Description from
Flora of China
Herbs [or shrublets]. Stipules dry membranous, connate or rarely distinct. Leaves imparipinnate; leaflet blades opposite, margin entire. Racemes axillary, with a long peduncle, with bracts and bracteoles. Calyx campanulate. Corolla purple, pinkish purple, or pale yellow. Stamens diadelphous (9+1); anthers uniform. Ovary sessile, with 1 or 2 ovules; style filiform; stigma capitate. Legume usually with 1 article, subglobose, inflated, indehiscent, with elevated veins, usually prickly.
Species of this genus are good fodder plants.
About 130 species: N Africa, C and SW Asia, Europe; three species (one introduced) in China.
(Authors: Xu Langran (徐朗然 Xu Lang-rang); Byoung-Hee Choi)
