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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #107206
Title: LEGUME (FABACEAE) FRUITS AND SEEDS

Author
item Kirkbride, Joseph
item GUNN, CHARLES - BREVARD NC
item WEITZMAN, ANNA - SMITHSONIAN
item DALLWITZ, MICHAEL - CSIRO AUSTRALIA

Submitted to: CD ROM
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/29/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Seeds in the legume family that includes peas and beans are commercially important in diverse ways ranging from food and forage crops to noxious weeds. Isolated legume (Fabaceae or Leguminosae) fruits or seeds, or their fragments, frequently must be identified by seed analysts and technicians, port inspectors, weed scientists, ecologists, botanists, and other researchers. A reliable reference on the seeds of legumes is critically needed so that such seeds can be reliably identified. A CD-ROM has been developed that includes an interactive key for the identification of seeds in the 686 legume genera. Each genus is described and illustrated. In addition characters and character states are referenced with illustrations. This comprehensive account of the characteristics of seeds in the legume family provides an accurate means for their identification. The CD-ROM will be used by scientists throughout the world as well as plant regulatory and seed trade officials to prevent the introduction of noxious legume weed seeds and verify the purity of legume seed lots.

Technical Abstract: The CD-ROM contains a DELTA database for all 686 accepted genera of legumes. Each genus has 157 fruit characters, 127 seed characters, and six distribution characters recorded. In addition more than 1,375 generic images and more than 200 character images are attached to the database. When pertinent, the generic and tribal classification and fruit and seed morphology are discussed. The data are accessed via the INTKEY program of CSIRO, Australia. Identifications are conducted interactively employing characters chosen by the user, and the characters may be used in the order selected by the user. Character states may be chosen from character images facilitating the user=s understanding of the terminology. During an identification generic images may be viewed at any time. Following completion of an identification, generic images can be viewed to immediately verify the identification. Customized queries may also be performed online.