Also called Leguminosae, the legume family. One of the largest families of flowering plants. The traditional large family is sometimes split into three:
Fabaceae - flowers zygomorphic (with bilateral symmetry) and papilionaceous (have banner, wing, and keel petals). Banner positioned outside wings; keel petals fused. Includes most important legume crops, including beans and peas.
Caesalpiniaceae - flowers zygomorphic and may be papilionaceous. Banner positioned within wings; keel petals unfused. Includes Cercis (redbud).
Mimosaceae - flowers actinomorphic (with radial symmetry), usually borne in dense clusters and having showy stamens. Includes Acacia, Albizia, and Mimosa.
The taxonomy at dmoz.org follows this split and defines the Fabaceae narrowly - see the related links for the Caesalpiniaceae and Mimosaceae.
International project that aims to document and catalog the world's legume species diversity. Research groups in many countries are participating on a co-operative basis. www.ildis.org
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