An Overview on Family- Papilionaceae |Botany

The below mentioned article provides an overview on Family- Papilionaceae. After reading this article you will learn about: 1. Explanation on Family- Papilionaceae 2. Economic Importance of Family Papilionaceae.

Explanation on Family- Papilionaceae:

The family Papilionaceae is the largest of the three families of the order Leguminales. This includes about 375 genera.

Distribution:

The members of the family are being distributed in the temperate regions of both northern and southern hemispheres. In our country the Papilionaceae is represented by many important genera commonly found in hills and plains. Usually the herbs belonging to this family appear and flower in winter season in the Indian plains.

Habit:

Generally the plants are herbs or shrubs (often climbing), very rarely trees. Sometimes they are hydrophytes and xerophytes. Most of the members are cultivated in the fields which yield pulses.

Root:

The root is tap, branched, bearing nodules containing nitrogen fixing bacteria (Rhizobia), and therefore, the plants are being used for green manuring.

Stem:

The stem is erect or climbing (it climbs by means of tendrils), branched, angular or cylindrical herbaceous or woody.

Leaves:

The leaves are alternate, opposite or whorled, usually compound (digitate or pinnate), rarely even pinnate, sometimes simple, stipulate, stipules occur at the base of the petiole (foliaceous and large), sometimes secondary stipules arise at the base of individual leaflets.

Inflorescence:

The inflorescence is racemose, the raceme, the spike, and the contracted raceme or head.

Flower:

The flowers are usually pedicellate, zygomorphic, irregular, hermaphrodite (bisexual), complete, perigynous and papilionaceous.

Calyx:

It consists of sepals, gamosepalous (united sepals), equal or unequal, below the disc united in a tubular calyx, 5 toothed or five lobed or bi-labiate (the two upper and three lower may unite). Aestivation ascending imbricate.

Corolla:

The corolla consists of 5 petals (unequal), the uppermost and the largest petal is known as standard or vexillum; the two free lateral petals are known as wings or alae; the anterior pair of united petals is termed keel or carnia, this encloses stamens and pistil. They are of various colours. Venation is conspicuous. Aestivation descending imbricate.

Androecium:

The stamens are usually 10, inserted on a disc below the calyx, they may be in two bundles (diadelphous) of 9 + 1 or 5 + 5, or in one bundle (monadelphous), rarely free. Anthers bi-celled, dorsifixed, dehiscence by longitudinal slits.

Gynoecium:

Carpel one, free, ovary superior, stalked or sessile, unilocular, marginal placentation, style, bent and short, hairy, stigma simple.

Fruit:

legume or pod, splitting along both dorsal and ventral sutures. In some species it is indehiscent lomentum.

Seeds:

Many, exalbuminous, usually flattened.

Pollination:

Entomophilous(insect pollinated)

Floral formula:

Some important plants have been described here in semi-technical language.

Pisum Sativum; Verna.-Matar:

Habit:

Annual herb; cultivated.

Root:

Tap, branched, with nodules containing nitrogen fixing bacteria (Rhizobium radicicola).

Stem:

Herbaceous, weak, climbing with the help of leaf tendrils, cylindrical, branched, smooth, glaucous.

Leaves:

Alternate, compound, imparipinnate, stipulate (stipules large foliaceous, ovate, semicordate, irregularly toothed at the base), leaflets 4 or 6, the common rachis ends in a branched tendril; the leaflets entire, smooth, net veined, oval to oblong, mucronate tips, green and glaucous, the terminal leaflet is always a tendril.

Inflorescence:

Racemose, flowers arranged in axillary racemes or solitary.

Flower:

Pedicellate, zygomorphic, irregular, hermaphrodite, papilionaceous, white or pink, complete, hypogynous to perigynous, bracteate or ebracteate.

Calyx:

5 sepals, gamosepalous, campanulate calyx tube, teeth long or the upper short; sepaloid, ascending imbricate aestivation.

Corolla:

5 petals, 1 standard, 2 wings, 2 keels united, keels shorter than wings and enclose the pistil and stamens; corolla papilionaceous, white or pink in colour; descending imbricate (vexillary) aestivation; inferior.

Androecium:

10 stamens in two bundles (diadelphous) of 9 + 1, nine stamens unite at the base and form a tube around ovary tenth is posterior and free; anthers bi-lobed, basifixed, introrse, dehiscence by longitudinal splitting.

Gynoecium:

Carpel one (monocarpellary); ovary superior, unilocular; marginal placentation; ovules many; style bent and long, stigma simple; terminal and hairy; ovary also hairy.

Fruit:

A legume (pod), broad.

Seeds:

Rounded, uniform, white.

Generic Characters:

Leaflets are even in number; terminal leaflet is represented by a tendril; stamens diadelphous (9 + 1); pods normal, flattened, not partitioned; style dialated from the base towards the apex, hairy on one side; calyx lobes leafy.

Arachis Hypogea; Verna-Moongfali:

Habit:

Low annual herb; usually cultivated for its beneficial fruits, used in several ways.

Root:

Tap and branched; lateral branches are fewer near the surface of earth; root hairs usually absent; bacterial nodules present.

Stem:

The central axis of the stem is erect. On the basis of the branching the plants can be subdivided into two groups (i) prostrate type, (ii) bush type. In the former, the laterals are prostrate from the very beginning, but in the latter the laterals in the beginning have a tendency towards erectness, but in later stages they also become prostrate as the former.

The stem is cylindrical, hairy, short internodes, becomes somewhat angular and hollow as it becomes older.

Leaves:

Pinnately compound, stipulate, usually the stipules are one inch long, linear and fused half of their length to the petiole; petiolate petiole long, slender, with a distinct swelling (pulvinus.); leaflets four, arranged in two opposite and equal pairs. 1 to 2 1/2 inches long, entire, obovate to obtuse, net-veined, pubescent.

Inflorescence:

Flowers arranged either solitary or in groups of three in leaf axils. Mostly the flowers develop towards the base of the plant, and sometimes buried in the soil.

Flower:

Pedicellate (small pedicels), pedicel usually hairy, zygomorphic, irregular, hypogynous, bisexual, complete, papilionaceous.

Calyx:

5 petals, gamosepalous, the sepals unite to form a calyx tube approximately one inch long; the free lobes are short and irregular.

Corolla:

5 petals, free, one standard, two wings and two keels united, united keels form a beak like structure; the corolla is inserted on the rim of the calyx tube, yellow, papilionaceous.

Androecium:

10 stamens, monadelphous, filaments fused about two-thirds of their length. Sometimes only nine stamens. Out of ten, two stamens are sterile and their filaments are fused with the filaments of the neighbouring stamens. In the remaining eight, fertile stamens four have bi-celled, elongated anthers and dehisce by longitudinal slits, while the remaining four have rounded and elongated anthers.

Gynoecium:

Carpel one (monocarpellary), ovary sessile, unilocular, marginal placentation, 1 to 5 ovules, the ovary wall is somewhat constricted between each ovule; style curved and hairy, stigma simple and terminal.

Fruit:

Oblong, large, indehiscent, ridged due to these ridges the surface of pod becomes somewhat reticulate. It contains 1 to 3 seeds, constrictions present between the seeds.

Seeds:

Elongated cylindrical or elongated and ovoid, short beaked, rounded or diagonally flattened. The embryo is covered by a thin papery, reddish seed coat.

Development of the fruit:

After the fertilization the ovary elongates and turns down towards the earth. As soon as the gynophore penetrates the ground upto 2 to 5 cm., the ovary begins to develop and swell. The position of the ovary becomes horizontal within the soil, and gradually it develops into a pod.

Generic characters:

Leaflets four, stamens monadelphous; pods short, woody, constricted between seeds, ripening and developing underground.

