Uraria crinita aka Uraria Crinita

Uraria crinita is a perennial in the pea family, Fabaceae. It grows as a subshrub or shrub, with upright stems. Its native range runs from the eastern Himalaya to Nansei-shotō. It also reaches western Malesia and Palau in the Caroline Islands. Kew places it in the seasonally dry tropics. People grow it in gardens and gather wild plants for medicine.

The listed height is about 5 feet [1.5 metres]. Stems can reach about 6.6 feet [2 metres]. They turn woody at least near the base. This gives the plant a lasting woody framework below its shoots. The source shows both flower clusters and clusters bearing fruit. Bristly sepals stay in place as the fruit develops. The supplied account gives no flower colour or bloom season. It also gives no detailed account of leaf shape or bark.

In the wild, this species grows in dry grassland and open woods. It also occurs along roads, on waste ground, and in sandy places. Some plants grow in woods that shed their leaves. Recorded sites reach about 4,920 feet [1,500 metres] above sea level. The plant does not occupy waterlogged sites in this account. In cultivation, it needs soil that lets excess water drain away. The evidence gives no frost limit or hardiness zone. Nor does it set out a watering schedule or light requirement.

Gardeners grow this plant for ornament, though the account gives few design details. Farmers also use it as a cover crop and green manure. Seed provides a means of raising new plants. The supplied source lists no further propagation steps. It gives no named pest or disease problems. Its use on farms differs from its role in gardens. Both uses sit alongside its long-standing place in local medicine.

Traditional uses involve roots, leaves, and the whole plant. Reported uses include diarrhoea, dysentery, fever, coughs, and bleeding. Other records concern intestinal parasites, skin sores, and liver or spleen complaints. People have also used crushed leaves on hair against lice. These records describe medicinal practice, not proof of safe or effective treatment. The source records no food uses and no known hazards. That does not establish safety for people or pets.