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| 1 Leaves variously modified from strict 2-even-pinnateness, either with 1) a mixture (on a tree) of 1-even-pinnate and 2-even-pinnate leaves, and/or 2) the pinnae or leaflets often subopposite or fully alternate, and/or 3) with an odd number of pinnae per leaf (the tip of the rachis with a pair of lateral pinnae and a terminal pinna, but the leaflets of the pinnae still in opposite pairs), and/or 4) the basal pair of pinnae evolutionarily replaced by a single pair of leaflets larger than the other leaflets. |
| ..2 Flowers small, inconspicuous, in catkin like-racemes or racemes of racemes; perianth greenish-white or greenish-yellow, with a cylindrical hypanthium to 10 mm long and shorter perianth lobes; flowers mostly unisexual; large trees; fruits woody and indehiscent at maturity, 1-5 cm wide[ collectively widespread in our region, but absent from s. FL and s. TX]. |
| ....3 Leaves characteristically a mixture (on a tree) of 1-even-pinnate (mainly on spurs) and 2-even-pinnate (mainly on new growth), the pinnae and the leaflets strictly opposite or subopposite; leaflets 1.5-4 cm long, acute to rounded at the apex; trunks with simple, trident, or multiply branched thorns to 20 cm long (or unarmed) |
| ....3 Leaves all 2-even-pinnate, the basalmost "pinna pair" usually replaced by a pair of leaflets larger than the others, the pinnae and the leaflets often 'straying' to subopposite or fully alternate arrangement (some pinnae appearing odd-pinnate); leaflets 3-6 cm long, acuminate at the apex; trunks unarmed |
| ..2 Flowers either with conspicuous petals or aggregated into spikes or spherical heads with showy stamens; petals either (Caesalpinoids) yellow, orange, red, or (Mimosoids) the tubular perianth whorls less conspicuous than the stamens, these yellow to orange; flowers bisexual; small shrubs, shrubs, small or medium trees, or large trees (if large trees, then of tropical parts of our region); fruits papery or chartaceous (rarely woody), often < 2 cm wide; [collectively widespread, including of s. FL and s. TX]. |
| ......4 Leaves with pinnae and leaflets mostly subopposite or fully alternate; [exotic, s. FL]; [Mimosoid] |
| ......4 Leaves with an odd number of pinnae per leaf (the tip of the rachis with a pair of lateral pinnae and a terminal pinna), but the leaflets in opposite pairs; [native or exotic, TX and OK]; [Caesalpinoid]. |
| ........5 Shrub or small tree, 5-50 dm tall; sepals ovate; leaflets not gladular, or with glands only along the leaflet margin |
| ........5 Sprawling shrub, less than 6 dm tall; sepals linear; leaflets glandular punctate across the lower surface (these orange in life, drying black) |
| 1 Leaves strictly 2-even-pinnate (with pinna pairs borne opposite one another and no pinna terminal on the rachis, and with leaflets also born in opposite pairs). |
| ..........6 Pinna pairs 1-6 (-7) per leaf; leaflets 4-ca. 250 per leaf. |
| ............ 7 Leaflets 1.5-14 mm long. |
| ............ ..8 Glands absent on petioles and rachises. |
| ............ ....9 Dwarf shrub, 1-6 dm tall; branches unarmed. |
| ............ ....9 Shrub, small tree, or scrambling liana; branches armed with straight nodal spines or internodal catclaw prickles. |
| ............ ......10 Branches armed with paired, straight, nodal spines, these simple or 3-branched; branches and larger stems green, photsynthetic; flowers caesalpinoid, 2-2.5 cm in diameter. |
| ............ ......10 Branches armed with catclaw prickles scattered along internodes; branches and stems brown; flowers caesalpinoid or mimosoid. |
| ............ ........11 Scrambling liana; flowers caesalpinoid, 1.5-2 cm across |
| ............ ........11 Shrub; flowers mimosoid, aggregated into spherical inflorescences 9-15 mm in diameter |
| ............ ..8 Glands (stalked, columnar, or domed) 1 or more on petioles or rachises, on the petiole or at rachis nodes. |
| ............ ..........12 Branches unarmed. |
| ............ ............ 13 Stamens connate basally into a tube; spherical inflorescences whitish or cream, 15-23 mm in diameter |
| ............ ............ 13 Stamens free; spherical inflorescences yellow, 6-8 mm in diameter |
| ............ ..........12 Branches armed with straight nodal spines or internodal catclaw prickles. |
| ............ ............ ..14 Branches armed with catclaw prickles scattered along internodes. |
| ............ ............ ..14 Branches armed with paired, straight, nodal spines. |
| ............ ............ ....15 Leaflet pairs 2-6 per pinna; inflorescences cylindrical. |
| ............ ............ ......16 Petiolar/rachis glands at nodes of the rachis, short-columnar; stamens connate basally into a tube |
| ............ ............ ......16 Petiolar/rachis gland on the petiole; stamens free |
| ............ ............ ....15 Leaflet pairs 6-25 per pinna; inflorescences spherical (or cylindrical in Prosopis laevigata). |
| ............ ............ ........17 Inflorescences cylindrical; leaflet pairs 15-25 per pinna |
| ............ ............ ........17 Inflorescences spherical; leaflet pairs 6-20 per pinna. |
