Mimosaceae

Mimosaceae 

a family of dicotyledonous plants (closely related to the Leguminosae, in which they are frequently grouped as the subfamily Mimosoideae). They are trees, shrubs, sometimes subshrubs, and rarely herbs. The leaves are usually bipinnate. The flowers, which are small in comparison with the flowers of Leguminosae, are regular and grow primarily in spicate or capitate inflorescences. There are usually five petals and five sepals, and there are five, ten, or many stamens. The 40 to 55 genera, which comprise about 2,500 species, grow primarily in the tropics and subtropics. In the USSR only two species grow wild, one from the genusAlbizia and one from the genus Lagonychium. Certain Mimosaceae yield valuable lumber, tanning substances, and gum arabic. The pods from lianas of the genus Entada may reach 2 m in length.

REFERENCES

Hutchinson, J. The Genera of Flowering Plants, vol. 1. Oxford, 1964.