Tylosema (Schweinf.) Torre & Hillc.

Stems trailing or climbing, herbaceous or woody below, arising from a large or very large underground tuber; tendrils usually present, forked (absent in T. humifusa). Leaves simple, bilobed at apex or sometimes divided almost to base, which is very cordate. Flowers medium to rather small, yellow, in lateral short to elongate racemes. Hypanthium short. Sepals 5, the two upper usually completely or partly fused, the others free. Petals 5; upper one smaller than the rest and bicallose at base. Stamens: 2 fertile; remainder ((7–)8) staminodial, unequal, some ± flattened. Ovary long-stipitate; style elongate; stigma very small, not wider than top of style. Pods woody, dehiscent or indehiscent, (? 1–)2-seeded. Seeds large, with a U-shaped line extending only for a short distance from the hilum; funicle short, with a bifid projection at apex; a thin layer of endosperm present.