| ............ ............ ..........18 Dwarf shrub; pinna pair 1 per leaf; leaflet pairs 6-11 per pinna; fruit spirally twisted into a cylinder |
| ............ ............ ..........18 Shrub or small tree; pinna pairs 2-5 (-6) per leaf; leaflet pairs 9-20 per pinna; fruit flat, straight. |
| ............ ............ ............ 19 Spherical inflorescences 15-23 mm in diameter; stamens connate basally into a tube; fruits flat, about 1 cm wide, 2-4 mm thick |
| ............ ............ ............ 19 Spherical inflorescences 6-13 mm in diameter; stamens free; fruits turgid, cylindrical, about 1 cm in diameter (wide and thick) |
| ............ 7 Leaflets 10-60 mm long (at least the larger leaflets on a plant > 14 mm long). |
| ............ ............ ............ ..20 Glands absent on petioles and rachises. |
| ............ ............ ............ ....21 Pinna pairs 1 per leaf; branches unarmed; flowers red-pink, mimosoid, aggregated into spherical inflorescences 5-7 cm in diameter |
| ............ ............ ............ ....21 Pinna pairs 2-5 per leaf; branches armed with catclaw prickles scattered along internodes; flowers yellow to orange, caesalpinoid, each flower 0.7-2 cm across. |
| ............ ............ ............ ......22 Liana climbing and sparawling over other vegetation; flowers 0.7-1 cm across |
| ............ ............ ............ ......22 Shrub or small tree; flowers 1.8-2 cm across |
| ............ ............ ............ ..20 Glands (stalked, columnar, or domed) 1 or more on petioles or rachises, on the petiole or at rachis nodes. |
| ............ ............ ............ ........23 Leaflet pair 1 per pinna |
| ............ ............ ............ ........23 Leaflet pairs 3-14 per pinna |
| ............ ............ ............ ..........24 Branches usually armed with paired, straight, nodal spines; inflorescences cylindrical; stamens 10 |
| ............ ............ ............ ..........24 Branches unarmed; inflorescences spherical; stamens many. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ 25 Stamens free |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ 25 Stamens connate basally into a tube. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ..26 Petiolar gland near base of petiole; spherical inflorescences either 0.9-1.7 cm in diameter, or 5-6 cm in diameter |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ..26 Petiolar gland closer to first pinna pair than to petiole base; spherical inflorescences 2-2.6 cm in diameter |
| ..........6 Pinna pairs 4-25 per leaf (at least the larger leaves on a plant with > 6 pinna pairs); leaflets 150-3000 per leaf. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ....27 Leaflets 10-40 mm long, at least the larger on a leaf > 15 mm long. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ......28 Leaf rachis eglandular; flowers caesalpinoid, each yellow-orange and 3-4 cm across |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ......28 Leaf rachis with cupular glands at nodes; flowers mimosoid, pink, aggregated into a spherical head 5-6 cm in diameter |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ....27 Leaflets 1-15 mm long. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ........29 Glands absent on petioles and rachises. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........30 Branches armed with catclaw prickles scattered along internodes; shrub; flowers mimosoid, white, cream, or pink, aggregated into spherical heads 0.9-2 cm in diameter. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........30 Branches unarmed; tree; flowers caesalpinoid, each yellow and 2-3.5 cm across |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ........29 Glands (stalked, columnar, or domed) or nonglandular spheroid projections 1 or more on petioles or rachises, on the petiole or at rachis nodes. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 31 Branches unarmed. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..32 Fruits 30-60 cm long, woody, persistent and indehiscent on the tree; flowers caesalpinoid, scarlet and yellow, 8-10 cm across; rachis with spheroidal projections at the nodes; petiole lacking glands |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..32 Fruits < 20 cm long, papery, coriaceous, or woody; flowers mimosoid, white, cream, pink, or pale yellow, aggregated into spherical heads 1-6 cm in diameter; rachis lacking spheroidal projections; petiole bearing domed or saucer-shaped glands along the petiole or at the 1st pair of pinnae. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....33 Spherical heads pink, 2.5-6 cm in diameter |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....33 Spherical heads white, cream, or pale yellow, 0.5-2.2 cm in diameter. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ......34 Fruits strongly coiled; stamens many; tree |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ......34 Fruits strait or slightly curved; stamens 10; tree or shrub. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ........35 Stipules persistent and evident, 3-10 mm long; fruits 5.5-8.5 cm long, 2-5 mm wide |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ........35 Stipules caducous; fruits 8-20 cm long, 10-20 mm wide |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 31 Branches variously armed, with nodal spines, thorn spurs, or catclaw prickles scattered along internodes. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........36 Branches armed with catclaw prickles scattered along the internodes |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........36 Branches armed either with woody thorn spurs or paired nodal spines. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 37 Branches armed with stout thorn spurs (these simple or branched); inflorescences cylindrical, bicolored, the base of pink or whitish staminodes, the tip of yellow stamens; fruits flattened, but also curved and contorted |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 37 Branches armed with paired nodal spines, these either narrow and needle-like or massive, hollow, and with an entrance hole; fruits turgid, straight or slightly curved |
| 1 Leaflets denticulate (sometimes inconspicuously so); [tribe Trifolieae]. |
| ..2 Inflorescences elongate racemes with an axis 5-15 cm long, the flowers well-spaced along the axis, the overall inflorescence much longer than its diameter |
| ..2 Inflorescences umbellate or headlike clusters or short racemes with an axis < 2 cm long, the flowers closely clustered, the overall inflorescence little (if at all) longer than its diameter. |
| ....3 Legumes spirally coiled or curved, often tuberculate or prickly; stems 4-angled towards the tip |
| ....3 Legumes straight or nearly so, never tuberculate or prickly; stems terete or flattened (2-angled) towards the tip |
| 1 Leaflets entire (and sometimes also with 1 or 2 broad lobes), or with scattered, irregular large teeth (Pachyrhizus erosus). |
| ......4 Main stems erect or ascending, not trailing, twining, or otherwise vine-like. |
| ........5 Flowers not papilionaceous (the wings and keel epistemonous, arising terminally or laterally from the stamen tube), barely bilaterally symmetrical; stamens 5, monadelphous; [tribe Amorpheae] |
| ........5 Flowers papilionaceous; stamens 10, diadelphous or monadelphous. |
| ..........6 Plants with separate leafy and flowering stems (the flowering stems naked or nearly so of leaves). |
| ............ 7 Standard bright red, remaining folded, 30-50 mm long; leaves hastately lobed; fruit a torulose legume, 6-20 cm long, the seeds red; [tribe Phaseoleae] |
| ............ 7 Standard white or pink, expanded, 4-8 mm long; leaves not hastate; fruit a flattened loment, < 5 cm long, the seeds drab; [tribe Desmodieae] |
| ..........6 Plants bearing leaves and flowers on the same stems. |
| ............ ..8 Leaves, stems, and/or calyces glandular-punctate. |
| ............ ....9 Corollas pink or lavender/purplish; leaflets estipellate; fruit 1-seeded, indeciscent; [tribe Psoraleae] |
| ............ ....9 Corollas yellow; leaflets stipellate; fruit 2-many-seeded, dehiscent; [tribe Phaseoleae, subtribe Cajaninae] |
| ............ ......10 Corollas 15-20 mm long; seeds 3-8 per fruit; fruit 4-9 cm long, constricted between each seed; [rare introduction] |
| ............ ......10 Corollas 4-14 mm long; seeds 1-2 per fruit; fruit 1-2 cm long, with no constrictions, tapering to each end; [collectively common and widespread]. |
| ............ ..8 Leaves, stems, and calyces lacking punctate glands. |
| ............ ........11 Leaflet blades large, at least the largest terminal leaflets on a plant > 5 cm long. |
| ............ ..........12 Stipels absent on the petiolules of mature leaflets; stamens monadelphous. |
| ............ ............ 13 Fruit a legume (not segmented into 1-seed dispersal units), hairy but the hairs not hooked; [plants cultivated as garden plants, rare as waifs] |
| ............ ............ 13 Fruit a loment (separating into single-seeded segments), uncinulate (with hooked hairs, the fruits attaching to hairs or clothes as 'stick-tights'); [plants widespread, common] |
| ............ ..........12 Stipels present, persistent; stamens diadelphous (9 and 1). |
| ............ ............ ..14 Fruit a loment (separating into single-seeded segments), uncinulate (with hooked hairs, the fruits attaching to hairs or clothes as 'stick-tights'); [plants widespread, common] |
| ............ ............ ..14 Fruit a legume (not segmented into 1-seed dispersal units), hairy but the hairs not hooked; [plants cultivated as crops or garden plants, rare as waifs] |
| ............ ............ ....15 Keel of corolla coiled 1-3 turns; stipules inconspicuous; [soy beans] |
| ............ ............ ....15 Keel of corolla not coiled; stipules conspicuous, persistent, striate; [bush green beans or lima beans] |
| ............ ........11 Leaflet blades smaller, all on a plant < 5 cm long. |
| ............ ............ ......16 Stipels present, persistent. |
| ............ ............ ........17 Fruit a loment (separating into single-seeded segments), uncinulate (with hooked hairs, the fruits attaching to hairs or clothes as 'stick-tights') |
