The family of considerable importance as a source of high-protein food, oil and forage as ornamentals and other uses.
Food
The pulses, belonging to this family, are used as food, some important and common species of pulse yielding plants are: Gram, Pea, Bean. These pulses are rich in protein contents.
Forage of Fodder crop:
Medicago sativa Alfafa is one of the worlds best forage crop for horses, Vicia, Melilotus and Trifolium are also cultivated as main fodder crops.
Timber
Many trees of this family provide excellent timber for building, furniture and fuel. Main timber plants are Butea, Dalburgia.
Edible oil
The seeds of Arachis hypogea peanut are edible and also used for extraction of peanut oil which after hydrogenation is used as a vegetable oil.
Indigo dyes
Indigo dyes are obtained from Indigofera tinctoria and Butea monosperma, yielding yellow dye from flowers.
Medicines
Many plants of this family are important for medicines e.g., Glycyrrhiza glabra for cough and cold, Clitoria ternateaused against snake bite.
Weights
The red and white seeds of Abrus precatorious are used by jewelers as weights called "ratti".
Ornamental plants
Some important ornamental plants include Lathyrus, Lupinus, Clitoria, Butea etc.
Food
The pulses, belonging to this family, are used as food, some important and common species of pulse yielding plants are: Gram, Pea, Bean. These pulses are rich in protein contents.
Forage of Fodder crop:
Medicago sativa Alfafa is one of the worlds best forage crop for horses, Vicia, Melilotus and Trifolium are also cultivated as main fodder crops.
Timber
Many trees of this family provide excellent timber for building, furniture and fuel. Main timber plants are Butea, Dalburgia.
Edible oil
The seeds of Arachis hypogea peanut are edible and also used for extraction of peanut oil which after hydrogenation is used as a vegetable oil.
Indigo dyes
Indigo dyes are obtained from Indigofera tinctoria and Butea monosperma, yielding yellow dye from flowers.
Medicines
Many plants of this family are important for medicines e.g., Glycyrrhiza glabra for cough and cold, Clitoria ternateaused against snake bite.
Weights
The red and white seeds of Abrus precatorious are used by jewelers as weights called "ratti".
Ornamental plants
Some important ornamental plants include Lathyrus, Lupinus, Clitoria, Butea etc.