Floral Formula:

Phaseolus Sp:

Habit:

An annual herb; cultivated for their edible seeds and pods. It is cultivated in rainy season. Mainly grown in the tropical regions of the world.

Root:

Tap and branched. The roots possess tuburcles containing nitrogen fixing bacteria (Rhizobium radicicola) and therefore, the plants are used for green manuring.

Stem:

Erect, one to three feet high, densely pubescent somewhat angular, herbaceous, green branched.

Leaves:

Alternate, petiolate, stipulate, stipules 1/4 to 1/2 inch long attached near the base, compound (trifoliate), leaflets dark green, two to four inches long, entire, acuminate, pubescent on both the sides, net veined.

Inflorescence:

Racemose, flowers are being arranged in clustered axillary racemes.

Flower:

Short peduncled, zygomorphic, irregular, hermaphrodite, perigynous, complete, bracteates (the bracts usually small and deciduous), bracteolate (bracteoles usually conspicuous and persistent); small and yellow.

Calyx:

5 sepals, gamosepalous, campanulate; the lowest lobe usually longest, two uppermost lobes are somewhat united.

Corolla:

5 petals, it is much exerted, the keel is being spirally coiled with terminal horn-like appendage; descending imbricate aestivation.

Androecium:

9 + 1 stamens, diadelphous, anthers uniform.

Gynoecium:

One carpel (monocarpellary), ovary superior, unilocular, sessile many ovuled, marginal placentation; style hairy, filiform, twisted round with the keel; stigma oblique and terminal.

Fruit:

Legume or pod; linear rarely oblong, green, very often separate between the seeds, usually 1½ to 2 inches long.

Seeds:

Exalbuminous, with thick cotyledons, green (Phaseolus aureus-Moong) or black (P. mwngo-Urd).

Generic Characters:

Leaflets three in number; stamens diadelphous; style hairy; inflorescence racemose in clusters;calyx lobes equal to the tube; keel of corolla coiled.

Floral Formula:

Cajanus Cajan; Verna.-Arhar:

Habit:

It is an erect branched shrub 4 to 10 feet high; cultivated for edible seeds, in tropical and sub-tropical regions.

Root:

Tap, branched with bacterial nodules.

Stem:

Erect, much-branched, solid, woody, green pubescent.

Leaves:

Alternate, petiolate, compound, trifoliate (unipinnate, unijugate), gland dotted below; leaflets are lanceolate to narrow elliptical, two to four inches long, acuminate, softly pubescent on both surfaces, net veined, stipulate, the stipules are minute and caducous.

Inflorescence:

Racemose, corymbose raceme or a terminal panicle.

Flower:

Pedicellate, zygomorphic, irregular, hermaphrodite, complete, perigynous, yellow or orange in colour but brownish at the back.

Calyx:

Two upper lobes united, calyx tube campanulate, toothed or lobed, teeth short.

Corolla:

5 petals, polypetalous; the standard is large and broad, auricled; the keel is obtuse and incurved; descending imbricate aestivation; yellow or pink in colour.

Androecium:

Stamens 9 + 1, diadelphous; anthers uniform, bicelled.

Gynoecium:

Carpel one (monocarpellary), ovary superior, pubescent, unilocular, few ovuled, sessile, placentation marginal; style long; thickened, much incurved, beardless; capitate, terminal stigma.

Fruit:

Pod or legume (lomentaceous pod), many, compressed, with diagonal depressions, two or three inches long by half an inch broad, pubescent and beaked.

Seeds:

Three to five in a single pod; small sized, orbicular and compressed one edge flattened; brown coloured with a white small hilum.

Generic Characters:

Leaves gland dotted beneath, leaflets lanceolate oblong, leaflets two inches or more; pods with depressed lines between the seeds; ovules 3 to 5, seeds not strophiolate.

Floral Formula:

Crotalaria sp:

Habit:

The plants are either herbs or shrubs; cultivated for fibre (Crotalaria juncea-Indian sunn hemp-Verna-San) and seeds; some are ornamentals.

