Pithecellobium  Mart.

Shrubs or trees commonly armed with stipular spines. Leaves bipinnate, those on new growth alternate, those produced subsequently fasciculate from spurs; leafstalk glands present, sessile, circular, positioned between pinnae and also between leaflet pairs; pinnae 1 pair, each with a single pair of leaflets, the leaves thus 4-foliolate; stipules of new growth leaves commonly spinose and persistent, those of spur leaves obsolescent. Inflorescence(s) racemose yellowish green heads. Calyx short lobed; corolla lobed to about the middle; androecium of numerous stamens with filaments proximally connate. Legume sessile or stipitate, dehiscent, initially oblong-curved, becoming circinately coiled, turgid, opening to expose the several briefly persistent black seeds. Tropical America; about 20 species. (ISE)

1. Leaves more than 4-foliolate (1 pinnae with 1 pair of leaflets)................................ P. flexicaule

1. Leaves 4-foliolate

     2. Corolla less than 1/8"............................................................................................P. dulce

     2. Corolla 1/8" to 1/4"..............................................................................................P. keyense

(WU1, ISE, IRW, PBCC)