| ............ ............ ........17 Fruit a several- to many-seeded legume, glabrous to hairy (but not uncinulate) |
| ............ ............ ......16 Stipels absent on the petiolules of mature leaflets. |
| ............ ............ ..........18 Fruits dehiscent, a legume with 2 or more seeds. |
| ............ ............ ............ 19 Terminal leaflet very similar in size as the 2 lateral leaflets; banner petal prominently striate-veined |
| ............ ............ ............ 19 Terminal leaflet 2× or more as long as the 2 lateral leaflets; banner petal evenly colored |
| ............ ............ ..........18 Fruits indehiscent: either 1-seeded, or a loment with 2 or more one-seeded (indehiscent) segments. |
| ............ ............ ............ ..20 Petioles fused most of length with amplexicaul stipules, the leaves thus appearing sessile or nearly so; corollas lemon to orangy yellow; flowers subsessile; fruit a loment of 2 segments, the terminal segment fertile, the lower segment either sterile or fertile |
| ............ ............ ............ ..20 Petioles free from stipules, leaves evidently petiolate; corollas white to pink; flowers pedicellate; fruit either 1-seeded, or a loment normally with 3+ segments |
| ............ ............ ............ ....21 Fruit a loment, with 1-3 segments; terminal leaflets 3-10 cm long, 1-1.5× as long as wide; stamens monadelphous |
| ............ ............ ............ ....21 Fruit 1-seeded; terminal leaflets 1-5 cm long, 1.2-8× as long as wide; stamens diadelphous (9 and 1) |
| ......4 Main stems trailing, twining, creeping, or climbing or sprawling over other vegetation. |
| ............ ............ ............ ......22 Leaves, stems, and/or calyces glandular-punctate; corollas yellow. |
| ............ ............ ............ ......22 Leaves, stems, and calyces lacking punctate glands; corollas yellow, pink, purplish, white, red, blue. |
| ............ ............ ............ ........23 Leaflet blades smaller, all on a plant < 5 cm long. |
| ............ ............ ............ ..........24 Stipels absent on the petiolules of mature leaflets. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ 25 Fruit a loment of 2 segments, the terminal segment fertile, the lower segment either sterile or fertile; corollas lemon to orangy yellow |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ 25 Fruit 1-seeded; corollas pink-purplish to white, or bronze to brick-red. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ..26 Corollas pink-purplish to white |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ..26 Corollas bronze to brick-red |
| ............ ............ ............ ..........24 Stipels present, persistent (minute in Amphicarpaea). |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ....27 Fruit a loment (separating into single-seeded segments), uncinulate (with hooked hairs, the fruits attaching to hairs or clothes as 'stick-tights'). |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ......28 Flowers in axillary or terminal racemes; leaflets rotund, broadly ovate, broadly elliptic, or narrowly elliptic, the larger > 1 cm long. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ......28 Flowers in axillary clusters; leaflets broadly obovate, 0.5-1 cm long |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ....27 Fruit a legume, dehiscent (at least tardily), unsegmented, and with 2+ seeds. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ........29 Flowers resupinate (the pedicel twisted 180 degrees), the banner 2.5-5.5 cm long and positioned lowermost. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........30 Calyx lobes equal to or longer than the calyx tube; fruits 3-5 mm wide |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........30 Calyx lobes shorter than the calyx tube; fruits 5-8 mm wide |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ........29 Flowers not resupinate, the banner 0.7-2.5 cm long and positioned uppermost. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 31 Stipules caducous |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 31 Stipules persistent, sometimes conspicuous, sometimes striate. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..32 Keel petal and the included style straight to gently upcurved; stems very slender, < 0.75 mm in diameter |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..32 Keel petal and the included style either strongly curved upwards 90-180 degrees, or even more extensively coiled (asymmetrically and spirally) in towards the flower center; stems slender to thicker, > 0.75 mm in diameter. