Description from
Flora of China
Cytisus pinnatus Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 741. 1753; Derris indica (Lamarck) Bennet; Galedupa indica Lamarck; G. pinnata (Linnaeus) Taubert; Millettia pinnata (Linnaeus) Panigrahi; Pongamia glabra Ventenat; P. mitis (Linnaeus) Kurz; Robinia mitis Linnaeus.
Trees, 8-15 m tall. Branchlets sometimes tomentose, glabrescent, with dense minute cinereous lenticels. Leaves 5- or 7-foliolate; rachis 20-26 cm, including petiole 5-6 cm; petiolules 6-8 mm; leaflet blades ovate, broadly elliptic, or oblong, 5-10 × 4-8 cm, leathery, base rounded, broadly cuneate, or truncate, apex rounded to acuminate. Inflorescences axillary, racemose, 15-20 cm, rachis nodes usually with 2 flowers. Pedicel 5-8 mm; bracteoles 2, inserted at base of calyx, ovate. Calyx campanulate to calathiform, ca. 3 mm, outside sparsely yellowish pubescent; teeth obscure. Corolla white or pink, 1.2-1.4 cm; standard orbicular, outside thinly sericeous, base auriculate, claw 2-callose; wings oblong, oblique, base auriculate; keels falcate, apically adherent, apex truncate. Stamens 10, vexillary stamen distinct, others connate; anthers basifixed. Ovary subsessile, with 2 ovules; style inflexed, glabrous; stigma capitate. Legume ellipsoid to oblong, flat, 4-5 × 1.5-2.5 cm, indehiscent, covered with obscure warts, apex shortly beaked. Seed reniform. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Aug-Oct. 2n = 22.
Pongamia pinnata is represented in China by the typical variety. Another variety, Pongamia pinnata var. xerocarpa (Hasskarl) Alston, occurs in S and SE Asia.
Coastal areas along beaches or riverbanks, thickets; near sea level. Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan [Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; C Africa, Australia, Central America, Pacific islands].
