Japanese name: ボウコウマメ（膀胱豆） Scientific name:Colutea arborescens
[Overview]
A deciduous shrub growing to about 3 m tall.
The leaves are alternate, odd-pinnately compound, 7.5–15 cm long, and consist of 9–13 leaflets.
The leaflets are elliptic, 1.5–2.5 cm long, with a notched tip.
Racemes about 3 cm long arise from the leaf axils and bear 3–7 yellow pea-shaped flowers.
The standard petal has reddish brown markings.
The fruit is an inflated legume 5–7 cm long and 2–3 cm wide, containing many seeds.
[Uses]
Branches bearing ripe legumes are used as cut branches.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
It prefers sunny, well-drained, dry soil.
It dislikes being transplanted, so sow directly in place, or sow in pots and plant out while the seedlings are still young.
[Notes]
The Japanese name comes from the shape of the legume.
