3897.000 Rhynchosia Lour.

Climbing or prostrate, rarely erect, herbs or subshrubs. Stipules present. Leaves 1-or 3-foliolate; leaflets usually with conspicuous resinous gland-dots beneath. Flowers spreading. Calyx 5-lobed, lobes unequal, the upper pair ± joined. Corolla frequently yellow, lined with brownish-purple. Ovary (1-)2-ovulate. Pods 3-4 × as long as broad, almost circular to narrowly oblong, flattened, often falcate, frequently glandular and velvety. Seeds flattened-spherical or subreniform; funicle inserted at middle of the circular hilum.

Derivation of name: Gk. rhynchos, a beak, snout or horn, referring to the keel of the flowers

Worldwide: c. 300 species, tropics

Caprivi: 3 taxa.