Fabaceae

In addition to trees, shrubs, and herbs, Fabaceae includes  Leguminosae, the bean or pea family. Most members of this group have flower and fruit-producing characteristics. Around 700 species are known to exist in the group. The Fabaceae is the most dominant plant in America and Africa’s dry forests. Studies have confirmed that this group is a single monophyletic family. 

Description Of Fabaceae 

Habitat of legumes ranges from giant trees to small annual herbs, most perennials. Flowers, which are short and have a cup and pistil with short stigmas, produce a fruit that is a legume after fertilisation. 

Growth Forms

• Plants that grow legumes include trees, shrubs, herbs, and even vines or vine-like plants. 
• A herb can have basal or terminal leaf clusters without being annual, biennial, or perennial. Vegetative tendrils can grow on beans. 
• These plants grow in erect forms, such as epiphytes or vines. 
• Branches or calyxes support the latter, containing leafy tendrils that encircle the support. 
• Diurnal, xerophytic, and mesophytic plants are all types of plants.

Leaves

• The leaves tend to be alternate and compound.
• The leaves, as well as the leaflets, are often wrinkled to facilitate nasty movements. The leaves of some species form tendrils (e.g., Vicia). 
• Stipules are usually leafy (like peas) or spiny (like black locusts) or not particularly noticeable. The leaf margin is usually entire or serrated occasionally. 
• The leaves as well as the leaflets are often wrinkled to facilitate nasty movements. The leaves of some species form tendrils (e.g., Vicia). 
• Some species of leaves contain structures that attract ants, thus protecting the plant from herbivorous insects (a mutualistic association).
• In some acacias, the decorated hollow stipules are inhabited by ants called domatia.

Roots

• Bacteria can be found in the nodules of many legume roots.
• These bacteria, called rhizobia, convert nitrogen from the air into a form that hosts can utilise, i.e., taking nitrogen from the air and turning it into a useful form.
• Nitrogen fixation occurs as a result. Rhizobia and legumes form a symbiotic relationship as sources of nitrate.

Flower

• Five petal-free sepals and mostly fused sepals characterise these flowers. 
• They have a short, cup-shaped pylon and are usually hermaphroditic. 
• The ovary is elongated and has a curved style and ten stamens. Their inflorescences usually last indefinitely. 
• The flowers of legumes tend to be showy (that is, they attract pollinators), and they usually look like insects (that is, insects pollinate them).

Phylogeny

• A lot of research has been conducted in legume phylogeny around the world. 
• Researchers examined the relationship between the various lineages of this family by examining morphology, DNA, chloroplast genes, and clade analysis. Legumes are monophyletic by nature.
•  Additionally, it was revealed that both the Mimosa and Papilionoidea subfamilies are monophyletic, but they are in the parallel Caesalpinioideae family. As far as relationships between major family groups are concerned, all the approaches resulted in similar results. 
• Following intensive discussions with several leguminous phylogenetic communities, the Leguminosae Phylogenetic Working Group defined six subfamilies within Leguminosae, resulting in the separation of four new Opuntioideae and the merging of Opuntioideae. 
• Subfamilies do not appear to be arranged in exact order.

Physiology and biochemistry

Cyanogenic plants are rare among the Fabaceae. Various compounds contribute to the formation of cyanogenic compounds, depending on how they form. Many cyanogenic compounds contain alkaloids. Proanthocyanidins are not the only constituents that can co-exist with delphinidin and cyanidin. Flavonoids, such as kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin, are abundant in citrus fruits.

Applications in industry

The family of plants known as the Fabaceae, also known as the Leguminosae, is among the largest and most diverse flowering plants. Members of this family are known as either beans, peas, or both. Many Fabaceae species are grown as food crops, while others are used as fibre, building materials, or biofuel. Some species are even grown as ornamentals.

Natural gum

• In their natural form, natural gums are vegetable exudates that are released when plants are damaged, such as by insects or natural or artificial cuts.
• Polysaccharides are formed of different sugars and often contain uronic acids in these exudates. These solutions are vicious and colloidal.
• A variety of species produce gum. Several of these plants are members of the Fabaceae family. 
• Various industries use them, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and textiles.
• Gum arabic is antitussive and anti-inflammatory, and it also has interesting therapeutic properties. 
• In addition to tragacanth (Astragalus gummier), gum arabic (Acacia Senegal), and guar gum (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), there are other gums of which you might be familiar.

Dyes

• Dye is produced from several species of Fabaceae. 
• This species is used to prepare the histological stain hematoxylin. The red or purple dye can also be used with the wood of the Brazilwood tree. 
• A yellow dye is produced from the reddish fruit of the Madras thorn. 
• Among the most common indigo dye plants, Indigofera tinctoria is native to Asia. 

Ornamentals

• The use of legumes as ornamental plants dates back thousands of years. 
• Known for their diversity in height, shape, foliage, and flower colour, this family is frequently used for garden design and landscaping of all sizes and types. 

Conclusion

Legumes, peas, and beans are agriculturally significant plant families, commonly known as the Fabaceae or Leguminosae family. In addition to trees, shrubs, and perennial or annual herbaceous plants, whose fruits and compounds stipulate leaves can easily be identified, this group includes trees and shrubs.