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.

PICKERINGIA

Duane Isely

Species in genus: 1 sp
Etymology: (C. Pickering, Am naturalist, 1805–1875)

Native

P. montana Nutt.

Shrub, rhizomed, leafy or with flowers; thorns terminal or axillary
Stem intricately branched, 1–3 m
Leaf palmate or sometimes simple, evergreen; stipules 0; leaflets 1–3, 1–2 cm, elliptic or ovate; petiole ± 0
Inflorescence: raceme, terminal or axillary
Flower: calyx 5–7 mm, barely lobed; corolla 1.5–1.8 cm, generally purple, keel petals free; stamens 10, free
Fruit dehiscent, 3–6 cm, 4–5 mm wide, oblong; margins narrowed between seeds, often wavy
Seeds 1–8
Chromosomes: 2n=28
Ecology: Chaparral, open woodlands, washes
Elevation: generally < 1700 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast Ranges, n Sierra Nevada Foothills, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, n Channel Islands, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges
Distribution outside California: Baja California
Varieties intergrade but are geog separate.

Native

var. tomentosa (Abrams) I.M. Johnst.

Fruit abundant
Ecology: Chaparral, washes
Elevation: < 1700 m.
Bioregional distribution: San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges
Distribution outside California: Baja California
Horticultural information: TRY.