Caesalpinia L.
Trees, shrubs or lianes, spinous or not armed. Lvs 2-imparipinnate or 2-paripinnate; petiolar glands 0; stipules various. Infl. axillary or terminal, racemose or paniculate; bracts and bracteoles usually deciduous. Calyx with a very short tube and 5, often unequal, segments imbricate in bud. Corolla yellow, orange, or red; petals subequal. Stamens free, 10; anthers uniform, versatile, opening marginally. Style filiform; stigma terminal. Pod flattened, ovate to lanceolate or falcate, 2-valved or indehiscent.
c. 100 spp., tropical and subtropical. Naturalised sp. 1.
C. gilliesii (Hook.) D. Dietr. is commonly cultivated. It is an erect unarmed shrub or small tree with conspicuous yellow petals and crimson stamens.
