Caragana Fabr., Enum. Ed. 2. 421. 1763, emend. nov. L.Duan, J.Wen & Zhao Y.Chang

Duan, Lei, Yang, Xue, Liu, Peiliang, Johnson, Gabriel, Wen, Jun & Chang, Zhaoyang, 2016, A molecular phylogeny of Caraganeae (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) reveals insights into new generic and infrageneric delimitations, PhytoKeys 70, pp. 111-137 : 123

Caragana Fabr., Enum. Ed. 2. 421. 1763, emend. nov. L.Duan, J.Wen & Zhao Y.Chang

Calophaca Fisch. ex DC., Prod. 2: 270. 1825, syn. nov. Type: Calophaca wolgarica Fisch., Prod. 2: 270. 1825.

Halimodendron Fisch. ex DC., Prod. 2: 269. 1825, syn. nov. Type: Halimodendron halodendron (Pall.) Druce, Rep. Bot. Soc. Exch. Club Brit. Isles 4: 626. 1917.

Type.

Caragana arborescens Lam., Encycl. 1(2): 615. 1785.

Description.

Shrubs, subshrubs or rarely small trees. Stipules caducous or persistent. Leaves paripinnate, rarely imparipinnate ( Chesneya sect. Calophaca ), 4-27-foliolate; leaflet blades with margin entire. Lax raceme or fascicled flowers axillary, or flowers solitary. Calyx tubular or campanulate, base usually oblique, teeth 5. Corolla yellow, purple, pink or white; standard ovate to suborbicular, clawed or reflexed at margin; wings and keel often auriculate. Stamens diadelphous (9+1). Ovary sessile to stipitate, with ovule 1-many; style filiform. Pod inflated, compressed, cylindric or linear, dehiscent or rarely indehiscent ( Chesneya sect. Halimodendron ), with twisted or thickened valve.

Distribution and habitat.

This genus contains ca. 100 species, ranging from eastern Europe, Caucasus, western and central Asia, Sino-Himalayan region to Mongolia and Siberia.