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.
| Flemingia strobilifera | |
|---|---|
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| Green bracts of inflorescence | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Flemingia |
| Species: | F. strobilifera
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| Binomial name | |
| Flemingia strobilifera | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Range
editIt is common in China, Taiwan, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Laos, Myanmar; Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Philippines.[1]
Description
editThe 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
editIn 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
editThe species is invasive in New Caledonia. [6] In Panama it is a problematic alien plant species[7]
Gallery
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Green inflorescences -
Papilionaceous flowers emerging from bracts -
The persistent, papery bracts on inflorescence -
Dry bracts, dehiscent brown pod and seed
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References
edit- ^ a b "Flemingia strobilifera". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
- ^ "Flemingia strobilifera (L.) W.T.Aiton — the Plant List".
- ^ a b c "Flemingia strobilifera". NParks Flora&Fauna Web. Singapore Government. Retrieved 8 December 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Wild Hops". Flowers of India. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
- ^ [1] Flemingia strobilifera (L.) R. Br.
- ^ Hequet, Vanessa (2009). Les espèces exotiques envahissantes de Nouvelle-Calédonie (PDF) (in French). p. 17.
- ^ Lopez, Omar. (2012). Introduced Alien Plant Species in the Neotropics: the Panama Case. The Open Ecology Journal. 5. 84. 10.2174/1874213001205010084.