Key - FSUS

Colors

Account

Click the number at the start of a key lead to highlight both that lead and its corresponding lead. Click again to show only the two highlighted leads. Click a third time to return to the full key with the selected leads still highlighted.

Key to Fabaceae

Copy permalink to share

https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=show-key.php&keyid=39887

1 Trees, shrubs, or woody vines; [subfamilies Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae, and Faboideae]
2 Leaves 1-3-foliolate, or leaves reduced to flattened phyllodia or phyllodial spines. Key to Fabaceae, Key A: woody legumes with all leaves 1-, 2-, or 3-foliolate, or reduced to flattened phyllodia or phyllodial spines
2 Leaves 4-many-foliolate.
3 Leaves bipinnately compound Key to Fabaceae, Key B: woody legumes (trees, shrubs, or woody vines) with bipinnately compound leaves
3 Leaves pinnately compound.
4 Leaves evenly 1-pinnate, with 1 or more lateral pairs of leaflets and 0 terminal leaflet Key to Fabaceae, Key C: woody legumes with evenly 1-pinnately compound leaves with 2 or more leaflets [subfamilies Faboideae and Caesalpinioideae]
4 Leaves oddly 1-pinnate, with a terminal leaflet Key to Fabaceae, Key D: woody legumes with oddly 1-pinnately compound leaves with 5 or more leaflets [subfamilies
1 Herbs (including herbaceous vines).
5 Leaves 4-many-foliolate.
6 Leaves palmately compound, with 4 or more leaflets; [subfamily Faboideae] Key to Fabaceae, Key E: herbaceous legumes with palmate leaves with 4 or more leaflets [subfamily Faboideae]
6 Leaves pinnately or bipinnately compound.
7 Leaves bipinnately compound Key to Fabaceae, Key F: herbaceous legumes with bipinnate leaves [subfamily Mimosoideae]
7 Leaves pinnately compound
8 Leaves evenly 1-pinnate, with 1 or more lateral pairs of leaflets and 0 terminal leaflet Key to Fabaceae, Key G: herbaceous legumes with once-pinnately, even-pinnately compound (or 'palmately' 2-foliolate) leaves with 2 or more leaflets [subfamilies Faboideae and Caesalpinioideae]
8 Leaves oddly 1-pinnate, with a terminal leaflet Key to Fabaceae, Key H: herbaceous legumes with once-pinnately, odd-pinnately compound leaves with 5 or more leaflets [subfamilies Faboideae and Caesalpinioideae]
5 Leaves 0-3-foliolate ; [subfamily Faboideae].
9 Leaves 2-foliolate Key to Fabaceae, Key G: herbaceous legumes with once-pinnately, even-pinnately compound (or 'palmately' 2-foliolate) leaves with 2 or more leaflets [subfamilies Faboideae and Caesalpinioideae]
9 Leaves 0, 1, or 3-foliolate.
10 Leaves unifoliolate, or with leaf or leaflet blades absent, replaced by a tendril (and with foliaceous stipules) Key to Fabaceae, Key I: herbaceous legumes with all leaves unifoliolate or leaflets absent [subfamily Faboideae]
10 Leaves trifoliolate (plants with some upper stem or lower stem leaves unifoliolate but with other trifoliolate leaves should be keyed here).
11 Leaves palmately 3-foliolate (the petiolules of the 3 leaflets usually of similar length (if the apparent petiolule of the terminal leaflet is slightly longer, it does not have a joint between a rachis and the petiolule of the terminal leaflet) Key to Fabaceae, Key J: herbaceous legumes with palmately trifoliolate leaves [subfamily Faboideae]
11 Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate Key to Fabaceae, Key K: herbaceous legumes with pinnately trifoliolate leaves [subfamily Faboideae]

Colors

Data mode

Account

We've finished our 2024 fundraiser. Many thanks to those who have given! It's not too late to support us (click here)...

Glossary (beta!)

Key to Fabaceae