Description: Perennial herbs or shrubs; branches spinose.
Leaves alternate, simple.
Inflorescences of few-flowered axillary racemes, rachis spine tipped; bracts and bracteoles minute. Calyx tube campanulate; teeth subequal, minute. Standard obovate, margins inflexed; keel obtuse, ± equal to wings and standard. Stamens diadelphous; anthers uniform. Ovary subsessile, ovules numerous.
Pod elongate, ± terete or slightly compressed, frequently constricted between seeds, indehiscent; seeds reniform, aril not present. In hot weather sap ('Manna') is exuded.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 5 species, Mediterranean & northern Africa to C Asia. Australia: 1 species (naturalized), N.S.W., Vic., S.A.
Text by C. Gardner
Taxon concept:
| One species in NSW: Alhagi maurorum |
|
