Shrubs or trees. Leaf bipinnate with a short spine-tipped rachis; pinnae 2-6, long and flattened; leaflets numerous, small; stipules spinescent. Inflorescence axillary raceme, bract small caducous. Calyx segments 5, slightly unequal, imbri¬cate. Petals 5, slightly unequal. Stamens 10, free, filaments villous at the base, anthers uniform. Ovary shortly stipitate, many-ovuled, style filiform, stigma termi¬nal. Fruit linear, torulose, finally dehiscing. Seeds oblong, hilum near the tip.

A genus with 2-3 species, distributed in America and S. Africa.

Lower Taxon

• Parkinsonia aculeata Linn.