Root:

Tap and branched; nodulated, nodules contain nitrogen fixing bacteria.

Stem:

Erect, branched, cylindrical, pubescent, green, sometimes grooved.

Leaves:

Alternate, petiolate, simple or compound, if compound it is trifoliate rarely 5 to 7 foliate; digitate (usually all leaflets born at the apex of the petiole); stipulate (minute stipules); leaflets are linear or oblong, entire, shining silky hairs on both the sides; net veined.

Inflorescence:

Flowers arranged in solitary or racemose inflorescences; the flowers are being arranged in either terminal, lateral or leaf opposed racemes.

Flower:

Pedicellate (short peduncle), zygomorphic, irregular, hermaphrodite, complete, perigynous, bracteate, usually large and showy.

Calyx:

5 sepals, gamosepalous, sub-bilabiate, the upper lip bifid, the lower cordate trifid; the teeth being linear or lanceolate.

Corolla:

5 petals, polypetalous; standard usually broad and shortly clawed; the wings obovate oblong; the keel is broad and nearly equal to wing in size, petals of keel are united, incurved and beaked; papilionaceous; descending imbricate aestivation; usually yellow coloured, sometimes pink and purplish; big and showy.

Androecium:

10 stamens, monadelphous, connate, the anthers are 2-celled, dimorphous, dehiscence by longitudinal slits.

Gynoecium:

One carpel (monocarpellary), ovary superior, unilocular, many ovuled sessile; style long, strongly incurved or reflexed, somewhat bearded (hairy); the stigma is small and oblique; placentation marginal.

Fruit:

Legume or pod, globose or oblong sessile, turgid or inflated, with many loose seeds.

Seeds:

Exalbuminous, small, usually flat, different coloured.

Generic Characters:

Leaflets 3, 5 or 7; leaf simple or digitate (leaflets arranged at the apex of the petiole); inflorescence-solitary or racemose; stamens monadelphous; dimorphous; pod swollen or inflated.

Floral Formula:

Cicer Arietinum; Verna-Chana:

Habit:

Annual herb, one to two feet high, cultivated for its seeds which are used as pulses and forage.

Root:

Tap root, fairly stout, deeply penetrating the soil and carries many laterals on the upper part. The roots possess nodules containing nitrogen fixing bacteria (Rhizobium radicicola).

Stem:

Erect, much branched viscous hairy, terete herbaceous, green, solid.

Leaves:

Petiolate; compound, bipinnate, stipulate (with large ovate strongly serrate stipules); rachis one to two inches long with small toothed strongly nerved leaflets; leaflets are 9 to 16 in number and each about half an inch long, opposite or alternate with a terminal leaflet, oblong or obovate in outline.

Inflorescence:

Solitary axillary, cymose.

Flower:

Small; pedicellate (long pedicels in the leaf axils); white or pinkish in colour; zygomorphic, irregular, hermaphrodite, perigynous, complete, papilionaceous.

Calyx:

5 sepals, gamosepalous, calyx-tube oblique, teeth sub-equal lanceolate, sepaloid.

Corolla:

5 petals, polypetalous; standard broad; clawed; wings free; petals of keel united.

Androecium:

9+1 stamens, diadelphous; anthers bi-celled bursting longitudinally.

Gynoecium:

Carpel one (monocarpellary), ovary superior, sessile, 2 or more ovuled, unilocular, marginal placentation, style incurved or reflexed, glabrous, stigma capitate.

Fruit:

Pod, sessile, oblong, turgid, hairy, pointed, about three fourth an inch long, narrowed into the persistent style.

Seed:

Obovate or subglobose, reddish brown, beaked; hilum is visible.

Generic Characters:

Herbs, leaf pinnate, the terminal leaflet present, margins of leaflets serrate all-round; stamens diadelphous, style glabrous; pod turgid, conical.

Floral formula:

Melilotus sp:

Habit:

An annual herb.

Root:

Tap, branched with bacterial nodules.

