Legumes

ThelegumesThey are a vast group of dicotyledonous plants, cultivated or wild, which have the distinctive characteristic of forming as a fruit a sheath, inside which the seeds are housed. At maturity, this fruit opens longitudinally into two leaflets to allow the dispersion of seeds, although there are species with almost indehiscent fruits.

ThepodsIn some cases, they are eaten whole, as happens with beans; and other times the seeds from its interior to consume as grains (beans, soybeans, lentils, chickpeas, peas, peanuts); other legumes typically serve as fodder, to feed livestock, such as alfalfa or clover. The latter are also good honey species that attract bees.

The legume trees They are mainly distributed in tropical regions, where they can reach large sizes. Tipas, ceibos and white carob trees, for example, are legumes, in some cases their wood is used.

We findmore than 700 genera and almost 20,000 species in the world.

The legumes have the peculiarity of forming special structures in their roots called nodules. These are the result of the interaction between these plants and bacteria that are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen, by establishing a symbiosis with plants.

They are for this reason species that help soil fertility, since this nitrogen eventually gets into the soil. This is why many pastures include legume species. The flowers Many legumes are striking in terms of shape and colors, such as the broom, with intense yellow or the ceibo, with its red flowers.

A very special legume plant is commonly called sensitive mimosa, embarrassing Or simply mimosa. Its scientific name is Mimosa pudica. This legume has the particularity of respond to the stimulus of touch, since its leaves and twigs bend quickly when touched.

It is believed that this is done as a defense mechanism, in order to simulate being withered and thus be unattractive to insects and other predatory organisms.

The following list shows examples of plant species belonging to the legumes: