Leaves
pinnate; leaflets in 6-12 pairs, opposite, asymmetric at base, stipulate; stipules conspicuous, appendaged at base, with appendage 2-auricled, one ear rounded and short, the other linear and longer, persistent
Flowers
in short, dense, axillary, scorpioid cymes; bracts entire, scarious, brownish, caducous, with persistent bracteoles below calyx
Calyx
2-lipped
Petals
: vexillum ± orbicular; keel petals united dorsally, free at apex
Stamens
10, alternately long and short, united into a tube for two-thirds, split above
Pod
enclosed within accrescent calyx, jointed; joints indehiscent
Seeds
reniform
x = 19
Nomenclature:
Smithia
Aiton
Aiton: 496, t.13 (1789) name conserved
Verdcourt: 15 (1970)
Verdcourt: 408 (1971)
Verdcourt: 445 (1973)
Distribution & Notes:
Global
: Species ± 30 in Old World tropics, a few in Africa
Southern Africa
: Species 1:
Smithia erubescens
(E.Mey.) Baker f., the four northern provinces, Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal and the N Eastern Cape
References:
AITON, W. 1789.
Hortus kewensis
, edn 1,3. George Nicol, London
VERDCOURT, B. 1970. Studies in the
Leguminosae
-
Papilionoideae
for the 'Flora of Tropical East Africa': I.
Kew Bulletin
24
VERDCOURT, B. 1971.
Flora of tropical East Africa
.
Leguminosae
(part 3,1).
Papilionoideae
VERDCOURT, B. 1973. Summary of the
Leguminosae
-
Papilionoideae
-
Hedysareae
(sensu lato) of Flora Zambesiaca.
Kirkia
9
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