Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Synonyms
Family
Medicine - The leaves are febrifuge and are used for treating postpartum fever and to treat paralysis and pain in the joints. The entire plant is given to relieve stomach-ache. A decoction of the root is drunk as a treatment for spermatorrhoea.
Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan
Along watercourses in secondary forest, as well as under drier conditions at altitudes of 1100-2800 m asl.
Used in agroforestry systems due to its ability to improve soil fertility and reduce erosion. Has moderate resistance to fire.
It is woody, perennial shrub about 0.6-2.5 m tall.
The main stem is prostrate or erect, with numerous stems arising from a single base. The young branches are greenish, ribbed, triangular in section and silky; while the old stems are brown, almost round in section.
Leaves digitately trifoliate; stipules lanceolate, 1-1.5 cm long, covered with silky hairs, early caducous; petiole up to 10 cm long, narrowly channelled, slightly winged; leaflets elliptical-lanceolate, 6-16 x 4-7 cm, papery, dark green, base rounded, veins covered with silky hairs, apex rounded to acuminate.
Inflorescence a dense axillary raceme, sub-spiciform, sessile, 2.5-10 cm long, pale velutinous, green, with 5 lanceolate lobes; corolla with greenish elliptical standard and distinct parallel red veins, wings narrow and much shorter than the keel, light purple at the apex.
Pod oblong, inflated, 8-15 x 5 mm, covered with fine glandular hairs, dehiscent, dark brown, 2-seeded. Seed globular, 2-3 mm in diameter, shiny black
Flowering: June – August
Fruiting: September – November