Melolobium | |
---|---|
Melolobium aethiopicum | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Faboideae |
Tribe: | Genisteae |
Genus: | Melolobium Eckl. & Zeyh. |
Species [1] | |
14; see text | |
Synonyms [1] | |
SphingiumE.Mey. (1835) |
Melolobium is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the legume family, Fabaceae. [1] It includes 14 species of small shrubs or perennial herbs native to southern Africa, [1] which are found in southern and eastern Namibia, southwestern Botswana, and most of South Africa.
These plants are perennial herbs and small shrubs. Leaves are often sticky with exudate from small surface glands. Some have spine-tipped branches. [1] The leaves have three leaflets. The inflorescence is a terminal raceme of flowers. The flowers are yellow, sometimes fading orange or purple. [2]
Melolobium comprises the following species: [1] [3] [4]
Psoralea is a genus in the legume family (Fabaceae) with 111 species of shrubs, trees, and herbs native to southern and eastern Africa, ranging from Kenya to South Africa. In South Africa they are commonly referred to as fountainbush (English); fonteinbos, bloukeur, or penwortel (Afrikaans); and umHlonishwa (Zulu).
Styphnolobium is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae. It includes nine species of small trees and shrubs native to China and to the Americas, from the southern United States to Colombia. It belongs to subfamily Faboideae, and was formerly included within a broader interpretation of the genus Sophora. It was recently assigned to the unranked, monophyletic Cladrastis clade. They differ from the genus Calia (mescalbeans) in having deciduous leaves and flowers in axillary, not terminal, racemes. The leaves are pinnate, with 9–21 leaflets, and the flowers in pendulous racemes similar to those of the black locust. Necklacepod is a common name for plants in this genus.
Agathosma is a genus of about 140 species of flowering plants in the family Rutaceae, native to the southern part of Africa. Common names include buchu, boegoe, bucco, bookoo and diosma. Buchu formally denotes two herbal species, prized for their fragrance and medicinal use despite their toxicity. In colloquial use however, the term is applied to a wider set of fragrant shrubs or substitutes.
Lebeckia is a genus of plants in the family Fabaceae native to the fynbos of South Africa. Several members of Lebeckia were recently transferred to other genera. Members of Lebeckia are known to produce pyrrolizidine alkaloids, including ammodendrine, lebeckianine, and lupanine. The genus was named by Carl Thunberg for his student Heinrich Julius Lebeck.
Lotononis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae and the tribe Crotalarieae. The genus includes 99 species of annual and perennial herbs, native to the southeastern Europe and Turkey, eastern Africa, and southern Africa.
Amphithalea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae. It includes 41 species endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa.
Argyrolobium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae. Members of this genus are found in Africa, western and south Asia, and southern Europe.
Aspalathus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. The yellow flowers and spiny habit of some species have suggested a resemblance to Ulex europaeus, the thorny "English gorse" Accordingly, "Cape Gorse" has been proposed as a common name although the resemblance is largely superficial; for instance, gorse is thorny, whereas Aspalathus species are variously spiny or unarmed. The genus belongs to the subfamily Faboideae. There are over 270 species, mainly endemic to southwestern fynbos regions in South Africa, with over fifty occurring on the Cape Peninsula alone. The species Aspalathus linearis is commercially important, being farmed as the source of Rooibos tea.
Cyclopia, the honeybush, or heuningbos in Afrikaans, is a genus of some 20 species of flowering plants in the legume family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. Species of the genus are native to the southern and southwestern Cape Provinces of South Africa.
Lessertia is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It contains some 62 species native to eastern and southern Africa. It belongs to subfamily Faboideae.
Podalyria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It includes 17 species of small trees or shrubs native to the Cape Provinces, Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. They inhabit Mediterranean-climate shrubland from low to high elevations, typically in rocky or sandy areas. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae. The genus is endemic to South Africa.
Polhillia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It includes 11 species of shrubs and herbs native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. They grow in Mediterranean-climate renosterveld (shrubland) and scrub-grassland, typically in heavy soils. The genus belongs to subfamily Faboideae.
Rafnia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It includes 29 species of shrubs and subshrubs native to South Africa. They grow in Mediterranean-climate fynbos (shrubland) and grassland, mostly on rocky and sandy soils. Most are native to the Cape Provinces, with some extending eastwards into KwaZulu-Natal. It belongs to subfamily Faboideae.
The tribe Podalyrieae is one of the subdivisions of the plant family Fabaceae.
Liparia is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It includes 20 species native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae.
Xiphotheca is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It includes 10 species of shrubs endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. They grow in fynbos, generally at medium or low elevations, and often species have highly localised ranges. The genus belongs to the subfamily Faboideae. The name of the genus is a compound of Ancient Greek ξίφος (ksíphos), which means "sword", and θήκη (thēkē) which can mean "box" or "sheath"—a reference to the shape of the legume pods. Members of this genus can be distinguished by:
"(1) the presence of bracteoles in most species; (2) the fusion of the bracts with the base of the pedicel; (3) the laterally compressed pods; and (4) the accumulation of anabasine as a major alkaloid."
Ezoloba macrocarpa is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and the tribe Crotalarieae. It is a perennial plant endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. It is the only species included in the genus Ezoloba.
Leobordea is a genus of legumes in the family Fabaceae and the tribe Crotalarieae. Members of this genus are found in the eastern parts of South Africa as well as tropical Africa and the Mediterranean countries. It was recently segregated from the genus Lotononis.
Calobota is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It includes 16 species native to North Africa and southern Africa. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae.