– PEA OR BEAN FAMILY : herbs, less often vines, shrubs and trees, some with spines Stem: Root: Leaves: alternate, usually compound (rarely simple) – most often pinnately but sometimes palmately (or 3’s) divided, toothed or not; stipules present, sometimes becoming spines; swelling (pulvinus) often at base Flowers: mostly perfect; irregular (zygomorphic) ‘pea-like’ flowers often in dense heads, sometimes regular (actinomorphic); 4-5 , often tube-like; 5 (rarely 1 or none) – often the 2 lower ones join to form the keel, the 2 to the side the wings, and the upper one is termed the banner or standard and external to the others and usually larger; 5-10 to many stamens, often fused; ovary mostly superior,1 pistil, 1 carpel, 2 to numerous ovules Fruit: legume; a dry pod, 1-chambered, opening along 2 seams or sutures Other: very large family; common foodstuffs such as peas, soybeans, beans, lentils, and peanuts; as well as hay – clover and alfalfa; some are poisonous; many are ornamentals. Dicotyledons Group Genera: 725+ genera; locally, too many genera to list

WARNING – family descriptions are only a layman’s guide and should not be used as definitive Flower Morphology in the Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family)

General Plan (many exceptions) – 5 petals (upper banner or standard , 2 wing petals (often fused), and 2 keel petals (often fused))

Ground Nut Hoary Tick-Trefoil

Wild Lupine

Spurred Butterfly Pea

False Indigo

Hairy Vetch Red Clover Crownvetch FABACEAE – PEA OR BEAN FAMILY

Catclaw Acacia; Acacia greggii A. Gray Mimosa [Acacia; Silk Tree]; Albizia julibrissin Durazz. (Introduced) Leadplant; Amorpha canescens Pursh [Desert] False Indigo; Amorpha fruticosa L. American Hog-Peanut; Amphicarpaea bracteata (L.) Fern. Ground Nut; Apios americana Medik. Groundplum Milkvetch; Astragalus crassicarpus Nutt. var. crassicarpus Groundplum Milkvetch; Astragalus crassicarpus Nutt. var. trichocalyx (Nutt.) Barneby (A. mexicanus) Woolly Locoweed; Astragalus mollissimus Torr. [Largeleaf] White Wild Indigo; Baptisia alba (L.) Vent. var. macrophylla (Larisey) Isely Blue Wild [False] Indigo; Baptisia australis (L.) R. Br. var. minor (Lehm.) Fernald Longbract Wild Indigo; Baptisia bracteata Muhl. ex Elliot var. leucophaea (Nutt.) Kartesz & Gandhi Yellow Wild Indigo [Horseflyweed]; Baptisia tinctoria (L.) R. Br. ex Ait. f. Spurred Butterfly Pea; Centrosema virginianum (L.) Benth. [Eastern] Redbud; Cercis canadensis L. var. canadensis Partridge-Pea; Chamaecrista fasciculata (Michx.) Greene [Cassia fasciculata] Sensitive Plant [Partridge Pea]; Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench [Kentucky] Yellowwood; Cladrastis kentukea (Dum.-Cours.) Rudd Atlantic Pigeonwings [Butterfly Pea]; Clitoria mariana L. [Purple] Crownvetch [Axseed]; Coronilla varia L. [Introduced] White Prairie Clover; Dalea candida Michx. ex Willd. var. Candida Purple Prairie Clover; Dalea purpurea Vent. var. purpurea Royal Poinciana [Flame Tree]; Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf. [Illinois Bundleflower] Prairie Mimosa [False Sensitive Plant]; Desmanthus illinoensis (Michx.) MacM. Ex B.L. Robins. & Fern. FABACEAE – PEA OR BEAN FAMILY

