Leucaena Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 4:416. 1842.
Shrubs or trees. Leaves bipinnate with setaceous stipules, petiolar gland often present between the lower pair of pinnae, leaflets 1-many paired, numerous when small and few when large. Inflorescence axillary, solitary or fascicled, pedunculate globose heads sometimes racemosely aggregated. Flowers sessile, usually bisexual. Sepals 5, connate, tubular-campanulate, teeth short. Petals 5, distinct or nearly so, valvate. Stamens 10, distinct, exserted, anthers mostly eglan¬dular, ovate, oblong or globose, often pilose. Ovary stipitate, pubescent or gla¬brous. Pod stalked, compressed, oblong or linear-oblong, dehiscent. Seeds ovate, compressed, brown, glossy, endospermic.
A genus with about 50 species native of Polynesia & Tropical America.
