Abstract

                                The family Leguminosae (the family of the pulses, grams and beans) is of very great economic importance. It occurs both in the tropics and in the temperate regions and has a worldwide dis- tribution. The family comprises herbs, shrubs and trees. The leaves are alternate, stipulate and mostly compound. The flowers are nearly always arranged racemosely and are hermaphrodite or polygamous, irregular or regular. The fruit is a legume. The seeds are exendospermous, the cotyledons being thick and rich in food materials. They are noted for their longevity.

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