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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.

ORNITHOPUS

Duane Isely

Annual, unarmed, ± glabrous or hairy
Stem sprawling or ascending, 2–7 dm
Leaf odd-1-pinnate; stipules small or 0; leaflets many, tips each with a small point
Inflorescence head-like, axillary, 1–5-flowered, subtended by a cluster of bracts or not
Flower: calyx lobes ± equal, < tube; corolla 6–9 mm; 9 filaments fused, 1 free
Fruit indehiscent, linear or oblong, flat or round in X -section, separating into 1-seeded segments
Species in genus: 6–7 species: Eur
Etymology: (Greek: birdfoot)

Introduced

O. sativus Brot.

Plant hairy
Leaf: leaflets ovate to lanceolate
Flower: corolla white or pink
Fruit 1–2.5 cm, oblong, straight
Ecology: Disturbed areas
Elevation: 150–200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Central Coast (Santa Cruz Co.)
Distribution outside California: native to Europe
Synonyms: O. roseus Dufour
Many collections since 1942; reportedly spreading.

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