FAMILY FABACEAE ( LEGUMINOSAE)

Systematic position
Class : Dicotyledons
Subclass: Polypetalae
Series: Calyciflorae
Order: Rosales

Third largest family among angiosperms.

590-690 genera ; 12,000- 17,000 species
Bentham & Hooker – Order – Leguminosae
suborder – Papiloinoideae
- Caesalpiniodieae
- Mimosoideae
These are considered presently as subfamilies – Papilionaceae
Caesalpiniaceae
Mimoseae
These are further having tribes as next categorization.
Diagnostic features of the family Fabaceae:
•Cosmopolitan in distribution
• habitat varies from xerophytes, mesophytes & hydrophytes
• Include plants with root nodules (Symbiotic association with nitrogen
fixing bacteria) , & so these plants are rich in nitrogen content.
• Agriculturally, important – used as nitrogen fertilizers
• Economically useful as many used as pulses, vegetables, oil seeds, dye
sources, timber etc.
• Plant characters many common in three subfamilies
• Leaves alternate, pulvinate, stipulate/ exstipulate, simple/ compound
(pulvinus – swelling at the leaf base of rachis)
•Racemose inflorescence
• Flowers bisexual, pentamerous & perigynous
• Androecium diplostemonous, or with
adelphy various types
• monocarpellary unilocular gynoecium
with marginal placentation
•Fruit legume/ lomentum
 SUBFAMILY - PAPILIONACEAE
Systematic position:
Class : Dicotyledons
Subclass: Polypetalae
Series: Calyciflorae
Order: Rosales
Family: Fabaceae
Representatives – 375 genera, 9900 species
Distribution: Tropical & Temperate
Habit: Herbs, Shrubs, Trees
Herb – Tephrosia
Shrub – Cajanus
Tree- Dalbergia, Pongamia, Pterocarpus
Twiner – Clitoria
Tendril climber – Lathyrus, Pisum
Near ponds (aquatic)
– Aeschynomene aspera
Xerophyes – Ulex, Cystissus
Climbing shrub – Abrus
Lianas - Rhynchosia
Roots:- Tap root system with root nodules having rhizobium ( symbiotic)

Leaves: simple/ compound imparipinnate, alternate, stipulate,

pulvinate, petiolate.
Simple leaf – crotalaria juncea
Compound leaf – C. pallida
Simple trifoliate –
Trifolium repense
Bifoliate – Zornia gibbosa
Leaf variously modified as
tendrils
Lathyrus entire leaf lamina-
Tendril
In Pisum – terminal leaflets
-Tendril
Stipules- foilaceous – Lathyrus & Pisum
Leaves kodified to spines – Ulex europeaus ( seedling leaf trifoliate)
Desmodium leaf show turgor movements
Inflorescence :- Racemose axillary/ terminal
Dalbergia – panicle

Flower:- Bisexual, strongly zygomorphic, perigynous

pentamerous, cyclic, bracteate, bracteoloate with
papilionaceous corolla.

Calyx:- Sepals 5, gamosepalous, irregular with

valvate aestivation. Odd sepal anterior in position.
Bilabiate in Aeschynomene aspera

