Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb.

Fl. Per. : April-September.

Distribution: W. Pakistan (Punjab, Sind, escape?); widely distributed in the Tropics of the old and the New World.

Pantropics, native area unknown.

Perennial, Shrubs, Herbs, Vines, twining, climbing, Woody throughout, Stems erect or ascending, Stems or branches arching, spreading or decumbent, Stems 1-2 m tall, Stems greater than 2 m tall, Trunk or stems armed with thorns, spines or prickles, Stems solid, Stems or young twigs glabrous or sparsely glabrate, Leaves alternate, Leaves petiolate, Stipules conspicuous, Stipules green, triangulate to lanceolate or foliaceous, Stipules persistent, Stipules free, Leaves compound, Leaves even pinnate, Leaves bipinnate, Leaf or leaflet margins entire, Leaflets opposite, Leaflets alternate or subopposite, Leaflets 10-many, Leaves glabrous or nearly so, Inflorescences racemes, Inflorescence terminal, Bracts conspicuously present, Flowers actinomorphic or som ewhat irregular, Calyx 5-lobed, Calyx hairy, Petals separate, Petals clawed, Petals orange or yellow, Banner petal narrow or oblanceolate, Banner petal ovoid or obovate, Wing petals narrow, oblanceolate to oblong, Wing tips obtuse or rounded, Keel tips obtuse or rounded, not beaked, Stamens 9-10, Stamens completely free, separate, Stamens long exserted, Filaments glabrous, Style terete, Fruit a legume, Fruit unilocular, Fruit freely dehiscent, Fruit tardily or weakly dehiscent, Fruit orbicular to subglobose, Fruit exserted from calyx, Fruit spiny, bur-like, with hooked bristles or prickles, Fruit 1-seeded, Fruit 2-seeded, Fruit 3-10 seeded, Seeds ovoid to rounded in outline, Seed surface smooth, Seeds olive, brown, or black.