Trees [shrubs], unarmed. Stems ascending, tomentose, young growth densely puberulent to woolly. Leaves alternate, even-bipinnate; stipules present, caducous; petiolate, with gland at petiole base; pinnae 7–15 pairs, opposite; leaflets 40–100+, opposite, blades pale green abaxially, dark green adaxially, margins entire, surfaces glabrous or strigulose. Inflorescences 25–50+-flowered, axillary, racemes [spikes]; bracts present. Flowers mimosoid; calyx campanulate, lobes 5; corolla greenish; stamens ± 90, monadelphous, fused at base into tube ± equaling petals, greenish to lemon yellow; anthers dorsifixed, quadrangular, dehiscent longitudinally; ovary sessile or stipitate, solitary, compressed, shallowly sulcate laterally, gla­brous; style tapering distally to a poriform stigma. Fruits legumes, stipitate, strongly compressed, elevated over seeds, straight, broadly linear to narrowly oblong, indehiscent or late-dehiscent, glabrous or glabrate, not glandular, membranous, leathery, not fleshy or pulpy, not septate between seeds. Seeds 8–11, ellipsoid; hilum basal, dull black.

Distribution

Introduced; California, Pacific Islands (Malesia), w Australia, introduced also in South America (Colombia, Ecuador), Europe (France, Italy, Portugal), s Africa, Atlantic Islands (Azores), Pacific Islands (Hawaii, New Zealand).

Discussion

Species 4 (1 in the flora).

Paraserianthes is cultivated throughout the tropics. It is a relatively fast growing tree, reaching 45 meters in height, used to provide shade for plantation crops, as a windbreak, to prevent soil erosion, and as an ornamental (I. C. Nielsen et al. 1983).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Paraserianthes lophantha