Xiphotheca

Woody shrubs or shrublets. Leaves alternate, rarely opposite, simple, narrowly elliptic to almost circular, mostly flat, sometimes with recurved margins; petiole very short; stipules inconspicuous, often lacking. Inflorescence axillary, 2-flowered, pedunculate and with the two flowers opposite, aggregated into synflorescences of up to 16 flowers; bracts linear to oblanceolate; bracteoles minute, often lacking. Calyx usually narrowed to the base; upper 2 lobes fused higher up than lower 3 lobes; carinal lobe sometimes longer than the upper 4. Corolla yellow, longer than calyx, glabrous; vexillum suborbicular to elliptic; wings oblong, longer than keel, tips imbricate; keel widely obovate, with distinct pockets, apex obtuse. Stamens diadelphous, vexillary filament free; anthers alternately dorsifixed and subbasifixed. Ovary 4- or more-ovuled; style slender, slightly upcurved, glabrous. Pod somewhat compressed, usually linear, sometimes obliquely oblong, coriaceous, densely sericeous to tomentose. Seeds 4 to many, oblong-reniform.