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A taxonomic revision of the genus Calobota Eckl. & Zeyh. (Fabaceae, Crotalarieae) is presented. Sixteen species are recognised in the genus. Among these, Calobota namibensis Boatwr. & B.-E.van Wyk is described as new from southwestern Namibia. The anatomy of the leaves, stems and fruit walls was studied and revealed important characters to distinguish Calobota from other genera of the tribe Crotalarieae. These include isobilateral leaves (palisade parenchyma both adaxially and abaxially) as opposed to dorsiventral leaves (e.g. in Wiborgia Thunb. and Wiborgiella Boatwr. & B.-E.van Wyk), and thick-walled fruit with gelatinous fibres in some species. The absence of mucilage cells in the epidermis of the leaves is also an important distinguishing character for the genus with respect to Aspalathus L., Lebeckia Thunb., Rafnia Thunb., Wiborgia and Wiborgiella. Calobota differs from other closely related genera in the tribe in the following combination of characters: late bark formation, uni- or trifoliolate to simple, laminar leaves, hairy petals (C. cuspidosa (Burch.) Boatwr. & B.-E.van Wyk and C. psiloloba (E.Mey.) Boatwr. & B.-E.van Wyk are exceptions), anther configuration of 4+5+1 and laterally compressed or terete, usually pubescent pods. A detailed taxonomic study of the genus is presented here, including a key to the species, descriptions, typifications, distributions, phylogenetic relationships and illustrations.
