list of economically important members of the family Fabaceae
One of the largest angiosperm families, the pea family (Fabaceae) features a number of economically significant plants, ranging from important food crops to costly invasive species. The following is a list of some of the major plants in the family, ordered alphabetically by common name.
food crops
- adzuki bean (Vigna angularis)
- alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
- broad bean (Vicia faba)
- carob (Ceratonia siliqua)
- chickpea (Cicer arietinum)
- common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)
- green bean (P. vulgaris)
- cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)
- fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
- jícama (Pachyrhizus erosus)
- lentil (Lens culinaris)
- licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
- lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus)
- mung bean (Vigna radiata)
- pea (Pisum sativum)
- peanut (Arachis hypogaea)
- scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus)
- soybean (Glycine max)
- tamarind (Tamarindus indica)
forage and fodder
- alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
- bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
- bush clover (Lespedeza species)
- clover (Trifolium species)
- hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus)
- lupine (Lupinus species)
- silk tree (Albizia species)
- sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea)
invasive species
- acacia (Acacia species)
- bush clover (Lespedeza species)
- broom (Cytisus species)
- crown vetch (Securigera varia)
- honey locust (Gleditsia species)
- indigo (Indigofera species)
- kudzu vine (Pueraria montana)
- mesquite (Prosopis species)
- mimosa (Mimosa species)
- rosary pea (Abrus precatorius)
- sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica)
- silk tree (Albizia species)
ornamentals
- acacia (Acacia species)
- bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
- bush clover (Lespedeza species)
- broom (Cytisus species)
- carob (Ceratonia siliqua)
- golden chain (genus Laburnum)
- hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus)
- Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioica)
- kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria)
- locust (Robinia species)
- lupine (Lupinus species)
- mimosa (Mimosa species)
- pagoda tree (Styphnolobium japonicum)
- palo verde (Parkinsonia species)
- redbud (Cercis species)
- royal poinciana (Delonix regia)
- scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus)
- senna (Senna species)
- sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica)
- silk tree (Albizia species)
- sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
- tamarind (Tamarindus indica)
- wisteria (Wisteria species)
timber and wood products
- almendro (Dipteryx oleifera)
- golden chain (genus Laburnum)
- mesquite (Prosopis species)
- narra (Pterocarpus species)
- rosary pea (Abrus precatorius)
- silk tree (Albizia species)
- sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea)
- tamarind (Tamarindus indica)
Citation Information
Article Title:
list of economically important members of the family Fabaceae
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
29 June 2023
Access Date:
November 15, 2026