Description: Annual herbs, hairy or glabrescent.
Leaves alternate, pinnately 3-foliolate; leaflets usually finely toothed; stipules leafy, fused to petiole.
Inflorescences axillary, flowers solitary or in sessile or pedunculate clusters or short racemes. Calyx campanulate, teeth ± equal. Standard narrow, obovate or oblong; wing and keel shorter, obtuse. Stamens usually diadelphous with upper 1 free, or sometimes fused at base. Ovary ± sessile; ovules numerous.
Pod linear-oblong, straight or curved, indehiscent or dehiscing along one suture; seeds 1–many, wrinkled or smooth, aril not present.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 70 species, Europe, Africa & Asia. Australia: 3 species (1 species endemic, 2 species naturalized), all mainland States.
Text by E. H. Norris
Taxon concept:
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