67. Fertile stamens 3. Ovules 3. Bracteoles large. Tree—Species 20.
Central Africa. Some species yield timber. (Vouapa Aubl.) Macrolobium Schreb.
Fertile stamens 10, rarely (Cynometra) more. 68
68. Petals very unequal. Leaves pinnate. 69
Petals equal or nearly equal. 71
69. Corolla of 1 large and 4 very small petals. Receptacle shortly cup-shaped.
Bracteoles minute. Leaves with 1-2 pairs of leaflets.—Species 1.
Equatorial West Africa. Eurypetalum Harms
Corolla of 3 large and 2 small petals. 70
70. Bracteoles petal-like. Receptacle cup- or top-shaped.—Species 4.
West Africa. (Under Cynometra L.) Hymenostegia Harms
Bracteoles sepal-like, hairy outside, equalling the bracts. Receptacle
funnel-shaped. Sepals 4. Shrubs. Leaves with 3-4 pairs of leaflets.—Species
1. West Africa. Loesenera Harms
71. Sepals 5, very unequal, the lowest very large. Receptacle very short.
Trees. Leaves pinnate.—Species 1. Madagascar. Cymbosepalum Bak.
Sepals 4-5, equal or nearly equal. 72
72. Receptacle (calyx-tube) long and narrow. Sepals 4. Stalk of the ovary
obliquely adnate to the receptacle. 73
Receptacle short and usually broad. 75
73. Bracteoles large, petaloid, enclosing the bud. Receptacle with a thick
disc on one side. Shrubs. Leaves pinnate, with 2-4 leaflets.—Species
1. West Africa (Cameroons.) Plagiosiphon Harms
Bracteoles small, not enclosing the bud, or wanting. Leaves simple
or pinnate with many leaflets. 74
74. Leaves simple. Shrubs.—Species 2. West Africa (Cameroons). Zenkerella Taub.
Leaves abruptly pinnate. Trees.—Species 1. West Africa (Cameroons).
The bark is used as a condiment. Scorodophloeus Harms
75. Ovule 1. Stalk of the ovary obliquely adnate to the receptacle. Sepals 4.
Trees. Leaves simple.—Species 1. East Africa. Podogynium Taub.
Ovules 2, rarely 3. Leaves abruptly pinnate. 76
76. Filaments united into a ring at the base, unequal, hairy. Sepals 5. Ovary
glandular. Trees. Leaves with 3-6 pairs of leaflets. Flowers in
terminal, many-flowered racemes.—Species 1. East Africa. Stuhlmannia Taub.
Filaments free. Bracteoles none. 77
77. Flowers in panicles. Sepals short. Petals white. Filaments hairy at
the base. Fruit flat, lanceolate, opening by two valves. Trees.—Species
1. South Africa (Cape Colony). Yields timber. Umtiza Sim
Flowers in racemes or corymbs. Sepals usually long. 78
78. Flowers in terminal, few-flowered corymbs. Filaments hairy at the
base. Fruit flat, ovate, beaked, opening by two valves. Low, glandular
shrubs.—Species 1. East Africa (Somaliland). The seeds are edible. Cordeauxia Hemsl.
Flowers in racemes springing from the axils of the leaves or from the old
wood. 79
79. Fruit lanceolate, flat, bursting in the middle of the valves, but remaining
closed at the sutures. Sepals 5. Corolla yellow. Filaments erect,
hairy at the base. Stalk of the ovary free. Trees. (See 51.) Haematoxylon L.
Fruit more or less ovate and turgid, opening in two valves. Filaments
usually glabrous.—Species 20. West Africa and Madagascar. Some
species yield timber and resin (copal). Cynometra L.
80. (58.) Petals reduced to minute scales or wanting. Trees. 81
Petals well developed. 87
81. Bracteoles large, enclosing the bud, persisting during the time of flowering.
Calyx consisting of 1-5 scale-like sepals, or replaced by a 10-lobed
disc, or wanting altogether. 82
Bracteoles small, not enclosing the bud, falling off early. Calyx of 4-5
well-developed sepals. 83
82. Disc fleshy. Petals 5, awl-shaped. Stamens 5-6. Stipules small, connate.—Species
4. West Africa. Didelotia Baill.
Disc none. Stamens 10-20, more or less united at the base. Ovules few.
Fruit oblong or linear, opening in two valves. Seeds exalbuminous.—Species
20. Central Africa. The seeds of some species are eaten and
the bark is used as a substitute for cloth. (Under Didelotia Baill.) Brachystegia Benth.
83. Sepals 5. Petals 0. Stamens 5. Disc expanded. Ovary in its centre,
subsessile. Ovules numerous. Style very short; stigma peltate.
Fruit linear, indehiscent. Seeds albuminous. Leaves equally pinnate.
Flowers polygamous-dioecious. Bracteoles very small, deciduous.—Species
1 (C. Siliqua L., carob-tree). North Africa. The fruits are
edible, and used as fodder and for preparing brandy and medicaments;
the seeds serve as a substitute for coffee. Ceratonia L.
Sepals 4. Stamens 8-10. Disc not expanded. 84
84. Petals 5, scale-like. Stamens 10. Leaves equally pinnate. Flowers in
panicles.—Species 12. Central and South Africa. They yield timber,
gum, and edible seeds from which meal is prepared. (Theodora Medik.) Schotia Jaqu.
Petals none. 85
85. Stamens 8, alternatingly unequal. Ovary sessile. Ovules numerous.
Leaves unequally pinnate. Flowers in compound racemes. Bracteoles
linear.—Species 1. Equatorial West Africa (Gaboon). Hylodendron Taub.
Stamens 10, rarely 8, but then equal in length. Ovary short-stalked.
