Fabaceae (Leguminosae) s.l.
(Legume Family)
Habit
- herbs, shrubs, vines or trees
Leaves
- mostly
alternate,
pinnate or
bipinnate (rarely
simple or
palmate),
stipulate, leaflets with
basal
pulvini
Inflorescence
- mostly
axillary or
racemose
Flowers
-
perfect
Gynoecium
-
monocarpous;
ovary superior with 1-many
marginal
ovules
Diversity
- 700 genera / 18,000 spp.
Distribution
- tropics/subtropics
Fabaceae Subfamilies (or Distinct Families)
Papilionoideae (Fabaceae or Papilionaceae)
Habit
- mostly herbs
Leaves
-
pinnate or
palmate (rarely
simple)
never bipinnate
Flowers
-
irregular; usually
axillary or in
racemes
Petals
- imbricate (overlapping in bud);
upper petal usually large
(banner) outside of
lateral
(wings); 2 lower petals
connate
(keel)
Stamens
- 10, usually 1
distinct and 9
connate
(diadelphous) or all
connate
(monadelphous)
Fruit
- a
legume or
loment
Diversity
- 500 genera / 12,000 species
Distribution
- tropics and subtropics
Economics
- second only to grass family as nutritional source; important source of amino acids.....lentils, beans,
chick-peas, peas, peanuts, soybeans
Mimosoideae (Mimosaceae)
Habit
- mostly trees or shrubs
Leaves
- usually
bipinnate (rarely a
phyllode);
stipular spines common
Flowers
-
regular; usually in dense clusters or
spikes
Petals
-
valvate;
distinct or
connate
Stamens
- usually 10-many,
distinct or
connate, showy
Fruit
- a
legume
Diversity
- 56 genera / 3,000 spp.
Distribution
- tropics and subtropics
Economics
- cultivated ornamentals; fodder for cattle (eg. Prosopis, Acacia)
Caesalpinioideae (Caesalpiniaceae)
Habit
- mostly trees or shrubs
Leaves
-
pinnate or
bipinnate (rarely
simple)
Flowers
-
regular or
irregular
Petals
-
free but
imbricate with the upper
petal inside of the
laterals in bud
Stamens
- 10 or fewer,
distinct or
connate
Fruit
- a legume
Diversity
- 180 genera / 2000 species;
Distibution
- most in tropics
Economics
- cultivated ornamentals: Cercis (redbud), Caesalpinia
(bird of paradise); Cercidium (paloverde); flavoring: tamarind
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