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Flemingia strobilifera

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Flemingia strobilifera
Green bracts of inflorescence
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Flemingia
Species:
F. strobilifera
Binomial name
Flemingia strobilifera
Synonyms[2]
  • Flemingia bracteata (Roxb.) Wight
  • Flemingia fruticulosa Benth.
  • Flemingia strobilifera var. bracteata (Roxb.) Baker
  • Flemingia strobilifera var. fruticulosa (Benth.) Baker
  • Hedysarum bracteatum Roxb.
  • Hedysarum strobiliferum L.
  • Moghania bracteata (Roxb.) H.L.Li
  • Moghania fruticulosa (Benth.) Mukerjee
  • Moghania strobilifera (L.) J.St.-Hil.
  • Moghania strobilifera (L.) Kuntze
  • Moghania strobilifera (L.) Jacks.
  • Zornia strobilifera (L.) Pers.

Flemingia strobilifera, commonly known as the luck plant or wild hops, is a perennial flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae, and subfamily Faboideae. It is native to South, East and Southeast Asia.

Range

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It is common in China, Taiwan, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Laos, Myanmar; Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Philippines.[1]

Description

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The erect, perennial shrub grows 1.5 m to 2 m tall.[3] The leaves are ovate to oblong with pinnate venation and wavy margins. It flowers from October to December.[4] Each small, white pea-shaped flower is enclosed by a pair of reniform flower bracts. The alternating bracts are arranged in 2 files along the raceme, and eventually turn papery as they dry out. The small, cylindrical pods release their tiny black and red seeds by explosive dehiscence.[3]

Uses

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In many parts of the Indian subcontinent it is used as a traditional medicine to treat epilepsy, hysteria and fever.[3][4] It is an essential part of the Bihu (গৰু বিহু) festival, during which the cattle are washed and gently beaten with twigs of this plant.[5] It is known as makhiyoti (মাখিয়তী) in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam.

Ecology

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The species is invasive in New Caledonia. [6] In Panama it is a problematic alien plant species[7]

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Flemingia strobilifera". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Flemingia strobilifera (L.) W.T.Aiton — the Plant List".
  3. ^ a b c "Flemingia strobilifera". NParks Flora&Fauna Web. Singapore Government. Retrieved 8 December 2017.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b "Wild Hops". Flowers of India. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  5. ^ [1] Flemingia strobilifera (L.) R. Br.
  6. ^ Hequet, Vanessa (2009). Les espèces exotiques envahissantes de Nouvelle-Calédonie (PDF) (in French). p. 17.
  7. ^ Lopez, Omar. (2012). Introduced Alien Plant Species in the Neotropics: the Panama Case. The Open Ecology Journal. 5. 84. 10.2174/1874213001205010084.