| Resumo: |
The South American flora includes 65 genera of Caesalpinioideae (Leguminosae) with wide morphological variation. The four tribes of that subafmily are represented: 31 genera belong to the Caesalpinieae (3 of them introduced); 9 to the Cassieae; 2 to Cercideae (1 introduced), and 23 to Detarieae (2 introduced). Among the South American Caesalpinoideae, 30 genera are endemic (mainly to Brazil), the remaining ones inhabit in tropical and subtropical areas from both hemispheres. All of them grow in diverse habitats: from rainforests, evergreen or deciduous forests, to savannas, semideserts and high mountains. Tribes and genera are arranged according to Polhill & Raven (1981), only Poepiggia has been transferred from Caesalpinieae to Cassieae, and Ceratonia from Cassieae to Caesalpinieae. Both Detarieae and Caesalpinia are treated here sensu lato. Cercidium and Parkinsonia are treated as separate taxa until new biosystematic studies and combinations are made. Sclerolobium is included under the synonymy of Tachigali, and Phyllocarpus under Barnebydendron. The genus Thylacanthus is considered of doubtful introduction. Geographic range area in Argentina is expanded for of Zuccagnia punctata and Parkinsonia aculeata. Barnebydendron, Brodriguesia, Ecuadendron, Orphanodendron and Pomaria are treated jointly for the first time for South America. In addition, keys to tribes and genera, generic descriptions, updated bibliography, iconography, remarks, distribution, nomenclatural types, representative specimens, utilization and illustrations for some species are included.
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