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

Fabaceae - Caesalpinioideae - Cassieae - Dialium L.

Description :

  • Unarmed trees or (rarely) large shrubs, not climbing
  • Leaves simply imparipinnate; leaflets 3-21, opposite to alternate; stipules small, usually caducous
  • Inflorescences of terminal and lateral many-flowered panicles; bracts and bracteoles small, soon deciduous
  • Flowers bisexual, irregular or sometimes regular, small
  • Calyx with short or obsolete tube and 5-7 imbricate lobes or segments
  • Petals (0)1-5, shorter than calyx
  • Stamens 2-3(5-10); anthers large, oblong or oblong-ovate
  • Disc sometimes present, wider than ovary
  • Ovary sessile or stalked, 2-ovuled, frequently tomentose; style with small, terminal stigma
  • Pod somewhat ovoid-orbicular, slightly compressed, indehiscent
  • Seeds 1 or 2, ± compressed
  • x = 14 (can also be 7)

Nomenclature:

  • Dialium L.
    • Linnaeus: 3 (1767)
    • Hutchinson: 231 (1964)
    • Brenan: 103 (1967)
    • Ross: 65 (1977)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 35, mainly tropical Africa, spreading to Madagascar and Malay Peninsula
  • Southern Africa : Species 2, Namibia, Botswana and N KwaZulu-Natal

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. 1767. Mantissa plantarum 1. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm
  • ROSS, J.H. 1977. Fabaceae . Caesalpinioideae . Flora of southern Africa 16,2