Oxyramphis Wallich ex Meisner; Phlebosprium Junghuhn.

Shrubs or shrublets. Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate; stipules narrowly triangular or rarely triangular to deltoid-ovate, persistent; stipels nearly always absent, or rarely always present, linear; leaflets entire. Inflorescences axillary, racemose, rarely umbellate or spicate, sometimes terminal panicle composed of several upper racemes with reduced subtending leaves, 1-flowered per bract; bracts persistent or caducous. Pedicels articulate; bracteoles 2, usually caducous before anthesis. Calyx campanulate, 4-lobed; lower lobe narrower and longer than upper and lateral ones, upper lobe minutely 2-toothed at apex. Corolla violet to pinkish white or rarely yellow; standard shortly clawed at base; wings auriculate and clawed at base; keel incurved at ca. right angle, acute at apex, auricu­late, clawed at base. Stamens monadelphous; vexillary stamen connate to staminal tube for 2/3-4/5 of its length, rarely almost diadel­phous. Pistil minutely stipitate; ovary 1-ovuled, superior; style filiform, incurved; stigma terminal, small, ciliate with minute hairs. Legumes compressed, lenticular, indehiscent, 1-seeded. Seeds reniform, rim-arillate with ringlike margin around hilum.

Because most species tolerate arid soils, they are important for soil conservation. The branchlets can be used as knitting needles. The young shoots and leaves are used as forage for livestock and as green manure. The roots and leaves of some species are used medicinally.

About 37 species: mostly in temperate zone of Asia; 32 species (20 endemic) in China.

(Authors: Huang Puhua (黄普华 Huang Pu-hwa); Hiroyoshi Ohashi, Yu Iokawa)