Description The Florida Fish Poison Tree is a member of the pea family (family Fabaceae) which includes trees, shrubs, herbs, and vines with compound leaves and flowers in clusters.
Flowers: 3 distinct kinds. The most common, the "pea-like flower," has a broad upper petal (banner or standard), 2 lateral petals (wings), and 2 bottom petals (keel) joined and shaped like the prow of a boat; usually has 9 stamens joined and 1 free, surrounding the ovary and hidden inside the keel. The two other kinds of flowers are those of Acacias, radially symmetrical and with conspicuous stamens, and those of Sennas, bilaterally symmetrical, but without a distinct banner and keel.
Leaves: pinnately or palmately compound; or sometimes simple by evolutionary loss of leaflets.
Fruit: 1-chambered pod that usually opens along one or two seams.This enormous family includes such products as peas, beans, soybeans, peanuts, and lentils. Alfalfa and Clover provide forage for domestic livestock, but many other species are poisonous range weeds. Exotic hardwoods and gum arabic are provided by tropical trees belonging to this family, and numerous members are cultivated as handsome ornamentals.