Aeschynomene indica Linn., Sp.Pl. 713. 1753. Baker in Hook.f., Fl. Brit.Ind.2:151.1876; Cooke l.c. 363; Rudd, l.c. 30; Verdc. in Kirkia, 9(2):382.l974.
Annual undershrub, 30-90 cm tall, stem glabrous, branches terete with prickle-like glandular excretions. Leaf 3.5-9.0 cm long, rachis furnished with glandular excretions looking like prickles. Leaflets 21-71, alternate, subsessile, overlapping, 2.5-6.5 mm long, 1.2-2.0 mm broad, linear, obtuse, mucronate, glabrous. Inflorescence a 1-4-flowered axillary raceme, peduncle c. 2.5 cm long, peduncle and pedicel glandular, viscid, pedicel 5-9 mm long. Bracts c. 2 mm long. Calyx 6-7 mm long, bilabiate, glabrous, upper lip bifid, lower minutely 3-toothed. Corolla 9-10 mm long, yellow, vexillum veined with purple. Fruit 2.5-4.5 cm long, 3-5 mm broad, slightly curved, 6-10 jointed, glabrous or slightly hairy, readily separating into 1-seeded parts.
Fl.Per.: Aug.-October.
Type: India, Malabar, Neli-tali; Rheede, Hort. Mal. 9:31.t.18.1689.
Distribution: Kashmir, Pakistan, India, Ceylon, Burma, Siam, Japan, Tropical Africa, Australia and N.America.