Ovules few. 86
86. Stamens unequal, 10. Fruit oblong, winged, indehiscent. Seeds pendulous.
Leaves equally pinnate. Flowers in simple racemes.—Species
1. Madagascar. Apaloxylon Drake
Stamens equal in length. Fruit broad-oblong to orbicular, dehiscing in
two valves. Leaves unequally pinnate.—Species 5. Central Africa
to Delagoa Bay. (Apalatoa Aubl.) Crudia Schreb.
87. (80.) Well developed petal 1; sometimes 2-4 rudimentary petals in
addition. Trees. 88
Well developed petals 3-6. Leaves abruptly pinnate. 93
88. Petal sessile. Sepals 4. Leaves abruptly pinnate. 89
Petal with a long claw. 90
89. Receptacle minute. Sepals scale-like. Petal orbicular. Stamens 3,
short. Ovary with a short stalk. Ovules 4. Stigma truncate. Bracteoles
large, enclosing the bud, persistent at flowering. (See 65.) Cryptosepalum Benth.
Receptacle rather large, narrowly top-shaped. Sepals large, coloured.
Petal oblong. Stamens 10, long. Ovary with a long stalk. Ovules
numerous. Stigma capitate. Bracteoles falling off early.—Species 3.
West Africa. They yield timber and an aromatic resin. Daniella Benn.
90. Fertile stamens 3. 91
Fertile stamens 5-10. 92
91. Bracteoles enclosing the bud, persisting at flowering. Petal folded
together in the bud. Flowers small or middle-sized. (See 67.) Macrolobium Schreb.
Bracteoles shorter than the bud, falling off during the time of flowering.
Receptacle elongated. Sepals 4. Fruit oblong. Flowers rather large.—Species
1. Madagascar and neighbouring islands. It yields timber,
edible seeds, and medicaments. (Under Afzelia Smith). Intsia Thouars
92. Fertile stamens 6-8. Sepals 4. Bracteoles shorter than the bud. Seed
with an aril.—Species 4. Central Africa to Delagoa Bay. They yield
timber; the aril is edible, the seeds are poisonous and used medicinally.
(Under Intsia Thouars) Afzelia Smith
Fertile stamens 5 or 10. Sepals usually 5. Petal folded in bud, whitish.
Bracteoles enclosing the bud.—Species 15. Central Africa. The
wood and the bark are used, the latter for making cloth. Berlinia Soland.
93. (87.) Sepals 6-7. Petals 6, subequal. Fertile stamens 6-8, barren ones
4-7. Trees.—Species 1. East Africa. Englerodendron Harms
Sepals 4-5. 94
94. Sepals 5. Trees. 95
Sepals 4. 96
95. Petals more or less unequal, white or yellowish. Stamens 5 or 10. Fruit
dehiscent. Bracteoles enclosing the bud. (See 92.) Berlinia Soland.
Petals subequal, red. Stamens 10. Fruit winged, indehiscent. Seeds
pendulous.—Species 1. Madagascar. Bathiaea Drake
96. Fertile stamens 3. Petals unequal, 3 of them larger than the other two.
Trees. 97
Fertile stamens 10 or more. 98
97. Filaments united nearly half their length. Petals yellowish or red-striped.
Fruit indehiscent. Leaves with many pairs of leaflets. Bracteoles
narrow, falling off early.—Species 3. Tropics. They yield timber,
tanning and dyeing materials, edible fruits from which drinks and
medicaments are prepared, and oily seeds. Tamarindus L.
Filaments free. Fruit dehiscent. Bracteoles large, enclosing the bud.
(See 67.) Macrolobium Schreb.
98. Stamens numerous, united at the base. Anthers linear. Petals subequal.
Bracteoles enclosing the bud. Trees.—Species 1. West Africa. Polystemonanthus Harms
Stamens 10. 99
99. Bracteoles large, enclosing the bud. 100
Bracteoles small, not enclosing the bud, falling off early. 101
100. Petals very unequal, 3 large, 2 very small. Filaments united at the base.
Ovules numerous. Leaves with several pairs of leaflets. Flowers in
panicles.—Species 3. West Africa. They yield timber and resin.
(Under Daniella Benn.) Cyanothyrsus Harms
Petals subequal. Ovules few. Shrubs. Leaves with 1-2 pairs of
leaflets. Flowers in racemes. Bracteoles petaloid. (See 73.) Plagiosiphon Harms
101. Filaments, excepting one, united high up. Petals pink, narrow; blade
passing gradually into the claw. Sepals unequal, subvalvate in bud.
Receptacle very short. Flowers in racemes or panicles. Leaflets 7-9,
alternate.—Species 1. Equatorial West Africa. Tessmannia Harms
Filaments free or united at the base. 102
102. Petals sessile or nearly so, subequal, red. Leaves with 2-16 pairs of
leaflets. Flower in panicles. (See 84.) Schotia Jacq.
Petals with a long or rather long claw. Trees. 103
103. Sepals slightly imbricate. Petals subequal. Filaments, excepting one,
united at the base. Leaves with 1-4 pairs of leaflets. Flowers large, in
racemes.—Species 7. West Africa to the Great Lakes. Baikiaea Benth.
Sepals much imbricate. Petals white. Filaments free. Ovules few.
Leaves with one pair of leaflets. Flowers in panicles.—Species 2.
Tropics. They yield timber and resin (copal) which is used for turnery
and carving and for making lacs and varnishes. (Under Hymenaea L.) Trachylobium Hayne
104. (28.) Filaments free or nearly so. Shrubs or trees. 105
Filaments, all or all excepting one, united into a tube or sheath. 126
105. Stamens 4-5. Filaments very short. Anthers attached by the base,
opening at the top; 2-3 of them united. Ovary 4-winged. Ovules 2.
Stigma terminal. Calyx-lobes 4, unequal. Petals 5, shorter than the
calyx, unequal, red. Leaves pinnate. (See 56.) Duparquetia Baill.
