FABACEAE

LEGUME FAMILY

Annual to tree
Leaves generally compound, alternate, stipuled; leaflets generally entire
Inflorescence: generally raceme, spike, umbel or head; flowers sometime 1–2 in axils
Flowers generally bisexual, generally bilateral; hypanthium generally flat or cup-like; sepals generally 5, fused; petals generally 5, free, or the 2 lower ± fused; stamens 1–many, often 10 with 9 filaments at least partly fused, 1 (uppermost) free; pistil 1, ovary superior, generally 1-chambered, ovules 1–many, style, stigma 1
Fruit: legume, sometimes including a stalk-like base above receptacle, dehiscent, or indehiscent and breaking into 1-seeded segments, or indehiscent, 1-seeded, and achene-like
Seeds 1–several, often ± reniform, generally hard, smooth
Genera in family: ± 650 genera, 18,000 species: worldwide; with grasses, requisite in agriculture and most natural ecosystems. Many cultivated, most importantly Arachis , peanut; Glycine , soybean; Phaseolus , beans; Medicago ; Trifolium ; and many orns
Reference: [Polhill & Raven (eds) 1981 Advances in legume systematics; Allen & Allen 1981 Leguminosae]
Family description and key to genera by Duane Isely.

LENS

Duane Isely

Annual, unarmed
Stem erect or climbing
Leaves even-1-pinnate; stipules entire or lobed, persistent; main axis ending in a tendril or bristle; leaflets alternate or opposite
Inflorescence: raceme, axillary, 1–3-flowered near tip
Flower: calyx lobes > tube; corolla pink-white to blue; 9 filaments fused, 1 free; style puberulent on concave side near tip
Fruit dehiscent, elliptic to oblong
Species in genus: ± 5 species: Medit, adjacent regions
Etymology: (Latin: lentil)
Lentil seeds provided the concept of a biconvex "lens"-shape ("lenticular"), from which optical lenses derived their name.