Flora of North America species comparison

erect, glabrous, sparsely hirsute, or tomentose.

alternate, even-bipinnate;

stipules present, persistent or caducous, ovate, inconspicuous, apex acuminate;

solitary nectary gland present between or just below proximalmost pinnae, on rachis and rachillae;

petiolate;

pinnae 2–20 pairs;

leaflets 8–60(–140), blade margins entire, surfaces pubescent or glabrous.

45–190-flowered, axillary, globose heads, usually fascicled, rarely solitary;

bracts present, connate, forming involucre at base of each inflorescence, 2–4-lobed;

bracteoles peltate and marcescent, exceeding buds only when very young (except in L. retusa).

mimosoid;

calyx obconic, tubular, or campanulate, lobes 5;

corolla yellow, white, or greenish white;

stamens 10, distinct;

anthers dorsifixed to nearly basifixed.

legumes, shortly stipitate, compressed or flat, linear or oblong, dehiscent, valves sometimes curling, membranous to leathery, often succulent when immature, glabrous or pubescent.

8–24, round, ovate, or weakly rhomboidal;

pleurogram U-shaped, generally symmetric.

= 26, 28.