Stamens 8-10. [Tribes SOPHOREAE and PODALYRIEAE.] 106
106. Leaves simple and undivided or unifoliolate. Corolla papilionaceous. 107
Leaves pinnate or palmately trifoliolate. 112
107. Calyx shortly toothed, not slit. Corolla whitish; petals of the keel
slightly cohering. Ovules few. Shrubs with arched or climbing
branches. Stipules ovate or lanceolate. Flowers in racemes or panicles.
Bracteoles large, enclosing the flower, persistent.—Species 1. West
Africa. Dalhousiea Grah.
Calyx shortly toothed but slitting as the flower expands, on one or both
sides, or deeply cleft. Bracteoles not enclosing the flower, rather large
but deciduous, or small. 108
108. Calyx shortly toothed, but deeply slit in one or two places. Corolla white
or yellow; petals of the keel free or nearly so. Ovules few. 109
Calyx subequally 4-5-cleft. Stipules awl-shaped or wanting. 110
109. Anthers longer than the filaments. Ovary long-stalked. Calyx slit
on one side. Corolla white; petals of the keel free. Fruit long-stalked,
falcate-ovate, turgid. Seeds oblong, with a thick aril. Flowers in
panicles. Bracteoles small.—Species 1. West Africa. Leucomphalus Benth.
Anthers shorter than the filaments. Ovary nearly sessile. Fruit compressed.
Seeds ovate or orbicular.—Species 50. Tropical and South-east
Africa. Some of them yield timber (camwood), dye-stuffs, or
edible fruits. (Including Bracteolaria Hochst.) Baphia Afz.
110. Petals of the keel free. Flowers in 5-10-flowered racemes.—Species 1.
West Africa. Ormosia Jacks.
Petals of the keel united. Flowers solitary or in 2-4-flowered fascicles. 111
111. Corolla yellow; keel shortly beaked. Fruit compressed. Leaves sessile,
without stipules. Flowers solitary.—Species 10. South Africa. The
leaves are used as a substitute for tea or as a medicament. Cyclopia Vent.
Corolla red or reddish-white; keel blunt. Ovary sessile. Fruit turgid.
Leaves short-stalked, with deciduous stipules. Hairy plants.—Species
20. South Africa. Podalyria Lam.
112. (106.) Leaves palmately trifoliolate. Corolla papilionaceous. 113
Leaves pinnate. 115
113. Petals subequal, yellow, those of the keel united. Ovary sessile or nearly
so. Fruit oblong, not septate. Erect shrubs. Leaves sessile, leathery,
exstipulate. Flowers solitary, axillary, with bracteoles. (See 111.) Cyclopia Vent.
Petals of the keel free. Ovary stalked. Fruit linear. Leaves stalked,
stipulate. Flowers in racemes. 114
114. Standard shorter than the wings. Petals yellow. Fruit septate between
the seeds. Erect shrubs. Leaves herbaceous; stipules connate.
Flowers without bracteoles.—Species 2. North Africa. Poisonous
and medicinal. Anagyris L.
Standard as long as or longer than the wings. Petals clawed, yellowish-white.
Climbing shrubs. Leaves leathery. Flowers with small, deciduous
bracteoles.—Species 3. West Africa. (Giganthemum Welw.) Camoënsia Welw.
115. Corolla nearly regular; petals subequal. 116
Corolla papilionaceous; petals conspicuously unequal, at least one of
them (the standard) very different from the others. 118
116. Petals entire. Anthers linear, Ovules more than 2. (See 34.) Cadia Forsk.
Petals 2-lobed or 2-cleft. Anthers ovate. Ovules 1-2. 117
117. Petals shortly lobed. Ovary short-stalked. Leaflets 9-11. Flowers
in racemes.—Species 1. Northern East Africa (Somaliland). Dicraeopetalum Harms
Petals deeply left. Ovary long-stalked. Leaflets 13-19. Flowers in
panicles.—Species 2. Equatorial West Africa (Gaboon). Amphimas Pierre
118. Petals of the keel united. 119
Petals of the keel free. 121
119. Petals long-clawed, red. Ovary sessile. Ovules few. Fruit compressed,
not winged, leathery, dehiscing in two valves. Trees. Flowers
in racemes. Bracteoles none.—Species 1. South Africa and St.
Helena. Yields timber and is used as an ornamental plant. Virgilia Lam.
Petals short- or not clawed, white, yellow or violet. Ovary more or less
distinctly stalked. Fruit tardily or not dehiscing. 120
120. Fruit compressed, winged at the upper suture, membranous. Calyx-lobes
unequal. Petals yellow; those of the keel curved. Flowers in racemes.
Bracteoles none.—Species 9. South and Central Africa. Calpurnia E. Mey.
Fruit terete or nearly so, constricted between the seeds, 4-winged or
wingless, leathery, woody or fleshy.—Species 6. Tropical and South-east
Africa. They yield timber, dye-stuffs, and medicaments, and are
also used as ornamental plants. Sophora L.
121. Standard broad-oblong or narrow-ovate, clawed and auricled. Calyx
very shortly toothed. Filaments slightly united at the base, excepting
one. Ovary long-stalked, hairy. Style very short, almost straight.
Ovules numerous. Trees. Flowers in panicles.—Species 1. Madagascar.
(Under Cadia Forsk.) Pseudocadia Harms
Standard broad-ovate or orbicular. Ovary short-stalked or almost
sessile. 122
122. Calyx shortly toothed or entire. Stigma terminal. Fruit almost terete,
constricted between the seeds. 123
Calyx deeply cleft. Fruit flat. 124
123. Stalk of the ovary obliquely adnate to the curved receptacle (calyx-tube).
Standard suborbicular, slightly exceeding the other petals. Filaments
free. Flowers in racemes arising from the old wood.—Species 5.
Central Africa. Angylocalyx Taub.
Stalk of the ovary not adnate to the receptacle. Style curved at the
apex. Flowers in terminal racemes or panicles. (See 120.) Sophora L.
