Description: Deciduous trees, stems armed with spines.
Leaves alternate, often both pinnate and bipinnate on the same plant; stipules small.
Inflorescences axillary, spike-like racemes or rarely panicles, either male with many clustered ± sessile flowers or bisexual with few well-spaced pedicellate flowers. Flowers bisexual and unisexual. Sepals and petals similar, 3–5, greenish-yellow. Stamens 6–10, free. Ovary subsessile; ovules 2–numerous; style short with a large terminal stigma.
Pod indehiscent, oblong, compressed, ± leathery and often pulpy inside; seeds 2–many, transverse.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 14 species, North & South America, Asia, Africa. Australia: 1 species
Text by B. Wiecek
Taxon concept:
|
