Melolobium Explained

Melolobium is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the legume family, Fabaceae. It includes 14 species of small shrubs or perennial herbs native to southern Africa, which are found in southern and eastern Namibia, southwestern Botswana, and most of South Africa.

These plants are perennial herbs and small shrubs. Leaves are often sticky with exudate from small surface glands. Some have spine-tipped branches. The leaves have three leaflets. The inflorescence is a terminal raceme of flowers. The flowers are yellow, sometimes fading orange or purple.^[1]

Species

Melolobium comprises the following species:^{[2] [3]}

• Melolobium adenodes Eckl. & Zeyh.
• Melolobium aethiopicum (L.) Druce
• Melolobium alpinum Eckl. & Zeyh.

• Melolobium calycinum Benth.

• Melolobium candicans (E. Mey.) Eckl. & Zeyh.

• Melolobium exudans Harv.

• Melolobium humile Eckl. & Zeyh.

• Melolobium lampolobum (E.Mey.) Moteetee & B.-E.van Wyk
• Melolobium macrocalyx Dümmer
• Melolobium microphyllum (L.f.) Eckl. & Zeyh.

• Melolobium obcordatum Harv.

• Melolobium stipulatum Harv.
• Melolobium subspicatum Conrath

• Melolobium wilmsii Harms

Notes and References

1. Moteetee, A., & van Wyk, B. E. (2006). A revision of the genus Melolobium (Genisteae, Fabacaeae). South African Journal of Botany, 72(1), 51-98.
2. Web site: ILDIS LegumeWeb entry for Melolobium . . International Legume Database & Information Service . Cardiff School of Computer Science & Informatics . 15 April 2014 .
3. Web site: GRIN species records of Melolobium . USDA . USDA . ARS . Agricultural Research Service . National Genetic Resources Program . Germplasm Resources Information Network—(GRIN) [Online Database] . National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland . 15 April 2014 .