Canada [Showy] Tick-Trefoil; canadense (L.) DC. Hoary Tick-Trefoil; Desmodium canescens (L.) DC. Pointed-Leaved Tick-Trefoil; Desmodium glutinosum (Muhl. ex Willd.) Wood Illinois Tick-Trefoil; Desmodium illinoense A. Gray Smooth Tick-Trefoil; Desmodium laevigatum (Nutt.) DC. Naked-Flower [Bare-Stemmed] Tick-Trefoil; Desmodium nudiflorum (L.) DC. Panicledleaf Tick-Trefoil; Desmodium paniculatum (L.) DC. Fewflower Tick-Trefoil; Desmodium pauciflorum (Nutt.) DC. Prostrate [Round-Leaved] Tick-Trefoil; Desmodium rotundifolium DC. Sessileleaf Tick-Trefoil; Desmodium sessilifolium (Torr.) Torr. & A. Gray Red Cardinal [Coral or Cherokee Bean]; Erythrina herbacea L. Water Locust; aquatica Marsh. ; Gleditsia triacanthos L. Soybean; Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Introduced) Kentucky Coffeetree; Gymnocladus dioicus (L.) K. Koch Korean Clover; stipulacea (Maxim.) Makino (Introduced) Japanese Clover; (Thunb.) Schindl. (Introduced) Catclaw Acacia USDA Acacia greggii A. Gray Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Clarke County, Nevada Notes: sm to lg shrub to small tree; flowers yellow (sometimes cream-colored) with many stamens, a spike; leaves bipinnate, leaflets gray-green; bark somewhat rough; twigs with curved spines; fruit a pod, usually twisted; common desert plant; spring to fall (ID tentative) [V Max Brown, 2014] Mimosa [Acacia; Silk Tree] USDA Albizia julibrissin Durazz. (Introduced) Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Sam A. Baker State Park, Wayne County, Missouri Notes: shrub to small tree; pink-white flowers in spikes, red stamens exceed sepals and petals and colors the flower; leaves bipinnate, 10-30+ leaflets; bark smooth and spotted; twigs ridged; buds very small and stalked; fruit a long and wide pod; (escapee) [V Max Brown, 2006] Leadplant USDA Amorpha canescens Pursh Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area, Christian County, Missouri Notes: shrub (usually less than 60-80 cm), flowers in spikes (racemes), dark purple, yellow stamens protruding; pinnate leaf, with very short petiole, up to 20-25 leaflets, small, rounded; whole plant gray hairy; spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2010] [Desert] False Indigo USDA Amorpha fruticosa L. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: shrub; flowers in spikes (racemes), dark purple; pinnate leaf, with petiole, leaflets small, (locust-like); seeds in a small pod with blister-like dots; usually found along flood plains; several varieties; spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2006] American Hog-Peanut USDA Amphicarpaea bracteata (L.) Fern. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Pokagon State Park, Steuben County, Indiana Notes: vine; 5-petaled flower, narrow, blue to purplish or white, a second set of flowers near the base produce fleshy pods; leaves compound, terminal leaflet with longer petiole, leaves ovate and sharp-pointed; stem hairy; plant variable; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2006] Ground Nut USDA Apios americana Medik. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Pokagon State Park, Steuben County, Indiana Notes: vine; 5-petaled flower, brown to purple, in clusters; 5-7 (odd) leaflets, entire, sharp-pointed; often around water; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2006] Groundplum Milkvetch USDA Astragalus crassicarpus Nutt. var. crassicarpus Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Rocky Barrens Conservation Area, Greene County, Missouri Notes: 5-petaled flower, light blue to lilac or lavender, in raceme, sepals with soft appressed hairs; leaves compound, 10-20 pairs of leaflets, hairy, large entire stipules; stem with fine, whitish appressed hairs; fruit fleshy (plum-like); low of glades and prairies; spring [V Max Brown, 2010] Groundplum Milkvetch USDA Astragalus crassicarpus Nutt. var. trichocalyx (Nutt.) Barneby (A. mexicanus) Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area, Christian County, Missouri Notes: 5-petaled flower, cream colored in raceme, with a blue tip on the keel petals, sepals with dense soft hairs; leaves compound, 10-20 pairs of leaflets, hairy, large entire stipules; fruit mostly round with a ridge or crest, smooth (plum-like); spring to early summer [V Max Brown, 2010] Woolly Locoweed USDA Astragalus mollissimus Torr. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Near Quartz Mountain State Park, Greer County, Oklahoma Notes: 5-petaled flower, pinkish-purple (to reddish or yellowish), banner narrow and prominent, in raceme, sepals hairy; leaves compound, 15-30+ pairs of leaflets, mostly small and elliptical to ovate, very hairy, large triangular stipules; stem densely hairy; fruit a curved pod; a low hairy plant; spring to early summer [V Max Brown, 2011] [Largeleaf] White Wild USDA Indigo Baptisia alba (L.) Vent. var. macrophylla (Larisey) Isely Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Taum Sauk Moutain State Park, Iron County, Missouri Notes: 5-petaled flower, white, glabrous (may be tinged with blue), in long terminal raceme; leaves compound, 3 leaflets, entire, stipules small; stem glabrous and glaucous; fruit a pod; plant large, erect and often much branched; spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2010] Blue Wild [False] Indigo USDA Baptisia australis (L.) R. Br. var. minor (Lehm.) Fernald Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area, Christian County, Missouri Notes: 5-petaled flower, deep blue to purple, glabrous; leaves compound, 3 leaflets, entire, petioles nearly absent, leaflets broad and blunt, large stipules persisting; stem glabrous; fruit with beak; plant often much branched; spring [V Max Brown, 2010] Longbract Wild Indigo USDA Baptisia bracteata Muhl. ex Elliot var. leucophaea (Nutt.) Kartesz & Gandhi Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Winona Area, Shannon County, Missouri Notes: 5-petaled flower, white to cream colored in raceme, large bract subtends long pedicles; leaves compound, 3 leaflets with 2 large stipules, entire, petioles nearly absent; fruit an inflated pod with long beak; late spring to early summer [V Max Brown, 2009] Yellow Wild Indigo USDA [Horseflyweed] Baptisia tinctoria (L.) R. Br. ex Ait. f. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 5-petaled flower, deep bright yellow; leaves compound, 3 leaflets, entire, petioles nearly absent, leaflets broad and blunt; plant often much branched; summer [V Max Brown, 2005] Spurred Butterfly Pea USDA Centrosema virginianum (L.) Benth. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Tybee island, Georgia Notes: vine; 5-petaled flower, blue, flower is reversed with keel up and banner down, keel spurred; leaves compound, alternate, 3 leaflets, slightly ovate to mainly lanceolate; southern species; summer [V Max Brown, 2006] Eastern Redbud [Judas- USDA Tree] Cercis canadensis L. var. canadensis Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: shrub to small tree; pink ‘pea-like’ flower (rarely white) that crowd twigs, flowers before leaves; leaf simple, cordate, pointed, entire, long petiole; trunk sometimes ‘knotty’; buds small, somewhat round with scales; fruit a pod; spring [V Max Brown, 2004] Partridge-Pea USDA Chamaecrista fasciculata (Michx.) Greene [Cassia fasciculata] Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 5-petaled flower, yellow, of unequal size with lower petal somewhat larger, some with red at base, large; leaves pinnate, leaflets in 10- 15+ pairs; fruit a pod; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2004] Sensitive Plant [Partridge Pea] USDA Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Shawnee State Park, Scioto County, Ohio Notes: 5-petaled flower, small, yellow, lower 2x longer than others, 5 stamens, solitary or in small clusters in leaf axils, stalked; leaflets small, somewhat sensitive to touch, stipules present, petiole gland stalked; stem somewhat hairy; fruit a pod; summer to fall (subspecies nictitans) [V Max Brown, 2007] [Kentucky] Yellowwood USDA Cladrastis kentukea (Dum.-Cours.) Rudd Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Sam A. Baker State Park, Madison County, Missouri Notes: tree; flowers white; leaves once-compound with 7-11 mostly alternate leaflets, entire, sometimes silky; bark smooth and grayish, often with white stripes; wood yellow; twigs brown; buds brownish and hairy; fruit a pod (pea-like); often an ornamental [V Max Brown, 2006] Atlantic Pigeonwings USDA [Butterfly Pea] Clitoria mariana L. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas Notes: vine; 5-petaled large flower, pale blue to lilac, standard veined with dark purple and white spot, flower is reversed with keel up and banner down; leaves compound, alternate, 3 leaflets, slightly elliptical to somewhat ovate; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2006] [Purple] Crownvetch USDA [Axseed] Coronilla varia L. [Introduced] Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 5-petaled flower, pink and white, in an umbel; leaves 1-pinnate, leaflets 11-25 (odd); sometimes planted for groundcover, common; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2004] White Prairie Clover USDA Dalea candida Michx. ex Willd. var. Candida Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Alley Springs, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Shannon County, Missouri Notes: 5-petaled flower, white, tube and bracts mostly glabrous, flowers in very dense spikes, spike at least twice as long as wide; leaves 1-pinnate, 5-9 linear to narrowly ovate leaflets; stem finely pubescent to glabrous; late spring to fall [V Max Brown, 2009] Purple Prairie Clover USDA Dalea purpurea