Leaves paripinnate; extrafloral nectaries often present on petioles and sometimes on axis of racemes, when present patelliform, scutiform or cupular, secretory surface plane or concave
Inflorescence a 1-many-flowered raceme, usually axillary; pedicels 2-bracteolate near or above middle
Flowers bisexual, irregular
Petals yellow, sometimes red-marked near claw, often highly heteromorphic, 2 abaxial ones variously oblique, vexillar one usually interior in bud, sometimes exterior on one or both sides
Stamens (2-)5-10, the basifixed anthers longer than their short filament, equal or unequal, but if unequal not accrescent towards abaxial side of flower, lateral sutures incurved puberulent or pilosulous, dehiscence apical by pore or short slit
Pod plano-compressed, very rarely winged along sutures, elastically dehiscent, valves papery, leathery or subligneous, coiling
Seeds either smooth or pitted
x = 8
Nomenclature:
Chamaecrista Moench
Moench: 272 (1794)
Irwin & Barneby: 28 (1976)
Irwin & Barneby: 106 (1981)
Distribution & Notes:
Global: Species ± 250, primarily neotropical
Southern Africa: Species 9, widespread
References:
IRWIN, H.S. & BARNEBY, R.C. 1976. Notes on the generic status of Chamaecrista Moench (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae). Brittonia 28
IRWIN, H.S. & BARNEBY, R.C. 1981. Cassieae. Advances in Legume Systematics pt. 1
MOENCH, C. 1794. Methodus plantas horti botanici et agri marburgensis, a staminum situ describendi. Nova libraria academiae, Marburg
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Biodiversity Advisor, developed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and its Data Partners, is a system that will provide integrated biodiversity information to a wide range of users who will have access to geospatial data, plant and animal species distribution data, ecosystem-level data, literature, images and metadata.
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