Fabaceae subfamily Papilionoideae - Legume family

Trees, shrubs, climbers or, most often, herbs. Leaves alternate, most often pinnate or pinnately 3-foliolate, less often digitately 3-foliolate, occasionally 1-foliolate, simple or digitate; pulvinus always present at the base of each leaflet, and usually present at base of petiole. Inflorescences of racemes or panicles, less often umbellate, capitate or spicate. Flowers zygomorphic, papilionaceous, with a large, often erect, adaxial petal (standard), two lateral petals (wings) parallel with each other, and two lower petals, which are often connate by their lower margins to form a keel. Sepals united at base. Petals imbricate in bud. Stamens usually 10, rarely fewer, either all fused (monadelphous) or 1 free and 9 fused (diadelphous) or rarely all free. Pods various. Seeds without areoles.

Comment: Nowadays combined with the subfamilies Caesalpinioideae and Mimosoideae into the large family FABACEAE or LEGUMINOSAE. However, as all three are extensive and distinctive groups, it is still preferred to deal with them in separate lists.

Worldwide: 313 genera and 8,100 species, cosmopolitan.

Zimbabwe: 61 cultivated genera and 96 cultivated taxa.