ABSTRACT
Legumes, or beans, are members of a family of ¡owering plants known as Fabaceae (Leguminosae). It is the third largest family of ¡owering plants, with approximately 650 genera and nearly 20,000 species (Doyle 1994). Legume species range from large tropical trees to small herbs found in temperate areas, humid tropics, arid zones, mountains, prairies, and lowlands. The legume family consists of three subfamilies including the Papilionoideae, Caesalpinioideae, and Mimosoideae, which are identi’ed based on their ¡ower characteristics. The Papilionoideae consists of about 476 genera and 14,000 species, and Caesalpinioideae contains 162 genera and about 3,000 species, and Mimosoideae consists of 77 genera and approximately 3,000 species (Doyle and Luckow 2003).