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....33 Keel petal and the included style strongly curved upwards 90-180 degrees; corollas yellow or pink to lavender (or whitish). |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ......34 Corollas pink to lavender (or whitish); corolla keel usually somewhat twisted, asymmetrical; [widespread in our region] |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ......34 Corollas yellow; corolla keel symmetrical; [mainly outer Coastal Plain] |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....33 Keel petal and the included style extensively coiled > 180 degrees (asymmetrically and spirally) in towards the flower center; corollas pink, purple, maroon, purple-black (or whitish). |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ........35 Peduncles long, the flowers borne in clusters on a raceme axis shorter than the peduncle; plants glabrate to villous, the hairs not hooked |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ........35 Peduncles short, the flowers scattered along a (sometimes branched) raceme axis, the raceme axis about as long as or longer than the peduncle; plants uncinulate pubescent (use 20× magnification, or touch the plant for the 'tacky' feel) |
| ............ ............ ............ ........23 Leaflet blades large, at least the largest terminal leaflets on a plant > 5 cm long. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........36 Stipels absent on the petiolules of mature leaflets; stamens monadelphous |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........36 Stipels present, persistent (minute in Amphicarpaea); stamens diadelphous (9 and 1) or monadelphous (Pueraria). |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 37 Stamens monadelphous; robust herbaceous vine with stems to 30 m long; flowers purple, when fresh smelling like artificial grape flavoring. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 37 Stamens diadelphous (9 and 1); herbacous vines with stems usually < 5 m long; flowers various in color, not 'grapy' in odor. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..38 Flowers resupinate (the pedicel twisted 180 degrees), the banner (standard) petal lowermost; banner (standard) 25-50 mm long, much larger than the other petals. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....39 Calyx lobes equal to or longer than the calyx tube; fruits 3-5 mm wide |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....39 Calyx lobes shorter than the calyx tube; fruits 5-8 mm wide |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..38 Flowers not resupinate, the banner (standard) uppermost; banner (standard) < 25 mm long, or if up to 30 mm then not much llonger than the other petals. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ......40 Fruit a loment (separating into single-seeded segments), uncinulate (with hooked hairs, the fruits attaching to hairs or clothes as 'stick-tights') |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ......40 Fruit a several- to many-seeded legume, glabrous to hairy (but not uncinulate). |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ........41 Keel incurved < 90 (-120) degrees; style glabrous or pubescent. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........42 Stipules inconspicuous or obsolescent. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 43 Leaflets coarsely toothed; roots tuberous |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 43 Leaflets with entire margins (sometimes with 1-2 rounded lobes); roots slender |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..44 Corolla 3-4 cm long; fruits constricted between the seeds; fruits with stinging hairs |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..44 Corolla < 2 cm long; fruits constricted or not; fruits glabrous or hairy, the hairs not stinging. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....45 Bracteoles below the calyx persistent; ventral suture of the fruit bumpy-nodose; style bearded |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....45 Bracteoles caducous; ventral suture of the fruit not bumpy-nodose; style glabrous. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ......46 Leaflets (2-) 4-8 cm long, 0.8-1.5 cm wide, 5-6× as long as wide; leaflet apices acute to obtuse; fruits not flanged or winged |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ......46 Leaflets 6-14 cm long, 4-10 cm wide, 1-1.3× as long as wide; leaflet apices strongly acuminate; fruits with a flange or wing along the ventral suture |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........42 Stipules persistent and conspicuous. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ........47 Legume quadrangular in ×-section, 4-winged |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ........47 Legume circular, elliptic, or oblong in ×-section, not winged. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........48 Flowers clustered 3 or more at the inflorescence nodes; upper calyx lobes fused. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........48 Flowers arrayed differently; upper calyx lobes separate. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 49 Keel petal and the included style straight to gently upcurved; stems very slender, < 0.75 mm in diameter |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 49 Keel petal and the included style strongly curved upwards 90-180 degrees; stems slender to thicker, > 0.75 mm in diameter |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ........41 Keel petal and the included style either strongly curved upwards 90-180 degrees, or even more extensively coiled (asymmetrically and spirally) in towards the flower center; style or stigma pubescent. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..50 Plants uncinulate pubescent (use 20× magnification, or touch the plant for the 'tacky' feel) |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..50 Plants glabrate to villous, the hairs not hooked. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....51 Keel petal and the included style strongly curved upwards 90-180 degrees |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ......52 Corolla keel symmetrical; [mainly outer Coastal Plain] |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ......52 Corolla keel usually somewhat twisted, asymmetrical; [widespread in our region] |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....51 Keel petal and the included style even more extensively coiled (asymmetrically and spirally) in towards the flower center. |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ........53 Corolla 2.5-4 cm long, the wings about as long as the other petals; leaflets not lobed |
| ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ........53 Corolla 1.5-2 cm long, the wing petals longer than the other petals; leaflets lobed |
| 1 Lateral veins of each leaflet neatly straight and parallel to one another; [tribe Millettieae] |
| 1 Lateral veins of each leaflet complicatedly and less regularly arrayed. |
| ..2 Leaves (at least the largest and those with the most leaflets) with ≥ 13 leaflets. |
| ....3 Ovaries (and later fruits) with dense, hooked prickles (lloking like a miniature cocklebur, Xanthium); leaves and stems glandular-punctate with brown or black glands; stamens diadelphous (9 and 1); [rare waif in our area]; [tribe Galegeae] |
| ....3 Ovaries (and later fruits) glabrous, glandular, or hairy; leaves and stems glabrous, variously hairy, but not glandular-punctate (except Dalea); stamens 5-10, monadelphous, diadelphous, or separate; [collectively widespread]. |
| ......4 Leaflets conspicuously dentate; [tribe Cicereae] |
| ......4 Leaflets entire. |
| ........5 Hairs dolabriform (with 2 branches parallel to the surface and pointing at 180° from each other). |
| ..........6 Petals reddish orange and/or with some pink or salmon; [tribe Indigofereae] |
| ..........6 Petals pink-purple to violet; [tribe Galegeae] |
| ........5 Hairs basifixed. |
| ............ 7 Fruit a loment (jointed between each seed and splitting into single-seeded segments). |
| ............ ..8 Loments cylindrical, jointed but not noticeably constricted between the seeds; Inflorescence an umbel of (7-) 10-15 flowers; corolla white and pink (or yellow in the rare waif S. securidaca); [tribe Loteae] |
| ............ ..8 Loments flattened, prominently constricted between the seeds; inflorescence a raceme of 2-6 flowers; corolla primarily yellow (sometimes also marked with pink or orange); [tribe Dalbergieae] |
| ............ 7 Fruit a legume (lacking joints between each seed, though sometimes the pod constricted). |
| ............ ....9 Inflorescences pedunculate, axillary racemes; leaflets eglandular; fruits dehiscent; [tribe Galegeae] |
| ............ ....9 Inflorescences terminal racemes, spikes, or heads; leaflets glandular-punctate or not; fruits indehiscent. |
| ............ ......10 Fruit 1-seeded; leaflets glandular-punctate; [tribe Amorpheae] |
| ............ ......10 Fruit with several seeds; leaflets eglandular; [tribe Sophoreae] |
| ..2 Leaves (the largest and those with the most leaflets) with < 11 leaflets. |
| ............ ........11 Fruit a loment (constricted between each seed and splitting into single-seeded segments); petals primarily yellow (sometimes also marked with pink or orange); [of the se. Coastal Plain, from e. GA southwards and westwards]; [tribe Dalbergieae]. |
| ............ ..........12 Stems ascending or erect; loment subterete |
| ............ ..........12 Stems prostrate, trailing; loment flattened |
| ............ ........11 Fruit a legume (lacking constrictions between the seeds); petals variously colored; [collectively widespread]. |
| ............ ............ 13 Ovaries (and later fruits) with dense, hooked prickles; leaves and stems glandular-punctate with brown or black glands; stamens diadelphous (9 and 1); [rare waif in our area]; [tribe Galegeae] |
| ............ ............ 13 Ovaries (and later fruits) glabrous, glandular, or hairy; leaves and stems glabrous, variously hairy, but not glandular-punctate (except Dalea); stamens 5-10, monadelphous, diadelphous, or separate; [collectively widespread]. |
| ............ ............ ..14 Plants with basal rosettes, the basal and cauline leaves a mixture of simple and pinnately compound; [rare waif in our area]; [tribe Loteae] |
| ............ ............ ..14 Plants with primarily cauline leaves, all pinnately compound; [collectively widespread]. |
| ............ ............ ....15 Plants erect or ascending herbs. |
