Family Leguminosae (Fabaceae) is generally characterized by typical legume fruit and the ability to symbiotically fix nitrogen. Among the three subfamilies, Papilionoideae is the largest and possesses the lion’s share of economically important legumes including pulses and forages. Although monophyletic origin is generally considered, traces of polyphyly and paraphyly are evidenced in the subfamilies Mimosoideae and Caesalpinioideae by molecular phylogenetic studies. Development of robust cytogenetic stocks (aneuploids, polyploids, chromosomal aberrations, somaclonal variants, transformants, etc.) and novel functional genomic tools (mutants, molecular markers, DNA libraries, barcode sequences, etc.) have paved the way to legume classical and molecular breeding for high-yield, nutritional quality, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, and enhancement of its bioactive natural antioxidants.
5. ❖ This family is also known
as Papilionaceae or Fabaceae or
commonly known as pea family.
❖It is considered to be the second largest family of
dicotyledonous plants.
❖It is a terrestrial plant widely distributed in temperate
and tropical countries of the world.
❖The plants are of great economic importance.
❖They are herbs, shrubs and trees
5
6. ROOT:
• The roots are tap roots, fibrous or
tuberous.
• The outstanding feature is the presence
of roots tubercles or nodules which
harbor nitrogen fixing
bacteria (Rhizobium) inside them.
• Plants are grown to enrich the soil
with nitrogenous substances
6
Rhizobia
on Root
Hair
8. STEM:
• It is branched, smooth or glaucous,
may be erect or weak, herbaceous or
woody.
• Glaucous : grayish, bluish, or whitish
waxy coating or bloom that is easily
rubbed off
• Some are climbing with the help of leaf
tendrils. 8
10. 10
LEAF MODIFICATIONS:
❑ It is modified partly or wholly into tendril (Lathyrus, Pisum,
Vicia) leaf base may be pulvinate (swollen leaf base).
❑ In Lathyrus aphaca the entire leaf
becomes modified into a tendril;
❑ in Pisum and Lathyrus the stipules
are foliaceous and highly
developed,
❑ in Pisum and Vicia the leaflets are
modified into tendrils.
14. FLOWER:
• Flowers are complete, bracteate and pedicellate.
• They are either actinomorphic or zygomorphic.
• They are hypogynous and cyclic, Pentamerous.
15. CALYX:
• Sepals are generally 5 in number.
• They are usually gamosepalous and the odd
sepal is always anterior in position.
• Aestivation- Ascending imbricate.
16. COROLLA:
❖Petals 5, polypetalous, papilionaceous,
posterior petal outermost large – the
vexillium or standard;
❖ next two lateral ones-the wings or
alae;
❖and the two anterior and innermost
united to form a boat-shaped
structure – the keel or carina;
❖descending imbricate or vexillary
aestivation.
18. ANDROECIUM:
• There are generally 10
stamens, 9 stamens united to
form a tube around the ovary
while the tenth stamen is
free.
• They are polyandrous or
diadelphous.
19. GYNOECIUM:
• It is monocarpellary, superior
and unilocular.
• There are numerous ovules
on parietal or marginal
placentation.
24. Classification
Division : Spermatophyta
Sub division :Angiospermae
Class : Dicotyledonae
Sub class : Polypetalae
Series : Calyciflorae
Order : Rosales
Family : Leguminosae /Fabaceae
Genus : Lathyrus
33. Corolla:
Petals 5, polypetalous, papilionaceous, consisting of a
large posterior petal – the vexillum or standard, two
lateral-alae or wings and two inner fused to form a
boat shaped structure the keel or carina, vexillary
aestivation.
35. Androecium:
Stamens 10, diadelphous, nine are fused by the
lower halves of their filaments to form a tube
round the ovary and tenth posterior one free,
anthers basifixed, introrse, dithecous, enclosed
in the keel.
38. Economic Importance:
1. Food:
The fruits and seeds of Pisum sativum (H. Matar),
Cicer arietinum, (H. Chana), Cajanus cajan (H. Arhar),
Dolichos lablab (H. Sem), Vigna aconitifolius (H.
Moth), Phaseolus radiatus (H. Moong), P. mungo (H.
Urd), Lens esculenta (H. Masur), Glycine max
(Soyabean) are used as vegetable and pulse. Soya-bean
is supposed to contain very high percentage of proteins
comparable to meat.
2. Oil:
The seeds of Arachis hypogea are pressed to obtain an
oil. It is converted into vegetable ghee after
hydrogenation and largely used as substitute for pure
ghee. The oil cake is used for cattle feeding. Mungfali is
also eaten after roasting.
39. 3. Medicine:
Glycyrrhiza glabra (H. Mulathi) is used in
throat pain and cough. Physostigma
venenosum has several alkaloids and
sometimes used as an eye ointment. The fresh
juice of the leaves of Abrus precatorius (H.
Ratti) is said to remove spots of leucoderma.
Its seeds have constant weight to an
astonishing degree and traditionally used by
goldsmiths.
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (syn. Psoralea
tetragonolaea) seeds are laxative, stimulant
and produce a colourless essential oil. The
juice of Sesbania grandiflora flowers is said
to improve eye sight.
40. 4. Fibre:
Crotalaria juncea (Sunn Hemp or H-
Swun) yields fibres, which are used
for making rope, mat, coarse canvas,
sacks, nets etc. It is a blast fibre.
5. Timber:
Dalbergia sissoo (H. Shismam), D.
latifalia (Indian rose wood) yield
timber.
6. Dye:
Indigofera tinctoria yields a dye – the
indigo (H. Neel).
41. 7. Ornamental and
miscellaneous:
❑ Many plants viz., Lathyrus odoratus, Clitoria,
Sesbania, Lupinus, Genista, Robinia, etc. are
used as ornamental plants in gardens.
❑ Erythrina – (Indian Coral tree) is bird
pollinated and produces beautiful red flowers.
❑ Peru balsam and Tolu balsam are obtained
from Mysoxylon. Gum tragacinth is obtained
from Astragalus gummifer.
❑ Gum is also obtained from Butea
monosperma and Pterocarpus.
❑ Because of root nodules many plants of this
family can enrich the soil with fixed nitrogen.
❑ Hence they are often used in crop rotation.