Description: Shrubs.
Leaves alternate, 1-foliolate; stipules striate, scarious; stipellate.
Inflorescences terminal or axillary racemes; bracts simple. Calyx tube short, upper 2 teeth ± fused. Standard oblong to ± circular, clawed; wings oblong, usually joined to the middle of the keel; keel obtuse. Stamens diadelphous; anthers uniform. Ovary with c. 2 ovules; style inflexed or incurved.
Pod transversely jointed, separating into 1-seeded articles; articles 4–8, indehiscent; seeds not arillate.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 3 species in Africa, Sri Lanka, Inda, Indo-Cina and Malesia. Australia: 1 species, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales.
Previously included in the genus Desmodium, but molecular data have demonstrated that this genus needs to be greatly divided.
Text by R.L. Barrett, Sept. 2019
Taxon concept:
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