Pea family
Description
One of the largest families of flowering plants with some 700 genera of herbs, shrubs, trees and climbers (Leguminosae 1). Despite the great variety of forms, the family resolves itself, according to the structure of the flower, in three natural subfamilies, which are also considered as separate families: Caesalpiniaceae, Mimosaceae and Papilionaceae (= Fabaceae), the first two of which are tropical, the third with many temporate herbs.
The leaves are usually alternate and compound, pinnate or trifoliate, and have stipules. Many species have root nodules, containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The inflorescence is basically racemose. The flowers are regular or zygomorphic and butterfly-shaped (Papilionaceae) (Leguminosae 2), basically with 5 sepals and petals, the last ones often united. There are 10 stamens, but more in the Mimosaceae, which are sometimes fused. The ovary is superior with a single carpel. The fruit is a pod, usually several-seeded and dehiscent. The pod is very variable in form and structure, e.g. woody or fleshy.
Use
The family comprises many species of great economic importance and yields timber, fodder and food, drugs and dyes, fibres and flavourings. Especially the Papilionaceae yield a large variety of legumes like peas and beans, and oil-producing plants like groundnut and soybean.
Described species
Tamarindus indica, tamarind
Cassia angustifolia, senna, see Tamarindus indica
Cassia senna, see Tamarindus indica
Acacia senegal, gum arabic, see Tamarindus indica
Acacia mearnsi, black wattle, see Tamarindus indica
Haematoxylon campechianum, logwood, see Tamarindus indica
Parkia speciosa, petai, see Tamarindus indica
Arachis hypogaea, groundnut, peanut
Voandzeia subterranea, Bambara groundnut, see Arachis hypogaea
Glycine max, soya bean
Vicia faba, broad bean, field bean, horse bean, tick bean, Windsor bean
Canavalia ensiformis, jack bean, see Lablab niger
Canavalia gladiata, sword bean, see Lablab niger
Cicer arietinum, chick pea
Dolichos uniflorus, horse gram, see Lablab niger
Phaseolus aureus, green gram, golden gram, mung
Phaseolus mungo, black gram, see Phaseolus aureus
Phaseolus lunatus, butter bean, lima bean, sieva bean
Phaseolus vulgaris, French or kidney beans
Phaseolus coccineus, runner bean
Pisum sativum, peas
Pisum arvense, see Pisum sativum
Lens esculenta, lentil
Cajanus cajan, pigeon pea
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, cluster bean
Lablab niger, lablab, bonavist bean, hyacinth bean
Pachyrrhizus erosus, yam bean, see Lablab niger
Phaseolus aconitifolius, mat or moth bean, see Phaseolus vulgaris
Phaseolus acutifolius, tepary bean, see Phaseolus vulgaris
Phaseolus angularis, adzuki bean, see Phaseolus vulgaris
Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, Goa bean, winged bean, see Lablab niger
Vigna unguiculata, cow pea, yard-long bean
Crotalaria juncea, sann or sunn hemp
Derris elliptica, derris, tuba root
Dipteryx odorata, tonka bean
Glycyrrhiza glabra, liquorice
Trigonella foenum-graecum, fenugreek