Smithia Aiton

Erect or decumbent herbs or subshrubs. Leaves pinnately 6–12-foliolate; leaflets opposite, ± asymmetric at the base, with a single centrally placed main nerve; stipules membranous, persistent; stipels absent. Inflorescence axillary, usually dense, ± umbel-like scorpioid cymes; bracts entire, scarious, brownish, shorter than the flowers and soon falling; bracteoles present, scarious, inserted below the calyx, persistent. Calyx scarious, 2-lipped; lips entire or slightly toothed; corolla small, usually red or blue.Standard rounded or obovate, often emarginate; wings oblong, obliquely appendaged at the base, with a series of small pockets, free; keel petals with a lateral appendage almost equalling the claw. Ovary linear, shortly stipitate, 2–9-ovuled. Fruit stipitate, folded like a concertina, included in the persistent accrescent calyx, articulate; segments rounded, indehiscent. Seeds mostly compressed-reniform.

Worldwide: About 30 species in the Old World Tropics, mostly Asia and Madagascar.

Zambia: 1 taxon.