Description: Shrubs or trees, evergreen, spinose.
Leaves alternate or appearing whorled, mostly bipinnate with 1–4 pairs of pinnae with a reduced rachis and petiole, ending in a spine; secondary rachis elongate, flat; pinnules numerous, oblong or linear, usually caducous.
Inflorescences axillary or terminal, racemes. Calyx 5-lobed, ± equal, slightly imbricate, reflexed. Petals 5, soon reflexed. Stamens 10, all fertile. Ovary shortly stipitate, 8–10-ovuled; style ± filiform; stigma minute, terminal.
Pod stipitate, indehiscent, constricted between seeds; seeds oblong.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 19 species, tropical & subtropical regions. Australia: 1 species
Text by B. Wiecek Taxon concept:
One species in NSW: Parkinsonia aculeata |
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