124. Ovule 1. Stigma terminal. Flowers in racemes. Leaflets 5-7.—Species
1. East Africa. Platycelephium Harms
Ovules 2 or more. Leaflets 7-13. 125
125. Stigma terminal. Corolla blue. Flowers in racemes. Leaflets curved
and pointed.—Species 1. South Africa. Bolusanthus Harms
Stigma lateral. Corolla red or green. Flowers in panicles.—Species 2.
West Africa. They yield timber. Afrormosia Harms
126. (104.) Filaments all, or the alternate ones, broadened at the apex. [Especially
tribe LOTEAE.] 127
Filaments not broadened at the apex. 147
127. Filaments monadelphous, i.e., all united into a tube or sheath, at least
when young. 128
Filaments diadelphous, i.e., united into a sheath, excepting one, which is
free from the others, at least at the base, but sometimes connate with
them in the middle or slightly cohering with them at the very base. 131
128. Leaves equally pinnate or reduced to the broadened stalk, usually ending
in a tendril or bristle. Stipules large, leaf-like. Flowers solitary or in
racemes, without bracteoles. Petals short-clawed. Anthers all alike.
Ovary more or less distinctly stalked. Style-apex bearded on the inner
face. Fruit opening by two valves. Herbs.—Species 35. North
Africa and the mountains of the tropics. Several species yield edible
tubers or seeds, vegetables, fodder, medicaments, or perfumes; some
are poisonous or used as ornamental plants. (Including Orobus L.) Lathyrus L.
Leaves unequally pinnate, digitate, or unifoliolate. Style glabrous. 129
129. Leaflets minutely toothed, 1 or 3, very rarely more. Stipules adnate
to the leaf-stalk. Flowers solitary or in racemes. Calyx-lobes long,
subequal. Petals short-clawed. Anthers usually of two kinds. Ovary
more or less distinctly stalked. Fruit dehiscing by two valves.—Species
60. North Africa and Abyssinia. Some are used as vegetables
or in medicine. Ononis L.
Leaflets entire. Stipules small or wanting. Flowers in heads or umbels,
sometimes almost solitary. Petals long-clawed. Anthers all alike.
Fruit not or tardily dehiscing. 130
130. Ovary sessile. Ovules 2. Fruit protruding beyond the calyx, linear,
shortly or not beaked, slightly 4-angled, spirally coiled. Silky herbs.
Flowers in umbels, very small, reddish-yellow, without bracteoles.—Species
1. Abyssinia. Helminthocarpum A. Rich.
Ovary more or less distinctly stalked. Fruit enclosed by the calyx or
slightly protruding; in the latter case beaked. Flowers in heads or
nearly solitary.—Species 12. North Africa and Abyssinia. Some
species (especially A. Vulneraria L.) are used as fodder-, dyeing-, medicinal-,
or ornamental plants. (Including Cornicina Boiss., Dorycnopsis
Boiss., and Physanthyllis Boiss.) Anthyllis L.
131. (127.) Keel beaked. 132
Keel blunt or somewhat pointed. 138
132. Ovary short-stalked. Ovules 2. Calyx deeply and equally divided.
Corolla yellow. Fruit spirally coiled, flat, margined, indehiscent.
Herbs. Lowermost leaves simple, with adnate stipules, upper pinnate,
without stipules. Flowers in few-flowered heads.—Species 1. North
Africa. (Circinus Medik.) Hymenocarpos Savi
Ovary sessile. Ovules more than two. Calyx more or less unequally
divided. Flowers solitary or in umbels. 133
133. Leaves simple, undivided. Stipules adnate to the leafstalk. Upper
calyx-teeth united high up. Petals long-clawed, yellow. Fruit spirally
coiled, almost terete, ribbed. Herbs.—Species 5. North Africa and
Abyssinia. Scorpiurus L.
Leaves pinnate, sometimes apparently digitate. 134
134. Fruit jointed. 135
Fruit not jointed. Herbs or undershrubs. 136
135. Joints of the fruit and seeds curved. Fruit more or less flattened, with
the upper edge notched at each seed. Corolla yellow. Leaves with 5
or more leaflets.—Species 9. North Africa. Hippocrepis L.
Joints of the fruit and seeds straight, oblong. Fruit not or slightly
flattened. Leaves with 3 or more leaflets, stipulate.—Species 12.
North Africa. Some species are poisonous or used as ornamental or
medicinal plants. Coronilla L.
136. Leaves with many leaflets. Stipules small, membranous. Corolla
yellow. Fruit flat, slightly curved. Seeds quadrate. Glabrous herbs.—Species
1. North Africa. (Bonaveria Scop., Securidaca Gaertn.). Securigera DC.
Leaves with 4-5 leaflets, of which the 1-2 lowest have usually the
appearance of stipules. Stipules very small or wanting. Keel gibbous
on each side. Seeds globular or lenticular. 137
137. Fruit longitudinally 4-winged or 4-angled.—Species 5. North Africa.
Used as fodder or as vegetables. (Under Lotus L.) Tetragonolobus Scop.
Fruit neither 4-winged nor 4-angled.—Species 50. Some of them are
used as vegetables, fodder, or ornamental plants. (Including Heinekenia
Webb, Lotea Medik., and Pedrosia Lowe). Lotus L.
138. (131.) Petals, at least the lower, adnate below to the staminal tube.
Standard oblong or ovate. Erect or prostrate herbs. Leaves pinnate
or palmate; leaflets 3-5, usually toothed. Stipules adnate to the
leafstalk. Flowers solitary or in umbels, heads, or spikes.—Species 70.
North and South Africa and mountains of Central Africa. Many of
them are used as fodder or in medicine. “Clover.” Trifolium L.
Petals free from the staminal tube. Leaflets entire, rarely toothed, but
then more than 5. Stipules usually free or wanting. 139
139. Leaves unifoliolate, stipellate; stalk winged. Flowers in spikes. Calyx-lobes
unequal. Uppermost stamen free at the base, but united with
the others in the middle. Ovary sessile. Ovules 3-4.—Species 4.