Stem:

Erect, herbaceous, branched, cylindrical, solid green, glabrous.

Leaf:

Compound trifoliate, alternate, cauline, petiolate, stipulate (stipules linear), obovate, acuminate, margins serrate, mucronate apex, unicostate reticulate venation.

Inflorescence:

Racemose, typical raceme.

Flower:

Pedicellate, bracteate, minute, hermaphrodite, zygomorphic (irregular), complete, yellow, hypo or perigynous.

Calyx:

Five sepals, gamosepalous, nearly equal lobes, lanceolate, valvate aestivation, odd sepal posterior.

Corolla:

Five petals, polypetalous, yellow, one standard, two wings, two innermost used forming keel, aestivation descending imbricate.

Androecium:

Ten stamens, diadelphous, filaments of 9 stamens fused forming one bundle, tenth stamen free (9 + 1), anthers dorsified.

Gynoecium:

One carpel (monocarpellary), ovary superior, unilocular, marginal, placentation.

Fruit: A pod.

Floral Formula:

Sesbania sesban (L) Merr.; Verna Jayanti, Jait. Stem-herbaceous and woody, aerial, erect, cylindrical, branched, solid, smooth, green. Leaf-cauline, ramal, alternate, stipulate, leaf base pulvinus, compound, uniplnnate; pinna oblong, entire, mucronate, unicostate reticulate. Inflorescence-racemose, axillary raceme.

Flower-bracteolate, pedicellate, complete, zygomorphic, hermaphrodite, pentamerous, perigynous, cyclic, Calyx-5, gamosepalous, persistent, green, valvate. Corolla-5, polypetalous, vexillary, papilionaceous, yellow. Androecium-(9)+1, diadelphous, dithecous, dorsifixed, introrse. Gynoecium-monocarpellary, half-inferior, unilocular, marginal, style long, stigma capitate. Fruit-legume pod.

Floral formula:

Crotalaria medicaginea Lamk; Verna Gulabi. Stem-herbaceous, aerial erect, branched, cylindrical, solid, pubescent, green. Leaf-cauline, ramal, alternate, stipulate, palmately compound trifoliate, petiolate, leaf base pulvinus, leaflet obovate, entire, hairy. Inflorescence-racemose, raceme.

Flower-pedicellate, complete, zygomorphic, hermaphrodite, pentamerous, perigynous, cyclic. CaIyx-5, gamosepalous, green, valvate. Corolla-5, polypetalous, vexillary, papilionaceous, yellow.

Androecium-(I0), monadelphous, dithecous, dorsifixed, introrse. Gynoecium-1, monocarpellary, half inferior, unilocular, many ovules, marginal, style long, stigma capitate. Fruit-legume, pod.

Floral formula:

Economic Importance of Family Papilionaceae:

This family is of great economic value. A list of few very important plants is given below:

1. Phaseolus mungo; Eng.-black gram; Verna. Urd this is cultivated as a pulse crop in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Bengal. The seeds are rich in proteins and used as ‘dal’.

2. Phaseolus aureus: Syn. P. mungo., P. radiates; Eng.-green gram; Verna.-Mung. This is grown as pulse crop in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Bengal. The seeds are eaten as pulse. They are rich in proteins.

3. Phaseolus vulgaris; Eng.-Kidney bean; Verna.-Vilayati sem-They are cultivated throughout India. The tender pods are used as vegetable.

4. Phaseolus aconitifolius; Syn. P. trilobus; Dolichos dissectus; Eng. Moth bean; Verna.- Moth-This is a herb. It is native of India. It is grown as a pulse crop in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra the Punjab and Bengal. The seeds are rich in proteins and eaten as dal’.

5. Phaseolus lunatus-, Eng.-Lima bean; Verna.-Lobia-This is native of tropical America but now grown in Northern India. The young pods are used as vegetable and the seeds are eaten as pulse.

6. Phaseolus calcaratus; Eng.-Rice bean. This is introduced from Philippines but now cultivated in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Bengal and the Punjab. The seeds are used as a pulse.

