e-Key v3 - *Robinia
SANBI Flora Keys Logo
Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Fabaceae - Papilionoideae - Robinieae - *Robinia L.

Description :

  • Deciduous trees or shrubs
  • Leaves imparipinnate; leaflets entire, reticulate-pinnately nerved; stipels often present; stipules spinescent
  • Flowers white or rose-purple, in pendent, axillary racemes; bracts membranous, early caducous; bracteoles 0
  • Calyx campanulate; teeth short, broad, upper 2 subconnate
  • Petals : vexillum large, reflexed; wings falcate-oblong, free; keel incurved, obtuse
  • Stamens diadelphous; vexillary stamen free at base, connate in middle with the others into a closed tube or at length free; anthers uniform
  • Ovary stipitate, many-ovuled; style inflexed, subulate, hairy at apex; stigma small, terminal
  • Pod linear or oblong, flat and compressed, dehiscent
  • Seeds oblong or kidney-shaped
  • x = 10, 11

Nomenclature:

  • *Robinia L.
    • Linnaeus: 722 (1753)
    • Hutchinson: 370 (1964)
    • Ball: 106 (1968)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 10(-20), with only 4 or 5 basic species, America and Europe
  • Southern Africa : Species 1: * Robinia pseudoacacia L., Gauteng, Mpumalanga, E Free State and KwaZulu-Natal

References:

  • BALL, P.W. 1968. Leguminosae . Flora europaea 2
  • 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