Shrubs or trees [lianas], unarmed. Stems erect or scandent, young growth densely strigose or villous or glabrescent, peduncles and pedicels eglandular. Leaves alternate, odd-pinnate or unifoliolate; stipules present, caducous; petiolate; leaflets 1–5[+], alternate, stipels absent, blade margins entire, surfaces glabrous or pubescent. Inflorescences 10–50-flowered, axillary [lateral or terminal], racemes, panicles, or corymbs; bracts present; bracteoles paired proximal to calyx. Flowers papilionaceous; calyx campanulate, lobes 5; corolla usually white, creamy white, or yellowish, sometimes pinkish [purple], glabrous; stamens 9 or 10, monadelphous or diadelphous [triadelphous]; anthers basifixed, relatively small, dehiscing apically; style glabrous; stigma terminal, small. Fruits legumes, stalk present, compressed, straight, compressed, narrowly ellipsoid to oblong or subglobose to subreniform, indehiscent, often winged (samaroid), glabrous or pubescent. Seeds 1–4[–6], reniform; hilum lateral. x = 10.

Distribution

Florida, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, tropical to warm temperate areas.

Discussion

Species ca. 100 (3 in the flora).

Dalbergia includes important timber species prized for the color and grain of the wood (M. Chudnoff 1984).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Dalbergia brownei, Dalbergia ecastaphyllum, Dalbergia sissoo

Key

1	Leaves 3–5-foliolate; leaflet blades ovate, apex abruptly acuminate or cuspidate; stamens 9; corolla creamy white to yellowish; legumes narrowly ellipsoid to oblong, stalk 5–6 mm; seeds 1 or 2(–4).	Dalbergia sissoo
1	Leaves unifoliolate; leaflet blades elliptic, ovate, or ovate-elliptic, apex usually acute, sometimes acuminate or obtuse, or abruptly narrowed to obtuse tip; stamens 10; corolla often white, sometimes pinkish; legumes ellipsoid to oblong or subglobose to subreniform, stalk 3 mm; seeds 1–4.	> 2
2	Legumes ellipsoid to oblong, 10 mm wide; seeds 1–4; leaflet apex usually acute, sometimes acuminate or obtuse, surfaces lustrous, glabrous or lightly appressed-pubescent, hairs minute.	Dalbergia brownei
2	Legumes subglobose to subreniform, 15–20 mm wide; seed 1; leaflet apex abruptly narrowed to obtuse tip, surfaces sublustrous, subsericeous becoming moderately appressed-pubescent or glabrous.	Dalbergia ecastaphyllum