What are leguminous plants?

Leguminous plants belong to the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae). The fruits of this plant are called legumes. Leguminous plants are those plants which have fruits in the forms of Pods.

Well-known examples of legumes include alfalfa, clover, peas, beans, lentils, lupins, mesquite, carob, soy, and peanuts.

Legume plants are notable for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. This ability in them is due a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with bacteria (rhizobia) found in root nodules of these plants. These plants are used in a crop rotation to replenish soil nitrogen.