7. Phaseolus trilobus’, Eng.-Wild gram; Verna.-Mugani-It is used as a fodder.

8. Cajanus cajan; Syn. Cajanus indicus; Eng.—Pigeon pea; Verna.-Arhar.-This is a shrub, grown chiefly in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The immature and ripe seeds are used as human food. The leaves and twigs are used as cattle fodder. The enzyme urease is obtained from it which is used for estimation of urea in blood, urine, etc. The baskets are made from thin straight branches. The plants also serve as a host for the lac insects.

9. Glycine max (Linn.) Merr.; Eng. Soybean; Verna. Bhat, Ramkurthi-Soybean makes a good food. The bean has a high oil content, and the kernel is rich in proteins. The oil can be used for cooking. Oil-cake is used as cattle feed. Soybean flour or cooked bean is very good for diabetic, patients.

10. Cicer arietinum; Eng.-Gram; Verna-Chana-This is a herb. It is native of South Europe, but now commonly grown in Uttar Pradesh, the Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. The seeds are edible. The seeds are eaten raw as well as roasted. The vegetative parts of the plant are cooked as vegetable and used as fodder.

11. Pisum sativum var. arvense; Syn. P. arvense; Eng. Garden pea; Verna-Mattar-It is native of South Europe but now cultivated in our country chiefly in the Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. The seeds and buds are eaten as vegetable. They are quite rich in proteins.

12. Lens culinaris; Syn. L. esculenta; Ervum lens’. Eng. Lentil; Verna-Masur-This is native of South West Asia but now cultivated in our country chiefly in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bengal for its edible seeds. The seeds are consumed as pulse. The leaves and stems are used as fodder.

13. Dolichos lablab; Syn. Lablab niger. Eng. Lablab; Verna-Sem-This is a twining herb. It is cultivated throughout our country. The green pods and seeds are consumed as vegetable.

14. Dolichos biflorus; Eng. Horse gram; Verna-Kulthi-This is a trailing herb. It is cultivated throughout our country as fodder crop.

15. Canavalia gladiata-, Syn. Dolichos gladiatus’, Eng.-Jack bean; Verna-Bara sem-It is cultivated throughout our country. The pods are used as vegetable. The plant is also used as green manure.

16. Lupinus albus; Eng-white lupine; Verna-Turmas-This is a herb, grown for fodder and green manure.

17. Cyamopsis tetragonoloba; Eng.-Cluster bean; Verna-Gwar-This is a herb or small shrub. It is cultivated throughout our country. The pods are eaten as vegetable and used as fodder. The seeds are the source of a gum which is used in food, paper and textile industries.

18. Melilotus alba’, Eng-White sweet clover. This is a herb. It is native of Eurasia, but now grown in Northern India. It is used as fodder.

19. Melilotus indica; Syn. M. parviflora; Eng.-Sweet clover; Verna-Banmethi, Senji-This is native of Europe and Asia but now grown in the Punjab and Uttar Pradesh as a winter fodder crop.

20. Medicago sativa’, Eng.-Alfalfa; Verna-Vilayati Gawuth-This herb is used as fodder.

21. Medicago denticulate; Eng.-Toothed, bur clover; Verna-Maina-This is a common herb and used as fodder.

22. Trifolium alexandrium; Eng.-Egyptian clover : Verna-Berseem-This is a herb grown as green manure and fodder crop.

23. Trifolium resupinatum; Eng.-Persian clover; Verna-Shaftal-It is used as green fodder.

24. Trifolium pratense; Eng-Red clover; Verna-Trepatra. This is used as fodder. A yellow dye is also extracted from the flowers.

25. Trifolium repens’, Eng.-White clover; Verna-Shaftal It is used as fodder. This is grown in the temperate Himalayas and the Nilgiris.

26. Trigonella foenum-graecum; Verna-Methi-This is a herb. It is native of South Europe, but now grown chiefly in Northern India. The leaves are used as vegetable and fodder. The seeds are used as spice and condiment. The seeds are also used medicinally as carminative and tonic.

27. Vicia faba; Faba vulgaris; Eng.-Broad bean, Verna-Bakla-This is a herb commonly grown in North Western India. It is used as fodder. The seeds are eaten as vegetable.

28. Vigna sinensis; Eng-Cowpea. Verna-Lobia, Chowli-It is cultivated throughout our country. The young pods and seeds are used as a vegetable and pulse.

29. Abrus precatorius; Verna-Geumchi, Rati-This is a climbing shrub. The seeds are used as weights by goldsmiths. They are also used as beads for necklaces.

30. Butea monosperma; Syn. B. frondosa; Eng.-Flame of the forest; Verna-Dhak, Palas, Tesu-This is a small tree. This serves as a host for the lac insect. The flowers yield a yellow dye. The leaves are used as substitute for plates chiefly on festive occasions. The ripe fruits are edible.

31. Indigofera tinctoria; Eng.-Indigo; Verna-Nil-This is a common small shrub, grown as green manure crop. The plant is of great medicinal value.

32. Arachis hypogeal; Eng.-Groundnut; Verna-Mungphali. This is a native of Brazil but now widely grown in South India, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The nuts (seeds) are used for the preparation of peanut butter. They are also eaten after roasting. The filtered refined oil is used for cooking and in making margarine. The oil cake is used as fodder. The protein obtained from groundnuts is used in the manufacture of ardil, a synthetic fibre.

33. Aeschynomene indica; Verna-Phulan-The soft wood is used for making sola hats. It is found in Kashmir, Assam, Bengal and South India.

34. Aeschynomene aspera; Eng. Sola pith; Verna-Sola-This is a tall herb, found in wet places in Bengal and South India. The soft wood is used for making sun-hats, toys, models, artificial flowers, etc. It is used in the manufacture of swimming jackets and life-belts. The leaves are edible.

35. Alhagi pseudalhagi; Syn. A. maurorum A. camelorum ; Eng.-Camel’s thorn; Verna- Jawasa-This is a spiny shrub of the deserts. It is used as camel fodder. The twigs are used in making screens.

36. Dalbergia sissoo; Verna-Shisham-it is found in the Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal and Assam. The wood is used for making furniture and carving. The pulp is used for making writing and printing papers.

37. Dalbergia latifolia; Verna-Kala Shisham-This is a tree found in Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Western Peninsula. The wood is used for cabinet work and furniture.

38. Dalbergia melanoxylon; Eng.-African black wood. It is cultivated in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Bengal. The wood is used for musical instruments, walking sticks and fancy articles.

39. Desmodium triflorum’, Verna-Kubaliya-It is grown as a soil, binder and for fodder.

40. Crotalaria juncea; Eng.-Sunn hemp; Verna-San-This is a tall shrub, cultivated throughout our country. The stem fibre is used for making ropes, cordage, mats and paper. The flowers and fruits are eaten as vegetable. The green stems and leaves make good manure.

41. Crotalaria mucronata; Syn. C. striata’, Verna-San-This is a herb used as a cover crop and green manure.

42. Crotalaria retusa’, Verna-Ghungbunian-This is cultivated all over India. A fibre is obtained from its stem bark, which is used for making canvas and cordage.

43. Crotalaria burhia’, Verna-Khip, Sis, Booi-This is a xerophytic under shrub, found in the Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The stem fibre is used for making ropes and cordage. The branches and leaves are used as fodder.

44. Lathyrus odoratus; Eng.-Sweet pea; Verna-Phul mattar-It is a native of Italy, cultivated as an ornamental.

45. Lathyrus aphaca;Verna.-Jangli matar-This is a climbing herb. It is grown in the Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. It is used as a fodder.

46. Lathyrus sativus; Verna.-Khesari-It is cultivated in the Punjab, Bihar, Baroda, Assam and Orissa. It is used as a fodder. The seeds are eaten as vegetable. The ripe seeds are source of adulteration in pulses.

