Consider the following plants: 1. Groundnut 2. Horse-gram 3. Soybean How many of the above belong to the pea family?
Explanation
All three plants—Groundnut, Horse-gram, and Soybean—belong to the pea family, scientifically known as Leguminosae or Fabaceae. This family is characterized by plants that produce legumes (pods containing seeds). Here's a breakdown of each:
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea):
* Groundnut, also known as peanut, belongs to the Leguminosae family. It produces peanuts, which grow underground in pods, typical of legumes.
* It is part of the subfamily Faboideae, a major division within the pea family.
Horse-gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum):
* Horse-gram is another plant in the Leguminosae family. It is commonly cultivated in tropical regions and is known for its high protein content and use in animal feed and food.
* It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae as well.
Soybean (Glycine max):
* Soybean, one of the most important leguminous crops, also belongs to the Leguminosae family. It is widely grown for its edible beans and oil extraction.
* Soybean is part of the subfamily Faboideae too.
All three plants are legumes, characterized by their pod-like fruit and ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in their root nodules.