China is an annual plant in the legume family. It can reach a height of 1–3 meters.
China has a taproot and a straight stem, covered with hairs. The leaves of China are compound, pinnate, with elongated-oval leaflets. The flowers of China are small, usually papilionaceous, typically purple, violet, or pink.
The fruit of China is a pod that can reach 5–6 centimeters in length. Each pod contains 4–12 seeds. The seeds of China are small, oval or round, usually yellow, brown or black.
China grows in temperate and subtropical regions of the world, including Europe, Asia, North America and Australia. It prefers well-drained, fertile soils with neutral or slightly acidic pH.
China is used in agriculture as a forage plant for livestock. It can also be used as a green manure to improve soil structure and fertility.
In some countries, China is also consumed as food by people. It is used to prepare soups, porridges and other dishes. However, in Russia, China is not a widely consumed food product.