Leucaena Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 4:416. 1842. Shrubs or trees.
Leaves bipinnate with setaceous stipules, petiolar gland often
present between the lower pair of pinnae, leaflets 1-many
paired, numerous when small and few when large. Inflorescence
axillary, solitary or fascicled, pedunculate globose heads
sometimes racemosely aggregated. Flowers sessile, usually
bisexual. Sepals 5, connate, tubular-campanulate, teeth short.
Petals 5, distinct or nearly so, valvate. Stamens 10, distinct,
exserted, anthers mostly eglan¬dular, ovate, oblong or globose,
often pilose. Ovary stipitate, pubescent or gla¬brous. Pod
stalked, compressed, oblong or linear-oblong, dehiscent. Seeds
ovate, compressed, brown, glossy, endospermic. A genus with
about 50 species native of Polynesia & Tropical America.