Calliandra L.

Unarmed trees, shrubs, and subshrubs. Leaves bipinnate or pinnate; pinnae and leaflets few to numerous; stipules herbaceous or subcoriaceous, deciduous or present. Inflorescence(s) capitate, condensed racemes, or umbels; bracts subtending each flower persistent. Perianth usually 3-6-merous. Androecium 7-, 10-, or poly-merous, the filaments united into a tube one third to twice the length of the corolla. Pods usually erect-ascending on thickened peduncle; oblanceolate or linear-lanceolate, straight or slightly falcate; stiffly coriaceous or ligneous valves recessed into a frame formed by the thickened, sometimes massive, sutural ribs; dehiscence elastic, from apex downward or from both ends, the valves recurving but not laterally twisted. Seeds numerous. (BAR)

1. Leaflets of longer pinnae 13- 38 pairs.............................................................. C. surinamensis

1. Leaflets of longer pinnae 1-12 pairs

     2. Leaflets 2" or longer, 4- 10 pairs per pinna................................................ C. haematocephala

     2. Leaflets 1" or shorter, 7 to 11 pairs per pinna...............................................C. riparia

(BAR, PBCC)