Evergreen tree up to 12 m high or sometimes a shrub, strongly armed with stout spines which are modified lateral shoots and which are frequently branched and bear leaves and inflorescences; trunk typically fluted basally. Bark dark brown, rough; young branchlets dark grey-brown to purplish-brown, lenticellate, minutely puberulous when young. Leaves simply paripinnate, alternate: petiole 0.2-0.8(1) cm long; rhachis (0.6)1.2-4.5(7.2) cm long, channelled above, often very narrowly winged, glabrous to ± densely and shortly pubescent; leaflets in (3)5-9(12) subopposite or irregularly alternate pairs, sometimes a lateral leaflet appearing terminal, (3)9-17(20) mm long, (1.5)3-6(8) mm wide, oblong to narrowly obovate, obtuse or rounded apically, sometimes slightly emarginate, with a minute mucro, ± glossy, midrib prominent below, lateral nerves conspicuous, ascending and anastomosing, glabrous throughout or margins minutely ciliolate. Stipules absent. Inflorescence a short lax panicle up to 12 cm long, usually terminal on short lateral shoots; axes ± densely and shortly pubescent. Flowers white, pedicellate; bracts minute, up to 1.25 mm long, persisting for some time. Calyx pubescent, the lobes up to 1 x 0.75 mm, ovate, equal or often one lobe ± lanceolate and much longer than the others. Petals equal, pubescent on both surfaces and ciliate on margins, up to 3.5 x 1.5 mm, reflexed in flower. Stamens 10, the 5 shorter opposite the petals and the 5 longer alternating with them; filaments up to 3.5 mm long, pubescent basally. Ovary up to 2 mm long, clothed with spreading hairs basally at least; style ±2 mm long, glabrous or sparingly pubescent. Pods brown when mature, 3-5 cm long, 0.9-1.2 cm wide, straight or almost so, ± oblong, oblique basally, acuminate apically, compressed, pubescent when young but soon becoming glabrous, dehiscent, valves curling. Seeds ±8 x 6 mm, compressed.
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A small, erect, many-branched, strongly armed, evergreen tree up to 12 m in height; occurring in or close to thicket and forested ravines often near the coast. Bark: rough, dark brown to grey-black, sometimes rather rust-coloured, the stem occasionally deeply fluted; young branches purplish brown with lenticels, many of the axillary shoots modified to form thickset spines. Leaves: paripinnate; alternate; with 5-9 (sometimes up to 12) pairs of sub-opposite or irregularly alternate leaflets, sometimes 1 of the top leaflets appearing terminal; rachis grooved above, often slightly winged; leaflets shiny dark green, hairless, small, about 1 x 0.5 cm; apex roundly square; base sharply tapering; margin entire petiole 2-8 mm long; stipules absent. Flowers: small, white, star-shaped; floral parts in 5s; calyx joined, bell-shaped; petals free, sometimes reduced; stamens 10; ovary shortly stalked; in short, loose heads or panicles, up to 8 x 5 cm, terminal on short spur-branchlets, borne on the top of the tree above the leaves; the strong spines make them difficult to reach so they are seldom collected; the flowers fall soon after opening (Mar.-Jul.). Fruit: an oblong, flat, woody pod, brown, about 5 cm long, splitting when mature (the following May/Jun.).
Evergreen tree or shrub; armed with stout spines which are often branched and bear leaves and inflorescences. Leaves paripinnate. Leaflets in (3)5-9(12) pairs, subopposite or irregularly alternate, sometimes with a lateral leaflet appearing terminal. Stipules 0. Flowers bisexual, irregular, small, white, in a short panicle, usually terminal on lateral shoots. Flowering time Feb.-Apr. Pod 1-seeded, compressed, elongate, firmly membranous, dehiscent.
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