Trees or shrubs, sometimes provided with glandular hairs. Leaf imparipin¬nate, leaflets entire, often stipellate; stipules sometimes spinescent. Inflorescence an axillary raceme, flowers white or rose-purple. Bract caducous; bracteoles absent. Calyx teeth short broad, upper two subconnate. Vexillum large, wings free, keel incurved, obtuse. Stamens mono or diadelphous, vexillary stamen free at the base, connate in the middle into a closed tube or at length free; anthers uniform or dimorphic. Ovary stipitate, many ovuled, style hairy at the apex, stigma terminal. Fruit linear, flat, narrowly winged along the upper suture, 2-valved, continuous. Seeds reniform, not strophiolate.

About 20 species, distributed in North and Central America; represented locally by a cultivated species.

Lower Taxon

• Robinia pseudo-acacia Linn.