Consists of

herbs, shrubs, trees, or

vines, with spines sometimes

present

Sometimes have a symbiotic

association with nitrogen-fixing

bacteria, which induce

formation of root nodules

Usually compound

- pinnate, bipinnate, trifoliolate, rarely

palmate

sometimes simple or unifoliolate

usually spiral

basal pulvini often present

leaflet folding responses (e.g., Mimosa

spp.)

Generally stipulate, sometimes stipellate

• Actinomorphic/

Radial

• bisexual, sometimes

unisexual

• Corolla

- typically 5

- distinct petals

-basally fused

petals (valvate in bud)

• Hypanthium

sometimes present

Variable, typically bracteate

Generally a legume

sometimes indehiscent, winged

(samara), drupe-like or divided into

transverse partitions (loment)

Longitudinal, rar

ely poricidal in

dehiscence

Unicarpellous

Superior ovary

1 (rarely 2 or more) carpel

1 locule

Style and stigma are solitary

Marginal placentation

Ovules are anatropous, bitegmic

Nectaries often present

Stamens are numerous, distinct and

basally fused

also known as Makahiya,

Sensitive plant, or

Touch-me-not

Leaves bipinnately

compound, with 1 or 2

pinnae pairs, 10-26

leaflets per pinna

Pedunculate pale pink or purple flower heads arise

from leaf axils

fruit consists of clusters of

2-8 pods, which break

into 2-5 segments and

contain pale brown

seeds

-flowers pollinated by

wind and insects

seeds have hard seed coats which restrict germination