Fabaceae
A large family of plants that includes beans, peas, lentils, and many other plants with seed pods.
What is it?
Fabaceae, also called the legume family, is one of the largest plant families. It has about 19,000 species. These plants have flowers that look like butterflies and produce fruits called pods. The Senna plant you saw is a member of this family. Many Fabaceae plants are important for food, like soybeans, peanuts, and clover. Luffa, however, is not in Fabaceae; it belongs to the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae).
Why it matters
Fabaceae plants are important for people and the environment. They provide protein-rich food. They also help the soil by adding nitrogen, which makes other plants grow better.
Where you've seen it
This list grows as you capture more Fabaceae plants.