Corolla:- Petals 5, polypetalous, irregular with

Descendingly imbricate aestivation, and
Papilionacoeus corolla. Odd petal posterior ,large
Single (standard/ vexillum), 2 median petals
(wing/ alae), 2 anterior pair petals (keel/ carina).
Keel petals united (boat shaped)and enclose
the essential organs
Androecium:- stamens 10, monadelphous/ diadelphous. The filaments
are free at apex and bear anthers.In diadelphous, the free stamen is
posterior in position.
In abrus, posterior stamen is absent.
In aeschynomene, 2 bundles of 5 stamens each.
Anthers bithecous, dorsifixed
Sophora – all 10 stamens are free
Gynoecium:- short stalked, Monocarpellary,
half inferior half superior, unilocular with marginal
placentation. Style terminal & capitate stigma.
ovules reduced to (2-4 Arachis)
Fruit:- legume
Lomentum – Desmodium12
Geocarpic pod- arachis
Seed:- few – many, single seeded in Dalbergia
& Pterocarpus. Seeds known as pulses,
cotyledons fleshy, edible Rich in proteins,
nonendospermous
Economic importance:
• Vigna radiata/ Phaseolus aureus (Green gram) – seeds edible
• Vigna mungo/ P. mungo ( Black gram) – seeds edible
• P. biflorus/ Macrotyloma uniflorum (Horse gram) – edible seed
• Cicer arietinum (Bengal gram/ chick pea) – edible seeds
• Pisum sativum (Garden pea) – edible seeds
• Arachis hypogea (groundnut) – seeds edible, oil extracted from seeds
•Canavalia ensiformis (Sword beans/ Jack beans) –edible fruit
• Cyamposis tetragonoloba (Cluster beans) – edible fruit
• Sesbania grandiflora (Humming bird tree) –
ornamental, flowers edible
• Dolichos lablab (Hyacinth bean)- fruits edible
• Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea/ red gram)– edible seeds
•Vigna unguiculata ( cow pea) – fruits & leaf edible
• Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet pea)- Ornamental
• Trigonella foenum-graceum (fenugreek) – seeds as
spice & used for diabetics treatment, leaves edible
• Indigofera tinctoria (Indigo) – dye “indigo” obtained
from leaves
• Myroxylon balsamum (Tolu balsam) sap exudate medicine. , cough,
bronchitis, swollen airways, and cancer. applied directly to the skin to
treat bedsores, cracked nipples, cracked lips, and minor skin cuts.
• Glycirrhiza glabra (Liquorice)- medicinal an extract of the root as a
sweetening & flavoring agent,herbal remedy for gastritis and upper
respiratory tract infections , cough syrups with licorice extract.
•Dalbergia latifolia ( Rose wood) – Timber, furniture making
•Mucuna pruriens (Cowhage)– medicinal (herbal drug used for the
management of male infertility, nervous disorders, and also as an
aphrodisiac.)
• Pterocarpus marsupium (Indian Kino)– Timber, leaves for fracture,
gastric disorders
• P. santalinus (red sandal wood)– Medicinal, used in cosmetic industry
•Desmodium gyrans (indian telegraph plant)
• Clitoria ternatea – dye from flowers
• Crotalaria juncea (sun hemp) – cortical fibres fro rope, floor mats
• Butea monosperma (Flame of the forest) – timber, yellow dye from
flowers, host for lac insect, leaves fodder for elephants.
• Aeschynomene aspera – light wood, usd for making toys
• Erythrina variegata (indian coral plant) – ornamental
•Pongamia pinnata / Milletia pinnata (indian beech tree) – seeds for skin
diseases
• Tephrosia purpurea (wild indigo) - weed
• Glyricidia sepium (Mexican lilac)– hedges
•Arachis pintoi (Pinto Peanut) -ornamental
Diagnostic features:
•Plants with simple/ pinnately compound leaves
• leaf pulvinate, stipulate with entire margins
• Inflorescence racemose type
• Flower bisexual, strongly zygomorphic, perigynous, pentamerous,
cyclic, dichlamydeous and complete.
• Calyx 5, gamosepalous with valavte aestivation, odd sepal anterior in
position
• Corolla 5, polypetalous, papilionaceous with descendingly imbricate
aestivation
• Androecium with 10 stamens, monadelphous/ diadelpous with
bithecous anthers
• Gynoecium monocarpellary, unilocular half inferior half superior with
ovules on marginal placentation.
• Gynophore present.
• Style terminal & stigma capitate
• fruit legume
 SUBFAMILY – CAESALPINIACEAE
Systematic Position:
Class: Dicotyledons
Subclass: Polypetalae
Series: Calyciflorae
Order: Rosales
Family: Fabaceae
Representatives: 160 genera & 2000 species
Distribution: Tropical & subtropical
Habit: herb, shrubs, trees
herb – Cassia tora
Shrub – Caesalpinia, Bauhinia
Tree- Tamarindus
Climber – Caesalpinia sepiaria
Lianas – Bauhinia vahlii
Xerophyte - Parkinsonia
Leaves: large, pinnately/ bipinnnately compund, pulvinate, stipulate,
alternate
Bilobed leaf – Bauhinia
Stipules – spiny (parkinsonia), Leafy (Delonix), auriculate( Cassia
auriculata)
Parkinsonia – main rachis modified to spine, sec. rachis form phyllodes
Inflorescence:- Axillary/ terminal, corymb.
Corymbose panicle- Saraca

Flower: - coloured, bisexual, medianly

zygomorphic, dichlamydeous, cyclic,
pentamerous, peigynous,bracteate, bracteolate.
Zygomorphy due to size reduction of posterior
odd petal.

Calyx:- Sepals 5, polysepalous mostly,

sometimes gamosepalous, with imbricate
aestivation.
Sepals 4 – Tamarindus (2 posterior sepals fused,
so only 4 sepals)
Sepals – tube like, coloured as corolla absent
(Saraca)
Sepals petalloid & spathulate (Caesalpinia)
Valvate aestivation – Delonix
Corolla:- Petals 4 -5, Polypetalous, with ascendingly
imbricate aestivation., clawed petals
Saraca, Hardwickia - petals absent (apetalous)
Tamarindus – anterior laterals absent (3 petals seen)
Androecium:- 10 stamens, free, 2 whorls 5 +5
(diplostemonous), long coloured filaments, anthers
basifixed & bithecous
Fused & diadelphous (Amherstia)
Fused & monadelphous (Tamarindus)
Number of stamens show suppression- Cassia tora
out of 10 stamens, 4 posterior ones staminodes,
remaining 6 – here 2 long, 2 median, 2 small stamens
Tamarindus- stamens 7-8, only 3 fertile.
Gynoecium:- Monocarpellary, unilocular, half inferior half superior ovary
with one or more ovules on marginal placentation, ovary with stalk at
base (gynophore), style terminal and stigma capitate.

Fruit:- Legume. Tamarindus- Pod

Samara - Pterlobium

Seed:- exalbuminous
Diagnostic Features:
Shrubs or trees
Leaves pinnately or bipinnately compound , Pulvinate, stipulate
Inflorescence Corymb
Flower Bisexual, medianly zygomorphis, Perigynous, cyclic,
pentamerous, bracreate, bracteolate & complete
Calyx 5, polysepalous with imbricate aestivation
Corolla 5, polypetalous, clawed with asendingly imbricate aestivation
Androecium 10, free with long coloured filaments, bithecous & basifixed
anthers
Gynoecium monocarpellary, superior, unilocular with ovules on marginal
placentation
Style terminal & stigma capitate
Fruit is a legume
Seed nonendospermous.
Economic importance:-
* Caesalpinina pulcherrima (Peacock flower)– ornamental,
Antimicrobial, Antiviral, Antitumorous, Abortifacient, Antiulcer and Anti-
inflammatory activity.
*Tamarindus indica (Tamarind)– fruit edible, wound healing, abdominal
pain, diarrhea, dysentery, parasitic infestation, fever, malaria and
respiratory problems.
*Cassia tora/ Senna tora - natural pesticide, pet food industry, seeds
and leaves treat skin disease, seeds as laxative.
Cassia occidentalis - plant extracts antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial,
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and
Immunosuppression activity
*C. fistula (golden shower) – ornamental, bark as tonic, antidysentric,
for skin complaints, the powder or decoction of the bark in leprosy,
jaundice, syphilis and heart diseases. The aqueous extract of the root
bark exhibits anti-inflammatory activity.
*Saraca indica (asoka tree) - gynecological problems , menstrual
disorders , as tonic, controlling spasms and abdominal pain.
*Bauhinia acuminata – leaf treat bladder stone , leprosy , asthma and
digestive diseases. plant used in traditional medicine.
*B. tomentosa –bark used for Skin Problems,cure Wounds and Ulcers. A
decoction prepared from its bark is used for gargling to treat Oral
Problems like Sore Throat.
*B. purpurea (butterfly tree) -antibacterial, antidiabetic, analgesic, anti-
inflammatory, anticancerous, nephroprotective and thyroid hormone
regulating activity.
*B. monandra – (Napoleon's plume) folk medicine for diabetes treatment
leaf extracts of sources of natural antioxidants
Haematoxylon campechianum (bloodwood tree) -astringent, anti-
inflammatory agent and to treat gastric disorders. Ornamental, haematin
from heartwood is used for producing dye haematoxylin.
Delonix regia (flamboyant / royal poinciana) -seed is carminative,
ornamental
Parkinsonia aculeata (Jerusalem thorn) - antipyretic, antimalarial,
diaphoretic and abortifacient.
Amherstia nobilis (pride of burma) –
ornamental ( loveliest tree in world)
 SUBFAMILY-MIMOSACEAE
Systematic position
Class: Dicotyledons
Subclass: Polypetalae
Series: Calyciflorae
Order: Rosales
Family: Fabaceae
Representatives: 82 genera & 3200 species
Distribution: mostly tropical, rarely temperate
Habitat: Mesophytic, xerophytic, hydrophytic
Habit: Shrubs or trees
Shrub – Acacia acinacea
Trees – Enteroloboium
Herb – Mimosa
Xerophyte – Acacia, Prosopis
Hydrophyte – neptunia
lianas - Entada
Leaves: Alternate, stipulate/ exstipulate,
pinnate/ bipinnately compund, with
entire margins.
Phyllodes (petiole) – Acacia melanoxylon,
A. auriculiformis
Stipules to spines – Acacia
A.sphaerocephala – stipular spines show
myrmecophily
Sleep movements – Mimosa , Neptunia

Inflorescence: Spike; Axillary. Head like in

Mimosa, condensed cyme -
Enterolobium
Flower: Bisexual, actinomorphic, cyclic,
dichlamydeous, hypogynous, pentamerous/
tetramerous , bracteate, ebracteolate, sessile.
Polygamous- Entada, Mimosa

Calyx: Sepals 4/5, gamosepalous , valvate

aestivation.
5 sepals, odd sepal at anterior position.