| ............ ............ ......16 Leaves with 5 leaflets, the 2 basal leaflets positioned like stipules at the base of the leaf (the leaf thus sessile); [tribe Loteae] |
| ............ ............ ......16 Leaves with 5-9 (or fewer or more and then keyed elsewhere), the lower leaflets positioned above a definite petiole. |
| ............ ............ ........17 Hairs dolabriform (with 2 branches parallel to the surface and pointing at 180° from each other; petals reddish orange and/or with some pink or salmon; flowers papilionaceous; stamens 10, diadelphous (9+1); leaflets often > 5 mm wide; legume 3+-seeded; flowers 5-12 mm long, in racemes; [tribe Indigofereae] |
| ............ ............ ........17 Hairs basifixed; petals of various colors; flowers not papilionaceous, barely bilaterally symmetrical; stamens 5, monadelphous; leaflets 0.5-5 mm wide; legume 1-seeded; flowers very small, < 5.5 mm long, aggregated into tight spike; [tribe Amorpheae] |
| ............ ............ ....15 Plants prostrate or twining herbaceous vines. |
| ............ ............ ..........18 Hairs dolabriform (with 2 branches parallel to the surface and pointing at 180° from each other; petals reddish orange and/or with some pink or salmon; [tribe Indigofereae] |
| ............ ............ ..........18 Hairs basifixed; petals of various colors; [tribe Phaseoleae]. |
| ............ ............ ............ 19 Flower usually solitary, resupinate (twisted at 180° so that the standard is below); standard 3.5-5 cm long |
| ............ ............ ............ 19 Flowers few to many in racemes, normally oriented (with the standard above); standard < 2.5 cm long. |
| ............ ............ ............ ..20 Corolla purplish, maroon, brownish, or yellowish green; leaflets 4-9 cm long, on petioles 3-5 mm long; keel coiled |
| ............ ............ ............ ..20 Corolla either white with red striations or lavender; leaflets 2-5 cm long, on petioles 1-2 mm long; keel carinate, not coiled |
| 1 Liana, climbing by twining; [tribe Millettieae] |
| ..2 Inflorescence a stiff panicle; leaflets (5-) 7-9; ovary and fruit glabrous; leaves evergreen |
| ..2 Inflorescence a pendent raceme; leaflets 7-19; ovary and fruit either glabrous or densely velvety-villous; leaves cold-deciduous |
| 1 Shrubs and trees, lacking climbing adaptations. |
| ....3 Leaflets glandular-punctate (not requiring magnification). |
| ......4 Leaflets 4-10 cm long; leaves with 7-13 leaflets; large tree; flowers ca. 15 mm long, pink-purple; [tribe Milletieae] |
| ......4 Leaflets 0.4-4 (-7) cm long; leaves with (7-) 9-31 leaflets; shrub or small tree; flowers 4-11 mm long, white, cream, violet, purple, or blue; [tribe Amorpheae]. |
| ........5 Corolla reduced to a single petal (the standard); flowers whitish, sky blue, dark blue, purple, or violet; [collectively widespread] |
| ........5 Corolla of 5 petals; flowers white to cream, sometimes 'fading' to dark purple; [s. FL, TX]. |
| ..........6 Flowers papilionoid, either cream, fading purplish, or bicolored white and purple; [s. FL, TX, OK] |
| ..........6 Flowers only slightly bilaterally symmetrical, white; [TX] |
| ....3 Leaflets lacking punctate glands. |
| ............ 7 Leaflets 3-9 per leaf; leaflets 2-15 (-20) cm long; small or large tree (to shrub in Dermatophyllum secundiflorum). |
| ............ ..8 Lateral leaflets all or mostly alternate along the rachis. |
| ............ ....9 Leaflets (5-) 7-9 per leaf; flowers 18-25 mm long, white; [native, also planted; SC, GA, AL, MS, and LA northwards] |
| ............ ....9 Leaflets 3-5 (-7) per leaf; flowers ca. 10 mm long, yellow-white or pinkish; [non-native; FL peninsula] |
| ............ ..8 Lateral leaflets strictly in opposite pairs. |
| ............ ......10 Stamens free; [tribe Sophoreae]. |
| ............ ........11 Corollas 14-16 mm long, blue-purple; fruit turgid and cylindrical, but torulose-constricted between the scarlet seeds; [native; TX] |
| ............ ........11 Corollas 7-11 mm long, cream to white; fruit flattened, not constricted between the tan to light brown seeds; [non-native] |
| ............ ......10 Stamens monadephous or diadelphous; [FL peninsula]; [tribe Milletieae] |
| ............ ..........12 Fruit woody, unwinged, with 1 very large (ca. 2 cm long) seed; stamens diadelphous |
| ............ ..........12 Fruit 2-9 cm long, membranaceous, with 4 broad, tan, ruffled wings and 1-6 black seeds; stamens monadelphous |
| ............ 7 Leaflets (5-) 7-31 per leaf, at least the larger and better developed leaves on a plant with 11 or more leaflets; leaflets 0.4-12 cm long; shrub, small tree, or large tree. |
| ............ ............ 13 Corollas 5-6 mm long, pink or purplish; fruits 15-35 mm long, 1-3 mm wide |
| ............ ............ 13 Corollas 9-30 mm long, yellow, white, pink, or purplish; fruits 25-150 (-200) mm long, 5-35 mm wide. |
| ............ ............ ..14 Corollas ca. 10 mm long, pink or purplish; fruit a single-seeded, globose or broadly ellipsoid drupe, 2.5-4 cm long, 2-3 cm in diameter; leaflets 4-12 cm long; [s. FL] |