Vent. var. purpurea Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) State Hwy 17 at Jacks Fork River bridge, Howell County, Missouri Notes: 5-petaled flower, light purple to pink (sometimes white), bracts and outer calyx hairy, in very dense spikes; leaves 1-pinnate, 3-7 linear leaflets; stems finely pubescent to glabrous; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2008] Royal Poinciana USDA [Flame Tree] Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins Park, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico Notes: shrub to small tree; 5-petaled orange- scarlet flowers in spikes; leaves bipinnate, 20- 40 primary leaflets with 10-20 secondary leaflets per leaflet; bark fairly smooth; fruit a very long (up 60+ cm) and wide pod; evergreen but may loose its leaves in dry Center (variegated seasons colored petal) missing [V Max Brown, 2011] in this photo [Illinois Bundleflower] Prairie USDA Mimosa [False Sensitive Plant] Desmanthus illinoensis (Michx.) MacM. ex B.L. Robins. & Fern. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Ash Flat area, Sharp County, Arkansas Notes: flowers in spherical head, white to greenish-white, 5 stamens; leaves pinnate, 15-30+ paired leaflets, sensitive but only moderately so; fruit developing curved pods of seeds; shrubby plant; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2007] Canada [Showy] Tick-Trefoil USDA Desmodium canadense (L.) DC. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 5-petaled flower, showy, pink to purple; leaves compound, 3 leaflets, stalked; tall plant, branched, stems hairy; pods 3-5 divided – loments convex above and concave below; hairy and sticky; summer to early fall V Max Brown, 2004] Hoary Tick-Trefoil USDA Desmodium canescens (L.) DC. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 5-petaled flower, large, pink; compound leaves (3), leaf petioles long, somewhat ovate; stem very densely long and soft pubescent, much branched, stipules large and obvious; fruit pods with 4-6 loments, convex above and somewhat angled below; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2005] Pointed-Leaved USDA Tick-Trefoil Desmodium glutinosum (Muhl. ex Willd.) Wood Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 5-petaled flower, purple to white, on raceme; compound leaves (3), leaflets wide ovate and long pointed, whorled (often 6) toward base of plant, petioles long; fruit pods with 2-3 loments (see shape below): summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2005] Illinois Tick-Trefoil USDA Desmodium illinoense A. Gray Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Taberville Prairie Conservation Area, St. Clair County, Missouri Notes: 5-petaled flower, showy, pink to purple to white, bracts with ciliate margins; leaves compound, 3 leaflets, sticky, stalked, lower surface with strong net-veining; stems densely hairy, glandular, usually unbranched; pods 3-5+ divided, loments rounded above and below; prairies especially; summer to early fall V Max Brown, 2010] Smooth Tick-Trefoil USDA Desmodium laevigatum (Nutt.) DC. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Alley Springs, Ozark National Riverways, Shannon County, Missouri Notes: showy pink to purple flowers on a raceme; leaves compound (3), long petioles, mostly smooth and pale beneath, firm and stiff; small stipules present; fruit pod loments straight above and somewhat angled; late summer to fall (ID tentative) [V Max Brown, 2006] Naked-Flower [Bare- USDA Stemmed] Tick-Trefoil Desmodium nudiflorum (L.) DC. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Pokagon State Park, Steuben County, Indiana Notes: 5-petaled flower, pink to purple (rarely white), flowers on long raceme (usually bare of leaves); leaves on shorter stalk branching from base; compound leaves (3), leaflets ovate; fruit pods with loments of 2-4 segments (note shape below); late summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2006] Panicledleaf Tick-Trefoil USDA Desmodium paniculatum (L.) DC. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Pokagon State Park, Steuben County, Indiana Notes: 5-petaled flower, pink to pinkish-white, flowers on raceme; leaves with petiole of 1 cm+, compound leaves (3), leaflets narrowly elliptical, usually 4X+ longer than wide; fruit pods with loments of 2-5 segments – convex above and rounded to triangular below) late summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2008] Fewflower Tick-Trefoil USDA Desmodium pauciflorum (Nutt.) DC. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Big Springs, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Carter County, Missouri Notes: 5-petaled flower, small (up to 6-7 mm), white, keel and wings spread, flowers on raceme; leaves ovate with wide base, center leaflet on long stalk; fruit pods with loments of 1-3 segments (note shape in photo); woods, plant sometimes forms colonies; late summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2011] Prostrate [Round-Leaved] Tick-Trefoil USDA Desmodium rotundifolium DC. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Lake Charles State Park, Lawrence County, Arkansas Notes: 5-petaled flower, pink to purple to red; leaves with petiole of 2+ cm, compound (3’s), leaflets more or less rounded; stem and petiole with long hairs; fruit pods with loments of 3-7 segments – convex above and usually rounded below; plant prostrate; usually in woods; late summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2008] Sessileleaf Tick-Trefoil USDA Desmodium sessilifolium (Torr.) Torr. & A. Gray Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) La Petite Gemme Prairie CA, Polk County, Missouri Notes: 5-petaled flower, white to pinkish- white, flowers on terminal raceme; leaves with petiole of 3 mm or less to sessile, leaflets narrowly elliptical, hairy, usually 4-8x+ longer than wide; stem short hairy, stipules present; fruit pods with loments rounded and hairy; prairies and open areas; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2010] Red Cardinal [Coral USDA or Cherokee Bean] Erythrina herbacea L. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Cedar Key, Levy County, Florida Notes: deciduous shrub; 5-petaled flower, scarlet red (corolla folded), in terminal spike or raceme; leaves alternate, compound (3 leaflets of somewhat deltoid shape with sharp tip); stem with stipules of spines, woody but dies back in very cold weather; seeds black and poisonous in long black pods; spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2012] Water Locust USDA Gleditsia aquatica Marsh. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Big Cane Conservation Area, Butler County, Missouri Notes: tree; dioecious to sometimes perfect, flowers greenish- white and in clusters; leaves pinnate, 5-12 pairs of leaflets, sessile; bark with groves and flat scales, abundant simple to compound spines; fruit pods somewhat oval and flattened, usually 1 seed but may have 2 or 3; bottomland and swamp forests, spring [V Max Brown, 2011] Honey Locust [Sweet-, Thorny- USDA Locust] Gleditsia triacanthos L. Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: tree; flowers small and greenish; leaves pinnate or bipinnate compound leaves, leaflets paired and sessile, petiole hairy; bark smooth but scaly and fissured with age, may or may not have stout thorns (often 3+ branched); buds somewhat hidden by leaf scars; fruit pods large and twisted, a sweet pulp surrounds the seeds [V Max Brown, 2005] Soybean USDA Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Introduced) Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Western Christian County, Missouri Notes: 5-petaled flower, white to pale purple, on axillary racemes or clusters (rarely terminal), flower stalk up to 4 mm; leaves alternate, compound leaves (3), petioles up to 1.5 cm, stipules are small stipels (small stipule-like pieces of tissue) at leaflet base; fruit pods with mostly 2-3 seeds; plant erect to 60+ cm, finely to densely hairy on nearly all parts: summer (a cultivated crop) [V Max Brown, 2014] Kentucky Coffeetree USDA Gymnocladus dioicus (L.) K. Koch Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Bell County, Kentucky Notes: tree; flowers small and greenish white, in clusters, male and female on separate trees; leaves very large, twice pinnate compound leaves, leaflets paired, short petiolate, ovate, entire; bark gray to brown, grooved, ridges curl on one side; twigs reddish brown, whitish coating in winter, pith orange, pores numerous; buds very small; fruit a large pod with several seeds; spring [V Max Brown, 2008] Korean Clover USDA Kummerowia stipulacea (Maxim.) Makino (Introduced) Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Shawnee State Park, Scioto County, Ohio Notes: 5-petaled flower, pink to purple (some white areas), small, on short peduncle from leaf axil; leaves on short petiole, compound (3), leaflets somewhat ovate, stipules lanceolate to lanceolate ovate, persistent and scabrous (rough); stem with appressed hairs (upward); sprawling to prostate plant; open woods and road margins; late summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2009] Japanese Clover USDA Kummerowia striata (Thunb.) Schindl. (Introduced) Fabaceae (Pea or Bean Family) Adams Lake State Park, Adams County, Ohio Notes: 5-petaled flower, pink to purple (some white areas), small, on short peduncle from leaf axil; leaves on short petiole, compound (3), leaflets somewhat ovate, stipules lanceolate to lanceolate ovate, persistent and scabrous (rough); stem with appressed hairs (downward); erect to sprawling to prostrate plant; usually on clay soils; late summer to early fall (ID tentative) [V Max Brown, 2009]