Corolla: equal to sepals, free/ fused, valvate

aestivation.
Androecium: Equal to petals – Mimosa, Double the
number of petals – Adenanthera, indefinite – Acacia,
Pitecolobium. Filaments long, coloured.
Based on stamen number, family divided to two –
Mimosa group with definite number, Acacia group
with indefinite number.
Anthers bithecous , basifixed, with longitudinal
dehiscence.
Flowers conspicuous due to the exerted coloured
filaments.
Gynoecium: Superior, Monocarpellary, unilocular , with many ovules on
marginal placentation. Style terminal & filiform, stigma capitate/
inconspicuous.

Fruit: Legume /Lomentum

Seed: Exalbuminous with straight embryo.

Diagnostic Features:
Shrubs or trees
leaves pinnately/ bipinnately compund pulvinate, stipulate with entire
margins
Inflorescence spike
Flower bisexual, actinomorphic, pentamerous/ tetramerous,
dichlamydeous, cyclic, hypogynous, bracteate, ebracteolate
Calyx 4 or 5, gamosepalous with valvate aestivation
Corolla 4/5, gamopetalous with valvate aestivation
Androecium equal / double/ infinite number, filaments long & coloured
with bithecous, basifixed & introrse anthers
gynoecium superior, monocarpellary, unilocular with ovules on
marginal placentation. Style filiform, terminal & stigma inconspicuous.
Fruit legume/ lomentum
Seeds exalbuminous.
Economic importance:
Mimosa pudica ( Touch me-not) - antibacterial, antivenom, antifertility,
aphrodisiac, treatment of urinogenital disorders, piles, dysentery, sinus,
and also applied on wounds.
Acaia auriculiformis (Ear-Pod Wattle) - A decoction of the root sore eyes;
an infusion of the bark treated rheumatism; recover wastelands.
A. Catechu (catechu)- treatment of cough, sore throat; bark - dysentery,
diarrhoea, healing wounds; seeds antibacterial action.
A.mangium (black wattle) –wood for paper, timber, furniture, firewood,
charcoal. leaves can serve as forage for livestock.
A. arabica (Indian Gum arabic) – foliage for
cattle, bark in tanning

A.Senegal (Sudan gum arabic) - Tree yields

commercial gum arabic, used extensively in
pharmaceutical preparations. Pharmaceutical
drugs and cosmetics use gum as a binder,
emulsifying agent, and a suspending or
viscosity-increasing agent.

A.decurrens (Green Wattle) - fuelwood and

charcoal , bark astringent, for diarrhea,
ornamental, prevents soil erosion.

A.Dealbata (silver wattle) –

yellow dye form flowers,
ornamental,
prevents soil erosion
Pithecolobium dulce (Manila tamarind, Madras thorn) - bark and pulp
being astringent, haemostatic , gum ailments, toothache and bleeding.

Samanea saman/ Enterolobium saman/ Albizzia lebbeck (Rain tree) –

shade tree, plant is used in the treatment of diarrhea, stomach pain,
and sore throat. It is also used as a laxative.
Adenathera pavonina (Barbados pride)-A red powder from the wood
used as antiseptic paste. ground seeds treat boils and inflammations.
decoction leaves treat gout and rheumatism. The bark to wash hair.
Prosopis spicigera (screw-bean) -in traditional medicine
leprosy, dysentery, asthma, leucoderma, dyspepsia , earache. Bark
wood, tanning, fuel, firewood and charcoal.
Neptunia oleracea (water mimosa)-Pheophorbide a and
its related compounds plant makes
this plant a promising antitumor plant.
The plant can also be used in
sewage water treatment plants.
Entada rheedii (African dream herb or snuff box sea bean) – pulp of
seed edible, dried, powderd, mixed with tobacco and chewed by
aborigins of africa. Plant as a topical ointment against jaundice,
toothache, ulcers and to treat muscular-skeletal problems.
Assignment:
Make a comparison of three subfamilies of family on
vegetative & reproductive characters.