Acacia Mill.

Trees, shrubs or rarely herbs.  Lvs either 2-paripinnate with few to numerous paired pinnae along the rachis and each pinna with usually numerous, sessile paired pinnules, or lvs reduced to simple phyllodes; glands present on petiole and rachis;  stipules spinescent or membranous, often minute.  Infl. a cylindric spike or globose head;  spikes or heads axillary, solitary or arranged in simple or compound racemes or apparently terminal panicles;  subtending bracts small, usually triangular; subtending bracteoles small, usually linear with expanded deltate apex.  Fls small, actinomorphic, (3)–4–5-merous, usually yellow or cream;  calyx shallowly or deeply divided; petals usually free, sometimes united at base.  Stamens numerous, free, exserted;  anthers uniform, versatile.  Style filiform; stigma terminal.  Pod 2-valved, straight, curved or twisted, dehiscent or indehiscent, few- to many-seeded;  seeds with a variously folded and thickened fleshy aril.

[From:  Webb et al.  (1985) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4 as Racosperma Mart.]