山竹子 shan zhu zi

Shrublets, 30-80 cm tall. Stems caespitose, erect. Stipules ovate-lanceolate, 4-5 mm, basally connate. Leaves 8-14 cm, 11-19-foliolate; leaflet blades elliptic to oblong, 1.4-2.2 × 0.3-0.6 cm, abaxially densely pubescent, adaxially sparsely pubes­cent. Racemes lax, with many flowers; bracts triangular-ovate, ca. 1 mm; peduncle longer than leaves. Pedicel 2-3 mm. Calyx campanulate, 5-6 mm, pubescent; teeth triangular, ± equal, ca. 1/2 as long as tube. Corolla purple; standard obovate-orbicular, 1.4-2 cm; wings ca. 1/3 as long as standard; keel slightly shorter than standard. Ovary pubescent. Legume divided into 2 or 3 articles; articles ellipsoid, 5-7 × 3-4 mm, inflated, pubes­cent, prickly or not. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.

Sandy areas in steppes; 600-1100 m. Heilongjiang, Jilin, W Liao­ning, NE Nei Mongol [E Mongolia, E Russia].

Plants of this species are cultivated for sand-dune stabilization and for fodder.

Lower Taxa

• Corethrodendron fruticosum var. fruticosum
• Corethrodendron fruticosum var. mongolicum (Turczan­inow) Turczaninow ex Kitagawa