This is an identification key to genera for seeds and fruits of the legume family. The coverage is world wide, and for each genus there are descriptions of the seeds and fruits, distribution data, and images. The interactive software system INTKEY is used for accessing the data and images. The key can be used for identifying to genus unknown legume samples or for querying the data and images for legume genera, and is designed for seed analysts, technicians, port inspectors, weed scientists, ecologists, botanists, and researchers who need to identify isolated legume fruits and seeds.

Quick links for advanced users: Use Internet Identification System Download INTKEY installation file Download database and images (zip file) View tutorial

A series of printed publications (Gunn, 1981a, 1981b, 1983, 1984, 1991; Kirkbride et al., 2004) have culminated in this electronic publication which contains the following:

• 685 accepted legume genera with accepted scientific name and author(s) for each genus. No synonyms are given; for synonyms, refer to Polhill and Raven (1981), Gunn et al. (1992), and Mabberley (1997).
• The classification follows Polhill (1994a, 1994b), and has been modified according to recently published findings. The following is recorded for each genus: phylogenetic number, according to Polhill (1994b); subfamily; tribe; subtribe, when used; group, when used; number of species; and number of species examined to collect data for this database.
• 157 fruit characters and 128 seed characters for each genus. Unless indicated, these are original observations.
• 205 character and 1,379 generic images. When adequate materials were available, fruit and seed photographs and/or drawings, testa SEMs at 50 and 1,000 magnifications, and embryo and cotyledon drawings are given. The character images, whenever possible, were prepared from the generic images. For some characters, schematic drawings are presented.
• Native distribution of each genus
• Pertinent notes for each genus and tribe concerning their classification and fruits and seeds.
• Complete bibliography.

The data can be used in two ways: over the Internet or locally on your PC.

1. Internet. After utilizing the data, you may save it to your hard disk.

Use the Internet Identification System

To use the Internet Identification System, you must be using a PC running Windows 95/NT or later, and have installed the program INTKEY.

Download the latest INTKEY installation file

The INTKEY installation file download will create the executable file, "intk32.exe", on your hard drive and will occupy 2.09 MB of storage space. Save the file in any folder, and run it to install INTKEY. The "intk32.exe" file may then be deleted from your hard drive.

2. Local. The data, images, and descriptions can be downloaded together as a 114.6 MB self-extracting zip file, Fabaceae.exe.

Download Zip File

After the file is on your hard disk, execute the file to decompress the database and images. To access the data, images, and descriptions, start the INTKEY software program of CSIRO. In the first window, 'Select data set', browse to the directory in which the data is stored, pick the file 'intkey.ink', and 'Open' the data set.

Tutorial

A short tutorial provides the following information:

• Screen layout and toolbars of INTKEY
• How to perform simple identifications and data queries
• INTKEY's advanced mode and operating system and hardware requirements
• Contacts for the database and INTKEY software

References

Dallwitz, M.J. 1980. A general system for coding taxonomic descriptions. Taxon 29:41-46.

Dallwitz, M.J., Paine, T.A., and Zurcher, E.J. 1992 onwards. The DELTA System. URL: http://delta-intkey.com/

Dallwitz, M.J., Paine, T.A., and Zurcher, E.J. 1999a. User's Guide to the DELTA System: A General System for Processing Taxonomic Descriptions, ed. 4.10. CSIRO Division of Entomology. Canberra, Australia. URL: http://delta-intkey.com/www/programs.htm

Dallwitz, M.J., Paine, T.A., and Zurcher, E.J. 1999b. User's Guide to INTKEY: A Program for Interactive Identification and Information Retrieval, ed. 1.07. CSIRO Division of Entomology. Canberra, Australia. URL: http://delta-intkey.com/www/programs.htm

Gunn, C.R. 1981a. Seed topography in the Fabaceae. Seed Sci. Techn. 9:737-757.

Gunn, C.R. 1981b. Seeds of Leguminosae. In R.M. Polhill, and P.H. Raven, eds., Advances in Legume Systematics, v. 2, pt. 2, pp. 913-925. Int. Legume Conf., Proc. 1978, Kew, England. Minis. Agric., Fisheries and Food. Richmond, England.

Gunn, C.R. 1983. A nomenclator of legume (Fabaceae) genera. U.S.D.A. Tech. Bull. 1680, 224 pp. Washington, DC.

Gunn, C.R. 1984. Fruits and seeds of genera in the subfamily Mimosoideae (Fabaceae). U.S.D.A. Tech. Bull. 1681, 194 pp. Washington, DC.

Gunn, C.R. 1991. Fruits and seeds of genera in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae (Fabaceae). U.S.D.A. Tech. Bull. 1755, 408 pp. Washington, DC.

Gunn, C.R., Wiersema, J.H., Kirkbride, J.H. Jr., and Ritchie, C.A. 1992. Families and genera of spermatophytes recognized by the Agricultural Research Service. U.S.D.A. Tech. Bull. 1796, 500 pp. Washington, DC.

Kirkbride, J.H., Jr., Gunn, C.R., and Weitzman, A.L. 2004. Fruits and seeds of genera in the subfamily Faboideae (Fabaceae). U.S.D.A. Tech. Bull. [in press]. Washington, DC.

Mabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant-Book, ed. 2. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, England.

Polhill, R.M. 1994a. Classification of the Leguminosae. pp. xxxv-xlviii. In F.A. Bisby, J. Buckingham, and J.B. Harborne, eds., Phytochemical Dictionary of the Leguminosae. Chapman & Hall. London, England.

Polhill, R.M. 1994b. Complete synopsis of legume genera. pp. xlix-lvii. In F.A. Bisby, J. Buckingham, and J.B. Harborne, eds., Phytochemical Dictionary of the Leguminosae. Chapman & Hall. London, England.

Polhill, R.M., and Raven, P.H., eds. 1981. Advances in Legume Systematics, v. 1, pt. 1, pp. 1-425. Int. Legume Conf., Proc. 1978, Kew, England. Minis. Agric., Fisheries and Food. Richmond, England.

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Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory
Questions about web site: Erin McCray
Page last updated 17 April 2006