Flora of North America species comparison

green, gray-green, or brownish green, usually ascending or erect, sometimes becoming pendent [prostrate], angled or terete [grooved], pubescent or glabrescent.

alternate, odd-pinnate, sometimes reduced or absent in C. multiflorus;

stipules present, caducous, lanceolate;

petiolate;

leaflets 1–5, stipels absent, blade margins entire, surfaces pubescent or glabrous.

1–7(or 8)-flowered, axillary and terminal, racemes or glomerules;

bracts present, subpersistent or caducous, usually small, leaflike, 1–3-foliolate;

bracteoles paired proximal to calyx.

papilionaceous;

calyx cylindric or campanulate, 8–9 mm, lobes 5, connate most of their length, shallowly lobed;

corolla yellow or white [pink, purple], usually glabrous, banner reflexed or not;

stamens 9 or 10, monadelphous [diadelphous];

anthers basifixed;

ovary usually sessile, rarely stipitate;

style abruptly incurved near middle or gently curved ± throughout, glabrous;

stigma terminal.

legumes, sessile or short-stipitate, laterally compressed or inflated, oblong or linear-oblong, base acuminate to acute, apex acute to rounded, explosively dehiscent, not constricted between seeds, pubescent or glabrous.

3–12, reniform, ovoid, or rounded, with callous appendage.

= 12.