MILLETTIA

Millettia Wight & Arnott, Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient. 263. 1834; Wie & Pedley, Fl. China @ eFloras.org 10: 176; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 52.

Trees, shrubs or lianas. Stipules present, persistent or caducous. Leaves imparipinnate; stipels present or absent. Leaflets opposite or subalternate. Inflorescence a terminal raceme or panicle, rachis with solitary or 2-5 flowers in a fascicle per node. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, 5-merous, perigynous; bracts and bracteoles present, early caducous. Calyx 5, fused, tube broad, shortly 5-toothed; adaxial 2 teeth +/- connate. Corolla 5, papilionaceous; vexillum large, with or without basal calluses. Stamens 10 (9+1), vexillary stamen free in bud sometimes and becoming adherent to other 9 when mature. Monocarpellary, ovary linear, unilocular with many ovules, placentation marginal; style straight or inflexed. Legumes 2-valved, flat, sometimes cylindric or inflated only around seeds, tardily dehiscent, not winged or with 2 wings perpendicular to abaxial or both sutures. Seeds 1 to several per legume, lenticular or globose; funicle fleshy, swelling at adaxial side, surrounding and clasping hilum as a short ring like aril.

180 species

Millettia peguensis

Millettia peguensis Ali, Kew Bull. 21(3): 489. 1968; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 52; keralaplants.in; M. ovalifolia Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 42(2): 68. 1873.

Small deciduous tree, 6-8 m tall. Leaves alternate, 15-25 cm long, imparipinnate, 5-9 leaflets, opposite, 3-7 cm long, light green when young, ovate to ovate-elliptical, obtuse, acute to shortly acuminate, entire, base truncate or round; petiolules ca. 4-6 mm long, pubescent. Stipules small, caducous; stipels absent. Inflorescence drooping racemes, 5-25 cm long, flowers solitary or in fascicles of 2-5 per node; bracts and bracteoles small, early caducous; pedicels 3-7 mm long. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, 5-merous, perigynous, 7-9 mm long, mauve to dark pink coloured. Calyx 2-2.5 x ca. 3 mm, cupulate, reddish purple, teeth 5, inconspicuous. Corolla dark pink to mauve coloured; vexillum 7-9 mm long, glabrous, auriculate; wings and keel small. Stamens 10, diadelphous (9+1), vexillary stamen free. Ovary linear, pubescent, ovules many, placentation marginal. Legumes 5-9 cm long, ca. 1.5 cm broad, linear-oblong, flat, glabrous, dehiscent. Seeds 2-3.

Flowering and Fruiting: February to May
Common Names: Moulmein Rosewood, Jewels on a string, Mitoshika