Flemingia strobilifera

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.

Luck plant
Green bracts of inflorescence
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Rosids
Order:
Fabales
Family:
Fabaceae
Subfamily:
Faboideae
Tribe:
Phaseoleae
Subtribe:
Cajaninae
Genus:
Flemingia
Species:
F. strobilifera
Binomial name
Flemingia strobilifera
Synonyms
  • 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. [2]

Range

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

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

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

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

  • Habit in Panchkhal valley, Nepal
    Habit in Panchkhal valley, Nepal
  • Green inflorescences
    Green inflorescences
  • Papilionaceous flowers emerging from bracts
    Papilionaceous flowers emerging from bracts
  • The persistent, papery bracts on inflorescence
    The persistent, papery bracts on inflorescence
  • Dry bracts, dehiscent brown pod and seed
    Dry bracts, dehiscent brown pod and seed

References
  1. "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. "Flemingia strobilifera". NParks Flora&Fauna Web. Singapore Government. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  4. "Wild Hops". Flowers of India. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  5. 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.


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