Lablab Adans., Fam.Pl. 2:325. 1763. Verdc., in Milne-Redhead & Polhill, Fl.Trop.E.Afr. (Leguminosae 4) 696.1971.
Suberect or climbing herbs. Leaves stipulate, stipules reflexed; pinnately trifoliolate, stipels lanceolate. Inflorescence axillary, falsely racemose. Calyx bilipped, upper entire or emarginate, lower 3-lobed. Corolla, crimson, reddish purple or white. Vexillum round, auriculate with 2 callosities or appendages on the inner face; keel with beak incurved at a right angle. Stamens diadelphous, 9+1 or loosely monadelphous, anthers uniform. Ovary several ovuled, style with no tenuous basal portion, laterally flattened, slightly curved at the apex, hairy on the inner side, stigma terminal. Pods oblong, many seeded, septa spongy. Seeds ovoid, compressed.
A monotypic genus, distributed throughout Tropical Africa and Asia.