Central Africa. (Under Desmodium Desv.) Droogmansia De Wild.
Leaves pinnate, digitate, or reduced to the usually broadened stalk. 140
140. Leaves equally pinnate or reduced to the stalk. Leaflets entire. Stipules
leaf-like. Flowers solitary or in racemes. Ovary more or less distinctly
stalked. Style-apex broadened and bearded. Fruit 2-valved.
Seeds with an outgrowth near the hilum. Herbs or undershrubs. 141
Leaves unequally pinnate or digitate. Ovary sessile or nearly so. 142
141. Style-apex laterally compressed with reflexed edges, hence grooved
above. Corolla white or red; wings adhering to the keel. Herbs with
tendrils. Leaflets 2-6.—Species 3. North Africa, also cultivated
in the tropics. They yield fodder and edible seeds (peas), from which
also starch is prepared. Pisum L.
Style-apex compressed dorsally, with the edges bent downwards or
straight. (See 128.). Lathyrus L.
142. Stem woody throughout. Leaves unequally pinnate. Flowers in
racemes or fascicles. Upper calyx-teeth united for the greatest part.
Corolla red or violet; wings slightly adhering to the keel; standard
with a callus at the base. Fruit linear, flat.—Species 15. Tropical
and South-east Africa. The seeds of some species are used as a fish-poison. Mundulea DC.
Stem herbaceous or woody at the base only. 143
143. Flowers in racemes. Calyx-teeth unequal. Corolla blue; standard
suborbicular, with a callus and two auricles; keel somewhat longer
than the wings and the standard. Uppermost stamen cohering with
the others at the base. Style-apex bearded. Ovules 2. Twining undershrubs.—Species
1. Equatorial East Africa (Kilimandjaro). Spathionema Taub.
Flowers solitary or in umbels or heads. 144
144. Leaflets toothed. Stipules leaf-like. Flowers solitary. Corolla white
or blue. Fruit ovate to oblong, turgid, 2-valved.—Species 2. North
Africa and Abyssinia; one species also cultivated in Angola. They
yield edible seeds (chick-peas) and are used medicinally. Cicer L.
Leaflets entire. Flowers in umbels or heads, rarely solitary, but then
corolla yellow. 145
145. Leaflets numerous. Leaf-stalk long. Flowers very small, in heads or
umbels. Keel nearly straight. Fruit jointed.—Species 6. North
Africa and high mountains of Central Africa. Some are used as fodder.
“Birds-foot.” (Including Arthrolobium Desv.) Ornithopus L.
Leaflets 3-5, the lower usually stipule-like. Leaf-stalk short or
wanting. 146
146. Corolla yellow; standard suborbicular, with a long claw. Fruit jointed.
Undershrubs with long silky hairs. Stipules small. Flowers solitary or
2-3 together in the axils of the leaves.—Species 1. North-west Africa
(Algeria). (Ludovicia Coss.) Hammatolobium Fenzl
Corolla white or red; standard oblong or ovate, short-clawed; wings
coherent towards the apex, longitudinally folded or transversely
gibbous; keel gibbous on each side. Fruit continuous, terete, 2-valved.
Stipules very small or wanting.—Species 6. North Africa. (Including
Bonjeania Reichb.) Dorycnium Vill.
147. (126.) Anthers of two kinds, five shorter and attached by the back, the
others longer and attached by the base, or the alternate ones rudimentary. 148
Anthers all alike. 205
148. Leaves digitate, unifoliolate, simple, or wanting. [Tribe GENISTEAE.] 149
Leaves pinnate, but sometimes with three leaflets. 195
149. Uppermost stamen free or nearly so. 150
Uppermost stamen united with the others into a tube or sheath. 158
150. Stem herbaceous or woody at the base only. Leaves stipulate. 151
Stem woody throughout. Leaves usually exstipulate. 154
151. Keel with a straight beak. Anthers bearded. Stigma lateral. Fruit
linear. Leaves simple, sessile. Flowers in axillary racemes.—Species
2. Southern West Africa. (Under Indigofera L.) Rhynchotropis Harms
Keel with a spirally twisted beak or without a beak. Anthers not bearded.
Stigma terminal. Leaves unifoliolate or digitate. 152
152. Keel spirally beaked. Fruit oblong. Flowers opposite the leaves,
solitary or 2-3 together. Bracteoles 2.—Species 2. South Africa to
Amboland. Bolusia Benth.
Keel curved inwards, not beaked. Flowers in axillary or terminal
inflorescences. Bracteoles none. 153
153. Keel somewhat pointed. Ovules several. Fruit linear. Leaves digitate.
Corolla reddish.—Species 1. East Africa. Parochetus Hamilt.
Keel blunt. Ovule 1. Fruit ovate. Gland-dotted plants.—Species 60.
Some are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. Psoralea L.
154. Keel with a lateral gibbosity or spur. Anthers distinctly unequal. Leaves
simple. 155
Keel without a lateral appendage. Anthers nearly equal. 156
155. Keel beaked. Corolla yellowish-green, shorter than the calyx. Ovule
1. Flowers in small terminal heads.—Species 1. South Africa (Cape
Colony). Lathriogyne Eckl. & Zeyh.
Keel blunt. Corolla red or white, longer than the calyx.—Species 10.
South Africa. Amphithalea Eckl. & Zeyh.
156. Corolla blue, red, or white. Ovule 1. Leaves unifoliolate or digitate,
stipulate. (See 153.) Psoralea L.
Corolla yellow. Ovules 2 or more. Leaves simple, exstipulate. 157
157. Calyx-lobes very unequal, the lowest very large and petaloid. Standard
ovate or oblong; wings oblong. Inflorescence surrounded by large
bracts.—Species 4. South Africa. Liparia L.
Calyx-lobes about equal. Standard suborbicular; wings obovate. Bracts
not very large.—Species 15. South Africa. Priestleya DC.
