Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 741 (1753).

Derivation: Latin name of some shrub.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Spiny-branched shrub; leaves usually alternate, exstipulate, 3-foliolate in seedlings, reduced to scalelike or narrow usually spine-like phyllodes at maturity.

Flowers axillary, solitary or in small clusters, sometimes aggregated into racemes or umbel-like inflorescences; bracteoles 2, immediately below the pedicellate flower; calyx more or less yellow, persistent, divided to the base into 2 lips, upper lip with 2 teeth, lower with 3 teeth; petals yellow, persistent, the wings longer than the obtuse keel; stamens monadelphous, anthers alternately basifixed and longer and dorsifixed and shorter.

Pod broadly ovoid to linear-oblong, hairy, dehiscent, scarcely exserted from the calyx; seeds 1-6, arillate.

Distribution:  About 20 species in Europe and northern Africa.

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: In spite of recent monographic work, the taxonomy of this genus is very imperfectly understood and hybridisation is more frequent than has been supposed.

Author: Not yet available