Dichrostachys cinerea flower spike and bud

The pink staminodes of Dichrostachys cinerea have paled to almost white in the older flower spike, the deeper pink only persisting at their bases.

The yellow, fertile florets below them are shorter and stacked densely, the white styles visibly exserted. On the narrow, green bud to the left, the brownish staminode (sterile stamen) beginnings are further apart already, the green floret buds trimly together. The spike stalks have a hint of velvety hair coverings.

The tiny, oblong leaflets on the bipinnate (twice compound), winter deciduous leaves are darker green than their yellowish rachises. The rachis or main leaf axis is prominent on the lower surface of the leaf (Schmidt, et al, 2002).