Australian Native Plants Society (Australia)
More detailed information on plant groups in the Fabaceae can be found in the following sections of the website:
- Australian Pea Flowers (sub-family Faboideae)
- Acacia (sub-family Mimosoideae)
Legume Family (Fabaceae)
The Fabaceae (also known as Leguminosae) is one of the largest and most diverse plant families in the world with about 19,000 species in about 750 genera. Only the Orchid family (Orchidaceae) and the Daisy family (Asteraceae) are larger. The family is named for the obsolete genus Faba and traditionally has been regarded as comprising three sub-families:
- Faboideae: The ‘pea’ flowers (eg. Dillwynia, Kennedia, Pultenaea, Swainsona)
- Caesalpinioideae: Previously family Caesalpiniaceae (eg. Senna, Cassia, Labichea)
- Mimosoideae: Previously family Mimosaceae (eg. Acacia, Parachidendron)
Recent studies indicate that a new classification comprising six sub-familes is warranted. Under this revised classification, the Mimosoideae would be included in sub-family Caesalpinioideae (see “New Subfamily Classification of the Leguminosae and Insights into Plastomes of the Mimosoid Clade“.