槐叶决明 huai ye jue ming

Cassia sophera Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 379. 1753; Senna occidentalis (Linnaeus) Link var. sophera (Linnaeus) X. Y. Zhu.

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

Mountain slopes, roadsides. C and S China [native to tropical Asia; widely introduced in the tropics and subtropics elsewhere].

The young leaves and legumes are edible. The seeds are used medicinally for fever reduction.