Xiphotheca

Xiphotheca is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the sub family Faboideae. The name of the genus is a compound of Ancient Greek ξίφος (ksíphos), which means "sword", and θήκη (thēkē) which can mean "box" or "sheath"—a reference to the shape of the legume pods. Members of this genus can be distinguished by:

Contents

• Species
• Section Congestae
• Section Xiphotheca
• References

"(1) the presence of bracteoles in most species; (2) the fusion of the bracts with the base of the pedicel; (3) the laterally compressed pods; and (4) the accumulation of anabasine as a major alkaloid."