Brachypterum (Wight & Arnott) Bentham; Dalbergia subg. Brachypterum Wight & Arnott.

Lianas, rarely erect shrubs or trees. Stipules small. Leaves imparipinnate; stipels absent; leaflets opposite, margins entire. Inflorescences axillary pseudoracemes, these often combined with terminal or axillary pseudopanicles; rachis nodes with 1 to many flowers, fascicled or on a short spur or branchlet; bracts and bracteoles small, deciduous. Calyx campanulate or cup-shaped, apex subtruncate or with 4 or 5 short and broad teeth. Corolla white, purplish red, or pink, longer than calyx; standard broad, usually glabrous but outside sometimes subglabrous or pubescent, without basal calluses; wings long clawed, often auriculate, adhering to keel; keels incurved, base often auriculate, apex blunt. Stamens monadelphous. Ovary sessile or with a short stipe, with 1-11 ovules; style incurved; stigma capitate. Legume globose, oblong, or ligulate-oblong, indehiscent; adaxial suture or both adaxial and abaxial sutures with a narrow wing. Seeds 1 to several per legume, reniform, compressed.

About 50 species: tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia, Australia, and Pacific islands; 16 species (nine endemic) in China.

(Authors: Chen Dezhao (陈德昭 Chen Te-chao); Les Pedley)