Agricultural Leguminosae

All species in this family have legumes or pods: this is the fruit of the plant, formed from a carpel that encloses the seeds. Once mature, the pod opens along the back and front sutures, releasing the seeds.

Another common feature of many leguminosae is the presence of a certain bacterium, Rhizobium leguminosarum, on its root, which can fix atmospheric nitrogen. Their presence is essential for the sustainability of agro-ecosystems. This property is used in agriculture for herbaceous crop rotation, thus fertilising the soil.