racemes axillary; bracts small, bracteoles ovate, adnate to base of calyx; calyx 2-lipped, membranous; corolla yellow, petals subequal, short clawed; stamens monadelphous, anthers dimorphic; ovary sessile, ovules numerous. Pod ovoid, oblong or shortly linear, compressed or turgid, tomentose, usually embraced in marcescent calyx, 2-valved, continuous within, seeds 2–4; seeds strophiolate.

20 species, W Europe, N Africa. One species cultivated in China.

1. Ulex europaeus Linn. Sp. Pl. 741. 1753.

Shrubs, densely spiny, 50–150 cm. Stems terete, longitudinally ridged, densely villose, branchy, tips spiny; the fascicular petioles become little spines, 5–15 mm, deeply furrowed. Flowers 1–3 in racemes at the tip of stems; bracts ovate, 2 mm, pedicels 3–9 mm; bracteoles 2 mm; calyx yellow brown, 12–14 mm, membranous, all dense brown tomentose; corolla golden yellow, 13–15 mm, glabrous except the distal margin of keel tomentose. Pod narrowly ovoid, 11–20 mm, blacken, densely brown tomentose, seeds 2–4. Seed ovoid, 3 Χ 2 mm, dark brown, shining.

Cultivated, original Europe.


[1] Herbarium, Zhejiang Museum of Natural History, 10 Jiaogong Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, People’s Republic of China.