OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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Legumes belong to the Fabaceae plant family, previously known as Leguminosae. They are dicotyledonous, with two seed leaves. They bear pods that dehisce (split open) along both sutures, revealing from one to many seeds. Leguminous plant roots act as hosts for nodule-forming bacteria of the Rhizobium or Bradyrhizobium genera leading to fixation of atmospheric nitrogen (N2). This reduces their need for nitrogen fertilization.
| Common Name |
Latin Name |
|---|---|
| Cicer Milkvetch | Astragalus cicer L. |
| Soybean | Glycine max (L.) Merr. |
| Birdsfoot Trefoil | Lotus corniculatus L. |
| White Lupin | Lupinus albus L. |
| Alfalfa | Medicago sativa L. |
| Black Medic | Medicago lupulina L. |
| Burr Medic | Medicago polymorpha L. |
| Sweet Clover | Melilotus albus Medik |
| Sainfoin | Onobrychis vicifolia Scop. |
| Pea (Austrian Winter) | Pisum sativum L. |
| Crownvetch | Securigera Varia L. Lassen |
| Crimson Clover | Trifolium incarnatum L. |
| Alsike Clover | Trifolium hybridum L. |
| Arrowleaf Clover | Trifolium vesiculosum Savi |
| Kura (Caucasian) Clover | Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb. |
| Red Clover | Trifolium pratense L. |
| Subterranean Clover | Trifolium subterraneum L. |
| White Clover | Trifolium repens L. |
| Strawberry Clover | Trifolium fragiferum L. |
| Balansa Clover | Trifolium michelianum L. |
| Persian Clover | Trifolium resupinatum L. |
| Berseem Clover | Trifolium alexandrinum L. |
| Rose Clover | Trifolium hirtum All. |
| Gland Clover | Trifolium glanduliferum Boiss. |
| Common Vetch | Vicia sativa L. |
| Hairy Vetch | Vicia villosa Roth |
| Fababean | Vicia faba L. |
| Cowpea | Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. |