158. (149.) Filaments united into a sheath which is slit above. 159
Filaments united into a tube which is closed all round. 180
159. Style bearded or ciliate on the inside towards the apex. 160
Style glabrous inside. 161
160. Fruit flat, oblong or ovate, stalked, downy, 2-seeded. Shrubs. Leaves
trifoliolate.—Species 1. Island of Socotra. Priotropis Wight & Arn.
Fruit turgid.—Species 220. Tropical and South Africa and Egypt.
Some yield fibres, dyes, vegetables, and medicaments, or serve as ornamental
plants. Crotalaria L.
161. Ovule 1. 162
Ovules 2 or more. 163
162. Leaves stipulate. Flowers ebracteolate, blue, pink or white. Keel
incurved. Fruit indehiscent. Seeds without an outgrowth at the
hilum, adhering to the pericarp. Gland-dotted plants. (See 153.) Psoralea L.
Leaves exstipulate. Flowers bracteolate, red, yellow or white. Keel
almost straight, gibbous at each side. Fruit dehiscing by two valves.
Seeds with an outgrowth at the hilum. Silky-hairy shrubs. Leaves
simple, sessile. Flowers usually in pairs in the axils of the leaves.—Species
8. South Africa. Coelidium Vog.
163. Leaves simple and undivided or unifoliolate, usually exstipulate. 164
Leaves digitate, with 3, rarely 5-7 leaflets, usually stipulate. 171
164. Calyx-lobes distinctly unequal, the 1-3 lowest usually narrower than
the rest. 165
Calyx-lobes about equal. 169
165. Petals adnate at the base to the staminal tube, yellow; wings auricled
at the base; keel with a blunt spur at each side. Ovules 2. Shrubs
clothed with long hairs. Leaves stalked, linear. Flowers axillary.
Bracteoles leaf-like.—Species 1. South Africa (Cape Colony). Walpersia Harv.
Petals free from the staminal tube. 166
166. Petals red, long-clawed, glabrous. Fruit ovate, turgid. Prostrate
undershrubs clothed with long reddish-brown hairs. Leaves imbricate
sessile, lanceolate. Flowers in short racemes.—Species 1. South
Africa (Cape Colony). Euchlora Eckl. & Zeyh.
Petals yellow, rarely white or red, but then short-clawed and leaves
fascicled. 167
167. Leaves in tufts of 3 or more, usually thread-shaped.—Species 150. South
Africa. Aspalathus L.
Leaves scattered, flat. Petals yellow. Fruit linear or lanceolate, more or
less flattened. 168
168. Plant hairy. Leaves stalked.—Species 90. Lotononis DC.
Plant glabrous.—Species 30. South Africa. Some are used medicinally. Rafnia Thunb.
169. Leaves more or less distinctly stalked, narrow, usually thread-shaped.
Flowers in racemes, yellow. Fruit linear. Funicle very short.—Species
25. South Africa. Lebeckia Thunb.
Leaves sessile. 170
170. Leaves many-nerved, flat, stiff. Calyx 5-cleft, with pungent segments.
Corolla yellow; standard villous. Fruit linear or lanceolate, slightly
flattened.—Species 15. South Africa. Borbonia L.
Leaves one- or few-nerved, usually thread-shaped and in tufts. Fruit
obliquely-ovate or -lanceolate. Funicle filiform. (See 167.) Aspalathus L.
171. (163.) Calyx 2-lipped, the upper lip 2-toothed or 2-parted, the lower
3-toothed or 3-parted. Corolla yellow. Fruit linear. 172
Calyx not 2-lipped, all segments subequal or the 4 upper ones united
in pairs. 174
172. Keel longer than the standard and the wings. Calyx deeply two-lipped.
Fruit flat, somewhat constricted and with thin partitions between the
seeds, not glandular. Undershrubs. Leaves exstipulate. Flowers
solitary. Bracteoles small.—Species 4. South Africa. Dichilus DC.
Keel shorter than the standard. Leaves stipulate. 173
173. Fruit glandular-hairy or viscid, flat, usually constricted between the
seeds. Calyx tubular, usually shortly two-lipped. Shrubs or undershrubs.
Flowers in spikes or racemes. Bracteoles mostly leaf-like.—Species
12. South Africa. Melolobium Eckl. & Zeyh.
Fruit hairy, but not glandular. Calyx deeply two-lipped. Standard
suborbicular. Bracteoles usually small.—Species 60. (Tephrothamnus
Sweet, including Macrolotus Harms) Argyrolobium Eckl. & Zeyh.
174. Calyx-lobes distinctly unequal, the upper 4 united in pairs, the lowest
separate and narrow. 175
Calyx-lobes about equal. 177
175. Keel and style straight. Standard spatulate. Bracteoles bristle-like.—Species
3. South Africa. (Pleiospora Harv.) Phaenohoffmannia O. Ktze.
Keel and style curved inwards. Bracteoles none. 176
176. Fruit flattened, repeatedly folded and twisted from side to side. Corolla
yellow; keel exceeding the standard. Stigma oblique. Herbs.
Flowers in racemes.—Species 1. South Africa (Cape Colony). Listia E. Mey.
Fruit slightly flattened or turgid, straight or curved. (See 168.) Lotononis L.
177. Fruit winged, flat, ovate or oblong, stalked, indehiscent. Petals long-clawed,
yellow; keel exceeding the standard. Ovary stalked. Ovules
few. Shrubs. Flowers in racemes.—Species 7. South Africa.
(Viborgia Thunb.) Wiborgia Thunb.
Fruit not winged. Ovules usually numerous. 178
178. Fruit ovate, 1-3-seeded. Corolla white, yellowish, or red; standard
with a long claw, clothed with long hairs. Shrubs. Flowers in spikes
or heads, without bracteoles.—Species 10. South Africa. Buchenroedera Eckl. & Zeyh.
