Observations on Seeds of the Leguminosae: Mimosoideae and Caesalpinioideae

Although largely neglected in many taxonomic studies, seeds have been found to yield valuable diagnostic characters. This is true not only at the level of genera and species (e.g. Murley 1946, 1951), but in considering the characteristics of plant families (e.g. Isely 1947, Martin 1946). In connection with an investigation of the Mimosoideae and Caesalpinioideae of the north-central states, seeds of the species under consideration were studied, and · a key based on seed characters prepared (Isely 1955). An extension of these investigations to other species and genera has resulted in the present report. Many of the observations discussed are not new. However, their association, and some of the interpretations therefrom have not previously been presented. These studies were based entirely on gross morphological examinations of the seeds. Were developmental, histological investigations carried out, they would undoubtedly yield additional and possibly more significant data