| ............ ............ ..14 Corollas 15-30 mm long, white, pink, purplish, or bright yellow or coppery; fruit a legume, seeds several; leaflets 2-6 cm long; [collectively widespread] |
| ............ ............ ....15 Corollas bright yellow or coppery; fruits about as thick as wide, either bladdery-inflated or moniliform (like beads on a string). |
| ............ ............ ......16 Fruits bladdery-inflated, 50-70 mm long, 20-30 mm in diameter; stamens diadelphous; [cultivated ornamental, rarely establishing] |
| ............ ............ ......16 Fruits moniliform (like beads on a string), 100-200 mm long, 7-8 mm in diameter at the seeds, 1-2 mm in diameter between the seeds; stamens free; [native of coastal peninsular FL and TX]. |
| ............ ............ ....15 Corollas white, pink, or pink-purple; fruits flattened (wider than thick). |
| ............ ............ ........17 Leaflets short-acuminate at the apex; calyx truncate-sinuate at its apex; branches not armed; [tropical s. FL] |
| ............ ............ ........17 Leaflets rounded, obtuse, or retuse (and also usyually with a noticeable mucro) at the apex; calyx with lobes at its apex; branches sometimes armed with stipular (nodal) spines or internodal hispid hairs; [temperate, widespread in our region] |
| 1 Stamens numerous; inflorescences of many flowers arranged in a closely packed sphere or cylinder; leaves replaced by phyllodes, these leathery in texture and often crescent-shaped; [Mimosoid clade] |
| 1 Stamens 10 (or fewer); inflorescences various, the flowers larger and more diffuse; leaves 1-, 2-, or 3-foliolate, or reduced to phyllodial apines; [subfamily Faboideae or Cercidioideae] |
| ..2 Leaves 1- or 2-foliolate and > 2 cm wide; trees, shrubs, or lianas. |
| ....3 Seeds 1-2 (-4) per fruit; corolla pale yellow, pale pink, or white; longest petals 7-10 mm long; [subfamily Faboideae] |
| ....3 Seeds > 5 per fruit; corolla purplish-pink, bright pink, or white; longest petals 10-100 mm long [subfamily Cercidioideae] |
| ......4 Leaves with a rounded to apiculate apex; flowers strongly bilaterally symmetrical, “pseudopapilionoid”; petals 0.8-1.5 cm long; legumes 4-10 cm long; [natives and aliens, and widely cultivated] |
| ......4 Leaves either unifoliolate with a deeply notched apex or 2-foliolate; flowers slightly bilaterally symmetrical; petals 1.5-8 (-10) cm long; legumes 7-30 cm long; [aliens, of FL peninsula]. |
| ........5 Shrub or tree; petals 3-8 (-10) cm long |
| ........5 Liana (climbing by twining and by tendrils); petals 1.5-2.0 cm long |
| ..2 Leaves 3-foliolate, or reduced to phyllodial spines, or 1-foliolate (but then < 2 cm wide); shrubs or woody vines (rarely trees in Erythrina); [subfamily Faboideae]. |
| ..........6 Woody vine (Pueraria, a robust herbaceous vine, is also keyed here as a failsafe). |
| ............ 7 Terminal leaflet 1.5-2.5× as long as wide; legume 4-6 cm wide; seeds 2-3 cm wide; corolla yellow |
| ............ 7 Terminal leaflet 0.8-1.3× as long as wide; legume 0.8-1.3 cm wide; seeds < 1 cm wide; corolla purplish or red. |
| ............ ..8 Calyx 4.5-6 mm long; leaflets unlobed; [tribe Phaseoleae] |
| ............ ..8 Calyx 10-12 mm long; leaflets generally lobed; [tribe Phaseoleae] |
| ..........6 Shrub or tree. |
| ............ ....9 Shrub with angled or flanged green twigs; leaves palmately trifoliolate, unifoliolate, or reduced to spine-tipped phyllodes; [introduced]; [tribe Genisteae]. |
| ............ ......10 Flowers red-purple; calyx 2-3 mm long; [tribe Galegeae] |
| ............ ......10 Flowers bright yellow; calyx 3-15 mm long; [tribe Genisteae] |
| ............ ........11 Leaves all reduced to phyllodial spines; flowers axillary; calyx 10-15 mm long |
| ............ ........11 Leaves with normal lamina, either 1-foliolate or 3-foliolate; flowers in terminal racemes; calyx 3-6 mm long. |
| ............ ..........12 Leaves 3-foliolate lower on the stem, often 1-foliolate above; corolla 15-22 mm long |
| ............ ..........12 Leaves 1-foliolate throughout; corolla either 10-14 mm or 20-25 mm long |
| ............ ............ 13 Corolla 10-14 mm long; fruits 1.5-3 cm long |
| ............ ............ 13 Corolla 20-25 mm long; fruits 5-10 cm long |
| ............ ....9 Shrub or tree with twigs various, but not conspicuously green or flanged; leaves pinnately trifoliolate or unifoliolate. |
| ............ ............ ..14 Leaflet margins toothed; [rare waif]; [tribe Trifolieae] |
| ............ ............ ..14 Leaflet margins entire; [collectively common and widespread]. |
| ............ ............ ....15 Leaves unifoliolate; [tribe Genisteae] |
| ............ ............ ....15 Leaves trifoliolate. |
| ............ ............ ......16 Corolla 30-50 mm long, scarlet; legume with several seeds; leaflets lobed or not; [tribe Phaseoleae] |
| ............ ............ ......16 Corolla 8-15 mm long, purplish, pink, or white; legume 1-seeded; leaflets not lobed. |
| ............ ............ ........17 Foliage glandular-punctate; [tribe Psoraleae] |
| ............ ............ ........17 Foliage eglandular; [tribe Desmodieae] |