FABACEAE FAMILY

Fabaceae or Leguminosae is a large and economically important family of flowering

plants which is commonly known as the legume family, pea family, bean family or pulse family.
The name 'Fabaceae' comes from the defunct genus Faba, now included into Vicia. Leguminosae
is an older name still considered valid2, and refers to the typical fruit of these plants, which are
called legumes.

Fabaceae is the third largest family of flowering plants behind Orchidaceae and
Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species, according to the Royal Botanical Gardens.
The largest genera are Astragalus with more than 2,000 species, Acacia with more than 900
species, and Indigofera with around 700 species. Other large genera include Crotalaria with 600
species and Mimosa with 500 species. Vigna genus also comes under Leguminosae family and
has got many traditional usages.

Distribution

Cosmopolitan family, absent only from Antarctica especially North America, Europe, Northwest
Asia. Many genera are extremely widespread, while others are endemic to single countries. The
family has diversified in most major land biomes from arid to wet tropical, grassland and coastal.

Ecology

This plant usually lives in prairies, mountain meadows or rocky slopes. They can lives in high-
elevation alpine zone on unstable talus or scree slopes, and ridges with a mostly southerly or
westerly aspect; confined to gravelly to sandy soils rich in limestone. Associated vegetation is
usually sparse, but may include juniper, white sagebrush, onion, spreading phlox, locoweed,
Davidson’s penstemon, and littleleaf pussy-toes. On steep slopes this species is probably
subjected to sliding and downhill creep. There is probably considerate frost heaving of soils,
which may keep other species from establishing, thereby reducing competition. Climate and
elevation range for this plant is 800-3120 m.

Characteristic features:

1. Herbs, vines, trees, and shrubs with usually alternate, stipulate, pinnately to palmately
compound leaves (sometimes unifoliolate or simple).
2. High nitrogen metabolism w/ unusual amino acids, often with root nodules with N-fixing
bacteria; leaf and leaflet pulvinuses well-developed.
3. Leaves
The leaves are stipulate, nearly always alternate, and range from trifoliate (with three
leaflets), pinnately compound (feather formed) or palmately compound (the leaflets radiating
from a common point). The leaves of a few species are simple or reduced to scales.
 Leaves alternate, pinnately, compound, 7-15 leaflets, linear or narrowly lanceolate, 1-3
cm long, 3-6 mm wide, often hairy on both surfaces. Inflorescence is a narrow raceme,
elongating towards maturity to about 15 cm.
4. Flowers
Flowers white or yellowish white, 6-10 mm long, keel purplish, shorter than wings,
which are notched. The flowers are slightly to strongly perigynous, zygomorphic, and
commonly in racemes, spikes, or heads. The perianth commonly consists of a calyx and
corolla of 5 segments each. The petals are overlapping (imbricate) in bud with the posterior
petal (called the banner or flag) outermost (i.e., exterior) in position. The petals are basically
distinct except for variable connation of the two lowermost ones called the keel petals. The
lateral petals are often called the wings. The androecium most commonly consists of 10
stamens in two groups (i.e., they are diadelphous with 9 stamens in one bundle and the 10th
stamen more or less distinct). The pistil is simple, comprising a single style and stigma, and a
superior ovary with one locule containing 2-many marginal ovules.
5. Fruit
A legume, though sometimes modified. Endosperm often lacking. 15-25 cm long, flat,
hairless, long stalked.
6. Stems
Perennial herb with stems 10-40 cm tall, soft-haired from woody, yellow rootstock.
7. Root
Many Fabaceae host bacteria in their roots within structures called root nodules. These
bacteria, known as rhizobia, have the ability to take nitrogen gas (N2) out of the air and
convert it to a form of nitrogen that is usable to the host plant ( NO3− or NH3 ). This process
is called nitrogen fixation. The legume, acting as a host, and rhizobia, acting as a provider of
usable nitrate, form a symbiotic relationship.

Some of Fabaceae Family

1. Pisum sativum L (Pea)

2. Arachis hypogaea (Peanut)

3. Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Peacock Flower)

4. Archidendron pauciflorum (Jengkol)

 5. Caesalpinia sappan L

6. Medicago sativa (Alfalfa)

References

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