Greek kallos— beautiful, andros — stamens.

Perennial herbs or shrubs, thorns absent. Leaves bipinnate and without glands. Primary divisions of 1-few pairs; stipules small but persistent. Flower clusters axillary, solitary or paired. Flower heads of 2-10 flowers, white to pink, lilac or red. Flowers with calyx bell-shaped, corolla funnel-shaped, the tube as long as or longer than the lobes, united at the base and projecting from the flower. Fruit pod flattened, oblong to oblanceolate, curving outwards at maturity, mostly with thickened margins.

Grown in warmer districts for the large, fluffy clusters of stamens.

About 180 species from the tropics and warm-climate regions, mostly tropical America, Madagascar and India.

Seed or cuttings.

Sometimes used as fuel.

Leaf stalk without glands; stamens united to form a tube at the base; fruit valves curling back, mostly with thickened margins.

Isely (1971), Macqueen & Hernandez (1997).

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Mimosaceae. 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.