47. Erythrina indica var. parcellii; Eng.-Indian coral tree. This is a small tree, grown for its beautiful flowers.

48. Erythrina blake. This is a small tree, grown for its beautiful scarlet flowers.

49. Erythrina crista-galli; Eng.-Cockspur coral tree. It is grown as an ornamental.

50. Erythrina variegata var. orientalis; Eng.-Coral tree; Verna-Pangra, Nasut-This is a tree found in the Sundarbans, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Orissa. The tender pods and seeds are eaten as vegetable. The bark fibre is used for making cordage. The flowers yield a red dye. It is cultivated as a hedge plant and also employed to support the black pepper vine.

51. Erythrina suberosa; Verna.-Panga-This is a small tree found in the Punjab and Rajasthan. A fibre is obtained from its bark which is used for cordage.

52. Clitoria ternatea-, Eng.-Butterfly pea. A twiner with beautiful blue flowers; grown in the gardens.

53. Sesbania bispinosa’ Syn. 5. Aculeate; Eng-Dhencha; Verna.-Jayanti-This is a tree. Its stem fibre is used for making ropes.

54. Sesbania cannabina; Syn. 5. aculeata var. cannabina; Verna.-Dhaincha-This is a tall herb, grown for its fibre. The fibre is used in making fishing-nets. The plant is also used as a green manure crop.

55. Sesbania grandiflora; Syn. Robinia grandiflora; Agati grandiflora’, Verna.-Basna-This is a tree. It is native of tropical Asia but now grown in Assam, Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Baroda and Tamil Nadu. The flowers, fruits and leaves are eaten as vegetable. The plant is also used as a support for the betel vine.

56. Sesbania sesban; Syn. S. aegyptiaca; Verna-Jayanti-This is a large shrub, cultivated throughout our country. The stem fibre is used for making ropes and cordage. The leaves are used as fodder.

57. Pongamia pinnata; Syn. P. glabra’, Eng.-Pongam; Verna.-Karanja-This is a tree, commonly found near banks of streams in both the Peninsulas, West Bengal and Travancore. An oil is extracted from the seeds which is used for soap making and as an illuminant. It is also used in the treatment of skin diseases and rheumatism. The leaves are used as manure. The fruits are edible.

58. Alysicarpus longifolius’, Verna-Jangli gailia-This is a herb, used as fodder.

59. Astragalus heratensis. This is a large shrub. The stem is the source of gum Katira gabina, which is used for glazing.

60. Astragalus prolixus. This is an undershrub, found in the Punjab. The stem is the source of gum tragacanth, which is used in cosmetics, calico-printing and confectionery.

61. Astragalus strobiliferus; Verna.-Garmezu-The gum obtained from the stem is used in confectionery. It is found in Kashmir.

62. Calopogonium mucunoides. This is a herb, introduced in the Western Ghats. It is used as fodder and also prevents soil erosion.

63. Castanospermum austral; Eng.-Chestnut. This is an introduced tree from Australia, the seeds are edible.

Systematic Relationships:

According to Bentham and Hooker and Engler the family Leguminosae consists of three sub-families, i.e., Mimosoideae, Caesalpinioideae and Papilionatae (Lotoideae). Many botanists have treated these sub-families as three distinct families, i.e., the Mimosaceae, the Caesalpiniaceae and the Papilionaceae.

Authors who accept them as separate families treat the trio as a single order. Hutchinson has placed these three families within the order Leguminales. The characters that distinguish one sub-family from the other are more apparent than the characters which bond them together.

Many botanists bond them together only because of conservatism and tradition. Sen (1943) has pointed out, that as regards their wood anatomy there are no clear cut lines which separate the three sub-families. He also advocated that there was no cytological data in the support or denial of the elevation of each sub-family to the rank of family.

The Mimosoideae of the three sub-families are accepted to be most primitive and the Papilionatae to be most evolved.