Description: Herbs, subshrubs or shrubs; stems often silky.
Leaves alternate, pinnately 3-foliolate; margins entire; stipulate; stipels absent.
Inflorescences axillary clusters or racemes or solitary, lower flowers cleistogamous; bracts persistent; bracteolate. Calyx teeth ± equal or upper 2 partially fused. Standard circular to oblong; wings free; keel apex obtuse. Stamens diadelphous or rarely all fused into a sheath, imperfect on lower flowers; anthers uniform. Ovary sometimes sessile, 1-ovulate; style filiform, incurved; stigma terminal.
Pod ovoid or ± circular, compressed, indehiscent; seed 1, ovoid, rarely arillate.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 100 species, Asia & North America. Australia: 1 species, Qld, N.S.W., Vic.
Text by C. Gardner
Taxon concept:
| One species in NSW: Lespedeza juncea |
|
