Description: Climbing, trailing or erect herbs.
Leaves alternate, pinnately 3-foliolate; stipulate; stipellate.
Inflorescences racemes, rarely flowers solitary; mostly on long peduncles; bracts present. Calyx with upper 2 teeth partly fused, tube often split to base. Standard at least as long as wings or keel, with 2 auricles; keel twisted. Stamens diadelphous; anthers uniform. Ovary with c. 2 ovules; style curved at 900 to a squarish hook, bearded and narrowing below apex.
Pod reflexed, linear, compressed, dehiscent; seeds without an obvious aril.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 8 species, tropical & subtropical regions. Australia: 2 species (naturalized), Qld, N.S.W., N.T.
Text by C. Gardner Taxon concept:
| Key to the species | |
1 | Leaflets lanceolate to narrow-elliptic, unlobed, lower surface sparsely pubescent; flowers crimson to pink; erect or climbing herb | Macroptilium lathyroides |
| Leaflets ovate to rhombic, lateral leaflets lobed near base, lower surface densely whitish pubescent; flowers dark reddish black or purple; decumbent or twining herb | Macroptilium atropurpureum |
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