Fruit linear, lanceolate, or oblong. 179
179. Seeds with a very short funicle. Fruit linear. Corolla yellow. Shrubs
or undershrubs. Leaves exstipulate. Flowers in terminal racemes.
(See 169.) Lebeckia Thunb.
Seeds with a long funicle. Fruit flattened or slightly inflated. Leaves
usually stipulate. (See 168.) Lotononis L.
180. (158.) Ovule 1. Fruit ovate, indehiscent; pericarp adhering to the seed.
Gland-dotted plants. Stipules stem-clasping. Corolla blue, rose,
or white. Bracteoles none. (See 153.) Psoralea L.
Ovules 2 or more. 181
181. Calyx 2-lipped. 182
Calyx subequally 5-toothed or 5-cleft. Leaves 1- or 3-foliolate. 191
182. Calyx deeply 2-lipped. 183
Calyx slightly 2-lipped. Leaves 1-3-foliolate or wanting. 188
183. Leaves reduced to scales or spines. Spinous shrubs. Calyx and corolla
yellow. Fruit oblong or ovate, 1-4-seeded.—Species 6. North
Africa; one species (U. europaeus L.) also naturalized in South Africa,
the Mascarenes, and St. Helena. This species is used as a garden- or
hedge-plant and furnishes a dye-stuff, fodder, and a substitute for tea.
“Furze.” Ulex L.
Leaves digitate, with 2-9 leaflets. 184
184. Leaflets 5-9. Stipules adnate to the leafstalk. Keel beaked; wings
cohering at the apex.—Species 10. North and Central Africa. They
yield manure, fodder, vegetables, medicaments, and edible seeds which
serve also as a substitute for coffee; several species are used as ornamental
plants. Lupinus L.
Leaflets 2-4. Stipules usually free. Wings free. 185
185. Leaflets 2 or 4, very rarely 3. Lateral calyx-lobes much shorter than the
others. Fruit jointed, bristly or spiny, indehiscent. Herbs or undershrubs.—Species
3. Tropical and South Africa. Used as fodder. Zornia Gmel.
Leaflets 3. Fruit not jointed, dehiscing by two valves. 186
186. Fruit covered with glandular tubercles or hairs. Seeds without an
outgrowth at the hilum. Corolla yellow; keel curved inwards.
Shrubs.—Species 7. North and Central Africa. Adenocarpus DC.
Fruit not glandular, but usually hairy. 187
187. Seeds with an outgrowth at the hilum. Shrubs.—Species 15. North
Africa. Some are poisonous or are used as ornamental or medicinal
plants. (Including Sarothamnus Wimm., Spartocytisus Webb, and
Teline Medik.) Cytisus L.
Seeds without an outgrowth at the hilum. Herbs or undershrubs, rarely
shrubs. Corolla yellow. (See 173.) Argyrolobium Eckl. & Zeyh.
188. (182.) Calyx sheath-like, split on one side after flowering. Corolla
yellow; keel and wings adnate below to the staminal tube;
keel acuminate, curved inwards; wings obovate. Stigma oblique.
Fruit linear. Seeds without an outgrowth at the hilum. Shrubs or
trees. Leaves unifoliolate, without stipules.—Species 1 (S. junceum
L., Spanish broom). North Africa. Yields fibres and medicaments
and is used as an ornamental plant. Spartium L.
Calyx not sheath-like. Keel obtuse or free from the staminal tube. 189
189. Seeds with an outgrowth at the hilum. Fruit linear or oblong, flat.
Petals free from the staminal tube. Shrubs. (See 187.) Cytisus L.
Seeds without an outgrowth at the hilum. 190
190. Keel distinctly curved inwards; wings and keel free from the staminal
tube; standard suborbicular. Fruit linear or oblong, flat, covered
with glandular tubercles or hairs. Shrubs. Leaves trifoliolate, with
small stipules. Flowers in racemes, yellow. (See 186.) Adenocarpus DC.
Keel straight or nearly so, blunt, gibbous at each side; wings and keel
usually adnate to the staminal tube; the former oblong; standard
ovate. Fruit usually inflated. Shrubs or undershrubs.—Species 40.
North Africa. Some species yield fibres, dyes, and medicaments, or
serve as ornamental plants. (Including Retama Boiss.) Genista L.
191. (181.) Calyx deeply divided. Ovary more or less distinctly stalked.
Leaflets minutely toothed. Stipules adnate to the leaf-stalk. (See
129.) Ononis L.
Calyx shortly toothed. Filaments not broadened above. Ovary sessile
or nearly so. Leaflets entire. 192
192. Calyx obscurely toothed, coloured. Corolla yellow, free from the staminal
tube. Fruit thickened or winged at the upper suture. Seeds without
an outgrowth at the hilum. Spinous shrubs. Leaves digitate, without
stipules. Flowers solitary or in fascicles.—Species 3. North Africa.
Used medicinally. Calycotome Link
Calyx distinctly toothed. Corolla red, blue, or white. 193
193. Petals with a long claw, blue or violet; wings and keel adnate at the
base to the staminal tube. Fruit oblong, glandular-hairy. Seeds
without an outgrowth at the hilum. Spinous shrubs. Leaves trifoliolate
on the young branches, unifoliolate on the older. Flowers
solitary or in fascicles. Bracteoles small, leaf-like.—Species 1.
North Africa (Algeria). Used medicinally. Erinacea Boiss.
Petals with a short claw or sessile, free from the staminal tube. Seeds
with an outgrowth at the hilum. Unarmed plants. Leaves trifoliolate.
Flowers in racemes or panicles. 194
194. Keel shorter than the standard. Corolla red or violet. Fruit linear,
many-seeded. Shrubs. Bracteoles bristle-like.—Species 1. South
Africa (Cape Colony). Hypocalyptus Thunb.
