软荚豆 ruan jia dou

Glycine labialis Linnaeus f., Suppl. Pl. 325. 1782.

Stems slender, to 4 m, angular, densely appressed yellow tomentose. Stipules lanceolate; petiole 1.5-4 cm; stipels linear, ca. 3 mm; leaflets membranous, terminal leaflet oblong or long ovate, 2.5-6 × 1-2.2 cm, abaxially densely hairy, adaxially glossy and appressed scattered yellow pubescent, lateral veins 5 or 6 pairs, base rounded, apex acute. Racemes axillary, 2.5-4 cm, with 6-10 flowers, appressed hairy; peduncle ca. 2 cm; bracts lanceolate; pedicels ca. 5 mm; bracteoles at base of calyx, similar to bracts. Calyx 3-4 mm, appressed pubescent, 5-lobed; teeth ovate-lanceolate and shorter than calyx tube. Corolla white, changing to pink or purple; standard ca. 4 mm; wings oblong, truncate at base; keel rhombic. Ovary hairy. Legumes linear, ca. 4 cm × 3.5-4 mm, nodding, pubescent, hooked at apex. Seeds 5-9, oblong-ellipsoid, ca. 4 × 2 mm. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Sep-Oct.

Sparse bushlands, wastelands; low to middle elevations. Hainan, S Taiwan [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Africa, tropical America, West Indies].