Chinese hog-peanut is an East Asian vine that sets seed in two places: in pods above ground and in single-seeded fruits hidden underground. It is the Asian cousin of the American hog-peanut and does not grow wild in the United States.
Appearance
- Growth form
- An vine, about 3–6 ft (1–2 m) long, with downward-pointing hairs on the stems.
- Leaves
- Leaves have three leaflets; the middle one is the largest and egg-shaped.
- Flowers
- Pale purple pea-like flowers grow in small clusters from the leaf joints in late summer.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Fields
- Thickets
- Range
- Native to eastern and southeastern Asia: China, Korea, Japan, the Russian Far East, India, and Vietnam. It is not found in the United States.
Life cycle
- Reproduction
- Besides its showy flowers above ground, it makes closed, flowers on runners that push into the soil. Above-ground pods hold about three flat seeds, while each underground fruit holds one much larger seed.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
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