Shrubs or subshrubs, erect, 1-2 m tall, much branched. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 1.5-4 cm, often very narrowly winged; terminal leaflet blade lanceolate or oblong, 5-9 × 1.5-2.5 cm, lateral ones smaller, abaxially apparently glaucous and more densely hairy on raised veins, adaxially lucid and glabrescent, base cuneate, apex acuminate or acute. Racemes terminal or axillary, 5-30 cm; rachis densely pubescent intermixed with minute uncinate and appressed or spreading longer hairs, 2-flowered at each node. Pedicel 3-4 mm. Calyx 3.5-4 mm, upper 2 lobes united for 3/4 length or more. Corolla green-white or yellow-white; standard elliptic, shortly clawed; wings narrowly oblong, clawed; keel oblong, clawed. Ovary densely appressed pilose on both sutures. Legume linear, flat, 5-7 cm, sessile, 4-8-jointed; articles narrowly ellipsoidal, 9-12 × ca. 3 mm, with dense, short, brown, uncinate hairs. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Sep-Nov. 2n = 22*.
Woods in C. and S. Japan. Mountain slopes, roadsides, grasslands, streamsides and forest margins; at elevations from 100-1,000 metres in southern China.
More
Woods in C. and S. Japan. Mountain slopes, roadsides, grasslands, streamsides and forest margins at elevations of 100-1,000 metres in China.
Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs scarification and soaking.