Fabaceae
Fabaceae is the systematic name of the plant family that is commonly known as the Pea family. It consists of three subgroups: Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae and Papilionoideae (or better Faboideae). In modern systems like APG II this family Fabaceae is closely related to Quillajaceae, Polygalaceae or milkworts (including the families Diclidantheraceae, Moutabeaceae, and Xanthophyllaceae), and Surianaceae.
| Pea family | |
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| File:Sophoracassioides14.jpg | |
| Sophora cassioides | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| Family: | Fabaceae Lindl. (1836)
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| subfamilia | |
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Caesalpinioideae | |
Description
The leaves are usually alternate and compound, in the Mimosoideae and the Caesalpinioideae commonly bipinnate (e.g. Acacia, Mimosa). In many species the leaves have structures evolved to attract ants, that, being predatory, protect the plant from herbivore insects. Extrafloral nectaries -a gland secreting nectar -are common among the Mimosoideae and the Caesalpinioideae and are also found in some Faboideae (e.g. vetches Vicia sativa). Fabaceae are typically entomophilous plants (i.e. they are pollinated by insects) and the flower are usually showy to attract the pollinators.
In the Mimosoideae the flowers are radial symmetric or actinomorphic. In the Caesalpinioideae and Faboideae (see diagram) are most often zygomorphic or bilateral in simmetry.
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lupin Lupinus
Senna
- Acacia dealbata.jpg
Acacia dealbata "wattle"
- Wisteria sinensis nobackground labels.jpg
diagram of the flower
Fabaceae Media
- Gymnocladus-dioicus.jpg
The fruit of Gymnocladus dioicus
- Vicia sepium10 ies.jpg
Roots of Vicia with white root nodules visible
Cross-section through a root nodule of Vicia observed through a microscope
- Indigo plant extract sample.jpg
Indigo colorant
- Erythrina crista-galli 08 ies.jpg
The cockspur coral tree Erythrina crista-galli is one of many Fabaceae used as ornamental plants. In addition, it is the national flower of Argentina and Uruguay.
- MG 7005.jpg
Acacia baileyana (wattle)
- CalliandraEmarginata.JPG
Calliandra emarginata
Cassia leptophylla tree
Related pages
Other websites
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fabaceae. |
- List of genera Archived 2007-09-26 at the Wayback Machine