Legumes

The Legume Section of the Herbarium has over 600,000 specimens of the nearly 18,000 species in the family.

In addition to 6 staff, several post-doctoral researchers and post-graduate students comprise a unit which undertakes a wide range of studies in the Leguminosae. These include monographic studies, floristic accounts, assessments of biodiversity and economic potential of particular groups in the family, compiling and editing databases, checklists and inventories, and activating a network of international research contacts and field programmes consolidated by periodic conferences and workshops. Research in the unit utilises ontogenetic, molecular and cladistic analytical techniques to elucidate relationships at the generic and tribal level in the family.

The work of the Legume Section is supported by specialised units within the Herbarium, including the Palynological Unit and the Economic Botany & Conservation sections, and in the Jodrell Laboratory, including the Sections of Anatomy, Biological Interactions, Cytogenetics, Molecular Systematics, Seed Physiology and the Seed Bank. Support is also available through the extensive facilities of the Living Collections Department.

The Bean Bag

The Bean Bag is a newsletter to promote communication among research scientists concerned with the systematics of the Leguminosae/Fabaceae. Editing and compiling of The Bean Bag takes place at USDA, Beltsville, Maryland, USA. Since the November 1994 issue, distribution of The Bean Bag is undertaken by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The Directory lists all current subscribers.

Recent Publications of the Unit.

Crisp M.D. & Doyle, J.J. (editors). 1995. Advances in Legume Systematics 7: Phylogeny, 384pp. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
Ferguson, I.K. & Tucker, S.C. (editors). 1994. Advances in Legume Systematics 6: Structural Botany, 259 pp. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
Herendeen, P.S. & Dilcher, D.L. (editors). 1992. Advances in Legume Systematics 4: The Fossil Record, 326pp. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Polhill, R.M. 1994. Classification of the Leguminosae. In: F.A. Bisby, J. Buckingham & J.B. Harborne (editors), Phytochemical Dictionary of the Leguminosae, 1: 35-56. Chapman & Hall, London.
Sprent, J.J. & McKey, D (editors). 1994. Advances in Legume Systematics 5: The Nitrogen Factor, 241 pp. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.

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