Greek amorphos — without shape, referring to the flowers.

Shrubs. Leaves alternate, odd-pinnate with up to 45 leaflets; stipules soon shed; stipels thread-like. Flowers numerous in dense clusters. Sepals fused into a funnel shape and with 5 teeth. Petal 1, the standard, which surrounds the stamens and style. Stamen filaments 10, united at the base into a tube. Fruit glandular,1-seeded, remaining closed. Grown for the attractive foliage and dense, spike-like flower heads.

15 species from N America and Mexico.

Cuttings and division.

Petals 1, the 10 stamens protruding from the flowers.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Fabaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.