FloraofChina10553–557.2010.PDFVIP

Flora of China 10: 553–557. 2010. 162. MEDICAGO Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 778. 1753, nom. cons. 苜蓿属 mu xu shu Annual or perennial herbs, rarely shrubs. Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate; stipules adnate to petiole at base; leaflets denticulate, lat- eral veins running out into teeth. Racemes axillary, flowers crowded into heads; bracts small and caducous. Calyx 5-toothed, sub- equal. Petals free from staminal tube; standard oblong to obovate, usually reflexed; wings and keel with hooked appendages involved in explosive tripping mechanism for pollination. Stamens diadelphous; filaments not dilated, apical portion of staminal column arched; anthers uniform. Ovary sessile or shortly stipitate; ovules numerous; style subulate; stigma subcapitate, oblique. Legume compressed, coiled, curved, or straight, surface reticulate, sometimes armed with spines. Seed small, reniform, smooth or rough. About 85 species: Africa, C and SW Asia, Europe, Mediterranean region; 15 species (one endemic, six introduced) in China. 1a. Legume spirally coiled. 2a. Perennial herbs or shrubs; legume spineless. 3a. Shrubs 9. M. arborea 3b. Herbs. 4a. Legume tightly coiled in 2–4(–6) spirals, center solid or nearly so; corolla variable in color, white, deep blue, to dark purple 7. M. sativa 4b. Legume loosely coiled in 1–1.5 spirals, center hollow; corolla yellow to brownish purple 8. M. ×varia 2b. Annual or biennial herbs; legume with spines or tubercles. 5a. Leaflets obviously hairy; legume globose, less than 4.5 mm in diam. 6a. Petiole shorter than peduncle, stipule entire or obscurely serrate, leaflets densely hairy; inflorescence 2–10-flowered 10. M. minima