Keel longer than the standard. Corolla red or white. Fruit ovate-lanceolate,
few-seeded. Undershrubs.—Species 1. South Africa
(Cape Colony). Loddigesia Sims
195. (148.) Leaves equally pinnate. 196
Leaves unequally pinnate. 197
196. Leaflets 4. Flowers solitary or in spikes. Calyx with a long, narrow
tube and unequal lobes. Corolla yellow or whitish; keel beaked.
Filaments all united. Ovules 2-3. Fruit oblong, inflated, continuous
within, indehiscent, ripening beneath the soil. Stem herbaceous.—Species
1 (A. hypogaea L., ground-nut). Cultivated.
The seeds are edible and yield oil; the leaves are used as a vegetable
or as fodder. Arachis L.
Leaflets numerous. Flowers in racemes. Calyx with a wide tube,
truncate or with subequal lobes. Keel blunt or somewhat pointed.
Filaments united, excepting one. Ovules numerous. Fruit linear,
with transverse partitions.—Species 15. Tropics to Natal and Egypt.
Some species yield timber, fibre, fodder, or medicaments, or serve as
garden- or hedge-plants. Sesbania Pers.
197. Leaflets 3. 198
Leaflets numerous. 203
198. Leaflets with stipels. 199
Leaflets without stipels. 201
199. Filaments all united. Corolla red; standard unappendaged; keel almost
straight, blunt, shorter than the wings. Style short and thick. Flowers
very small. Twining herbs.—Species 3. Tropical and South-east
Africa. Used medicinally. Teramnus Swartz
Filaments united, excepting the uppermost, which is free at least at the
base. Standard auricled at the base; keel curved. Flowers large or
rather large. 200
200. Uppermost stamens free at the base, but united with the others at the
middle. Corolla red; keel somewhat shorter than the wings. Twining
shrubs.—Species 1. Tropics. Dioclea H. B. & K.
Uppermost stamens free throughout. Corolla red or yellowish-green;
keel as long as or longer than the wings.—Species 20. Tropics.
Some of them yield poisons, medicaments, vegetables, fodder, and
dyes, or serve as ornamental plants. (Stizolobium P. Br.). Mucuna Adans.
201. Stipules free, stem-clasping. Corolla red, blue, or white; keel blunt.
Ovule 1. Fruit ovate, indehiscent. Gland-dotted plants. (See 153.) Psoralea L.
Stipules adnate to the leaf-stalk. Corolla red or yellow; keel usually
beaked. Ovules 2 or more. 202
202. Leaflets toothed. Calyx with a short tube and subequal segments.
Fruit dehiscing by two valves, usually terete. (See 129.) Ononis L.
Leaflets entire. Calyx with a thread-shaped tube and unequal segments,
four of which are connate. Corolla yellow. Ovules 2-3. Base of the
style persistent. Fruit flat, separating in two joints or indehiscent.
Herbs. Flowers usually intermixed with feathery bristles.—Species
5. Tropical and South Africa. Stylosanthes Swartz
203. (197.) Stem woody. Corolla white or red; wings free. Stamens diadelphous
at the base, at first monadelphous at the middle. Ovary stalked.
Style hairy at the apex. Fruit flat.—Species 1 (R. Pseudacacia L.).
Naturalized in North Africa. Yields timber and medicaments and is
used as an ornamental plant. The bark and the leaves are poisonous. Robinia L.
Stem herbaceous. Corolla blue, yellow, or whitish. Ovary sessile. 204
204. Filaments united, excepting one, or all united into a sheath split above.
Wings free. Fruit oblong or ovate, flat or constricted between the
seeds.—Species 2. North Africa. They yield medicaments (liquorice),
dyes, and material for papermaking. Glycyrrhiza L.
Filaments all united into a closed tube. Wings slightly adhering to the
keel. Style glabrous. Fruit linear, subterete.—Species 1. North
Africa (Algeria). Used as an ornamental, medicinal, or fodder-plant.
“Goats rue.” Galega L.
205. (147.) Leaves abruptly pinnate. [Especially tribe VICIEAE.] 206
Leaves imparipinnate, digitate, unifoliolate, simple, or wanting. 220
206. Calyx distinctly two-lipped, the upper lip entire or shortly 2-toothed, the
lower one entire, 3-toothed, or 3-parted. Corolla yellow; standard
suborbicular. Fruit jointed. Flowers in racemes. 207
Calyx equally or subequally toothed or divided, or entire. 210
207. Bracts very large, imbricate, hiding the flowers and fruits. Bracteoles
none. Flowers very small. Filaments all united. Ovules 2. Herbs.
Stipules produced at the base into a spur-like appendage.—Species 9.
Central Africa. Geissaspis Wight & Arn.
Bracts not hiding the flowers, usually small and deciduous. Bracteoles
present. 208
208. Fruit enclosed by the enlarged calyx. Filaments all united. Ovules more
than two.—Species 30. Tropical and South-east Africa. (Damapana
Adans., including Kotschya Endl.) Smithia Ait.
Fruit much exceeding the calyx. 209
209. Ovary sessile. Uppermost stamen free. Keel obtuse. Fruit ring-shaped
or spirally twisted, flat, glabrous except at the shortly spinous
sutures, 2-valved. Herbs. Leaves with 2-4 pairs of leaflets. Stipules
spurred at the base. Bracts not spurred.—Species 1. West
Africa. Cyclocarpa Afz.
Ovary stalked. Fruit straight, curved, or spirally twisted; in the
latter case covered with glandular hairs.—Species 60. Tropical and
South Africa. Some species (especially the ambatch, A. Elaphroxylon
Taub.) yield cork-wood, fibre, and medicaments. (Including Herminiera
Guill. & Perr.) Aeschynomene L.
210. Style hairy, usually bearded lengthwise. Fruit more or less flattened,
1-celled, 2-valved. Seeds with an outgrowth near the hilum. Herbs.
Bracteoles rudimentary or wanting. 211
Style glabrous. 214
211. Staminal tube obliquely truncate at its mouth. 212