e-Key v3 - *Ceratonia
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Fabaceae - Caesalpinioideae - Cassieae - *Ceratonia L.

Description :

  • Evergreen, unarmed shrubs or trees, often monoecious
  • Leaves simply pinnate; leaflets 2-8, coriaceous; stipules minute, caducous
  • Inflorescence a dense, many-flowered raceme, axillary or often arising from old wood
  • Flowers unisexual or bisexual, irregular, small
  • Calyx caducous
  • Petals 0
  • Stamens 5, free
  • Pod laterally compressed, coriaceous, many-seeded, indehiscent
  • x = 12

Nomenclature:

  • *Ceratonia L.
    • Linnaeus: 1020 (1753)
    • Hutchinson: 255 (1964)
    • Brenan: 16 (1967)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 2, Arabian Peninsula and Somalia
  • Southern Africa : * Ceratonia siliqua L., Carob tree, Mediterranean region, dense ornamental, with nutritious pods, may be found as an escape

References:

  • BRENAN, J.P.M. 1967. Flora of tropical East Africa . Leguminosae (part 2). Caesalpinioideae
  • HUTCHINSON, J. 1964. Order LEGUMINALES. The genera of flowering plants 1. Oxford University Press, Oxford
  • LINNAEUS, C. 1753. Species plantarum , edn 1. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm