Faboideae

Faboideae, also known as Papilionoideae, is the largest and most diverse subfamily within the legume family Fabaceae (Leguminosae), encompassing approximately 503 genera and 14,000 species of mostly herbaceous to woody plants distributed worldwide across diverse habitats from tropical rainforests to temperate grasslands.^[1] These plants are distinguished by their characteristic papilionaceous (butterfly-like) flowers, featuring five petals arranged as a banner (standard), two wings, and a keel enclosing the stamens and pistil, along with a unique faboid split in the seed hilum and the common ability to form symbiotic nitrogen-fixing root nodules with rhizobial bacteria, which enhances soil fertility and supports their ecological and agricultural significance.^[1]^[2] The subfamily is phylogenetically monophyletic, positioned as a well-supported clade within Fabaceae based on comprehensive analyses of plastid matK gene sequences and other molecular data, and it includes 28 tribes such as Phaseoleae, Fabeae, and Genisteae, reflecting a complex evolutionary history dating back to the Paleogene.^[1] Morphologically, Faboideae species exhibit varied growth forms, from annual herbs to trees and climbers, with compound leaves (often pinnate), indehiscent to dehiscent legume fruits containing 1–20 seeds per pod, and seeds featuring arils in about 267 genera, a tracheid bar in subhilar tissue, and typically deflexed embryonic axes.^[2] Economically, Faboideae are vital for human use, providing major food crops like soybeans (Glycine max), common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), and peas (Pisum sativum); forage plants such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa); timber from genera like Robinia and Prosopis; and numerous ornamentals, while their nitrogen-fixing capacity underpins sustainable agriculture and ecosystem restoration.^[3] Notable diversity hotspots occur in tropical regions, where many species contribute to biodiversity and face threats from habitat loss, underscoring the subfamilys role in global ecology and conservation efforts.^[4]

Introduction and Description

Overview

Faboideae is the largest subfamily within the Fabaceae (also known as Leguminosae) family of flowering plants, encompassing approximately 503 genera and 14,000 species.^[5] This subfamily represents a significant portion of the family's overall diversity, which totals around 20,900 species across approximately 770 genera.^[6] Previously referred to as Papilionoideae, the name Faboideae is now preferred under the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, as it aligns with the type genus Faba (broad bean) for the family Fabaceae.^[7] Members of Faboideae display a broad spectrum of growth forms, ranging from herbaceous annuals and perennials to shrubs, climbing vines, and trees.^[4] A defining feature is their papilionaceous (butterfly-like) flowers, typically consisting of five petals arranged in a distinctive pattern: a large posterior standard (banner), two lateral wings, and two anterior petals fused to form a boat-shaped keel that encloses the reproductive organs.^[8] Ecologically and economically, Faboideae plays a pivotal role through its capacity for symbiotic nitrogen fixation, which improves soil fertility, and as a key provider of food crops (e.g., beans, peas, soybeans) and forage plants (e.g., alfalfa, clovers).^[9] These plants are distributed worldwide across all continents except Antarctica, thriving in diverse habitats from tropical rainforests to temperate grasslands.^[10]

Morphological Characteristics

Faboideae species exhibit diverse vegetative morphology, typically featuring alternate, compound leaves that are pinnate, imparipinnate, or trifoliolate, with leaflets ranging from simple to highly dissected forms; stipules are often present and may be gland-tipped or spine-like in some genera.^[11] Stems vary from herbaceous and erect in annuals to woody and climbing in shrubs or vines, with tendrils derived from leaf tips or stipules facilitating attachment in scandent taxa such as species in the tribe Phaseoleae.^[12] The root system is generally a branched taproot, with anatomical structures predisposed to nodulation, including cortical infection threads and meristematic zones in indeterminate nodules that elongate persistently.^[4] Flowers in Faboideae are predominantly zygomorphic and papilionoid, characterized by five petals arranged as one enlarged dorsal standard (banner), two lateral wings, and two ventral petals fused into a boat-shaped keel that encloses the stamens and pistil; the calyx is gamosepalous, and androecium consists of 10 stamens, often diadelphous (9+1).^[12] Flower colors span white, pink, purple, and yellow, with sizes varying from 2 mm in small genera like Astragalus to over 5 cm in showy taxa like Lupinus, and the gynoecium features a single carpel with marginal placentation.^[13] Inflorescences are typically racemose, including elongated racemes, condensed spikes, or umbel-like clusters, though solitary axillary flowers occur in some herbaceous species; bracts and bracteoles are often caducous.^[14] Fruits are dehiscent legumes (pods) that typically split elastically along both ventral and dorsal sutures, with shapes ranging from linear and terete to falcate, inflated, or moniliform, and lengths from 0.5 cm to over 50 cm across genera.^[2] Seeds are arranged in a single longitudinal series in most cases, numbering 1–80 per pod, with a pleurotropous hilum featuring a faboid split and often an aril (present in about 267 genera, fleshy or dry); the embryo is hypogeal with thick cotyledons and absent endosperm in many economically important taxa.^[2] Morphological variations occur across tribes, with early-diverging groups like Swartzieae displaying less specialized, nearly actinomorphic flowers resembling caesalpinioid types, while core papilionoid tribes such as Fabeae and Phaseoleae exhibit the classic keel-dominated structure; some basal lineages retain mimosoid-like radial symmetry before the evolution of zygomorphy.^[13]

Taxonomy and Classification

Historical Development

The taxonomic understanding of Faboideae, traditionally known as Papilionoideae, emerged in the early 19th century amid broader efforts to classify the Leguminosae family based on morphological traits, particularly floral structure. Augustin Pyramus de Candolle laid foundational work in his 1825 Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis, where he divided Leguminosae into three main tribes—Caesalpinieae, Mimoseae, and Papilionaceae—distinguishing the latter (encompassing modern Faboideae) by its irregular, papilionaceous flowers with a distinct keel, wings, and standard petal. This delineation emphasized ovary position and fruit characteristics, providing an initial framework for subfamily recognition that influenced subsequent botanists. De Candolle's system treated Papilionaceae as the largest group, highlighting its diversity but without detailed tribal subdivisions. George Bentham significantly advanced this classification in 1837 through his Commentationes de Leguminosarum Generibus, introducing a tribal system that formalized the division of Leguminosae into subfamilies based on flower symmetry and other reproductive features. He separated Papilionoideae as a distinct subfamily characterized by zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical) flowers, contrasting it with the actinomorphic (radially symmetrical) flowers of Caesalpinioideae and Mimosoideae. Bentham's approach grouped genera into tribes like Dalbergieae and Phaseoleae within Papilionoideae, relying on keel petal fusion and stamen arrangements to define boundaries, which resolved some inconsistencies in de Candolle's broader categories. Bentham's later contributions in the 1860s, particularly his Revision of the Leguminosae published in Genera Plantarum (co-authored with Joseph Dalton Hooker), further refined generic limits and expanded tribal groupings, such as elevating Phaseoleae and establishing Fabeae (formerly part of Vicieae). This work synthesized global collections, impacting generic boundaries by splitting oversized genera and emphasizing pod and seed traits alongside floral morphology; it remained the standard reference for over a century. In the mid-20th century, John Hutchinson's 1964 Genera of Flowering Plants (Volume 1) offered refinements by treating Papilionoideae as a cohesive evolutionary unit, adjusting tribal alliances to better reflect presumed phylogenetic progression from woody to herbaceous forms. However, pre-molecular classifications grappled with paraphyletic assemblages, notably in large genera like Astragalus, where morphological convergence obscured monophyletic boundaries and led to ongoing debates over species delimitation without genetic evidence.^[15]

Modern Classification

The modern classification of Faboideae follows the clade-based framework adopted by the Legume Phylogeny Working Group (LPWG) in 2017, which recognizes six monophyletic subfamilies within Leguminosae and affirms the monophyly of Faboideae (synonymous with Papilionoideae) as the largest, encompassing 503 genera and 13,860 species.^[16] This system prioritizes phylogenetic evidence over traditional morphological groupings, marking a shift from earlier classifications that recognized three subfamilies (Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae, and Papilionoideae).^[16] Faboideae is subdivided into 28 tribes, reflecting integrations of molecular and morphological data to resolve previously paraphyletic groups; prominent examples include the Inverted Repeat Lacking Clade (IRLC), a diverse northern temperate assemblage with over 50 genera such as Astragalus and Glycyrrhiza, as well as the pantropical Millettieae and Phaseoleae, which feature economically important genera like Phaseolus and Glycine.^[16] Classification criteria emphasize DNA sequence data from plastid genes, particularly matK for broad sampling and rbcL for deeper resolution, combined with traits like flower symmetry, pod dehiscence, and leaf structure to delineate tribal boundaries.^[16] Generic synonymy remains dynamic within Faboideae, with the type genus Faba—historically central to the family's nomenclature—now largely treated as synonymous with Vicia for the broad bean (Vicia faba), reflecting nomenclatural stability under the International Code of Nomenclature.^[16] Ongoing mergers address polyphyletic complexes, such as those surrounding Astragalus, where parts of Oxytropis have been reintegrated based on phylogenetic analyses showing shared ancestry. Post-2020 updates, coordinated through LPWG refinements and associated studies, have targeted problematic genera; for instance, phylogenomic analyses of Indigofera (tribe Indigofereae) have clarified sectional boundaries and resolved paraphyletic groups using whole-plastome data, leading to revised circumscriptions for over 700 species. These advancements continue to refine the 2017 framework, enhancing monophyly across tribes while accommodating new genomic evidence.

Phylogeny and Evolution

Evolutionary Origins

The subfamily Faboideae, the largest within Fabaceae, originated during the Paleogene period, approximately 60–50 million years ago, following the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event and amid the broader radiation of angiosperms.^[17] This diversification occurred in the wake of the mass extinction that eliminated non-avian dinosaurs around 66 million years ago, allowing legumes to occupy emergent ecological niches in recovering ecosystems, particularly in expanding tropical and subtropical forests.^[18] Molecular phylogenomic analyses indicate that the crown age of Faboideae aligns with the early Paleogene, with stem-lineage precursors possibly tracing back to the late Cretaceous in Gondwanan regions, though definitive subfamily diversification postdates the K-Pg boundary. Recent phylogenomic studies as of 2024 confirm rapid early diversification linked to polyploidy events post-K-Pg.^[17]^[18] The fossil record provides key evidence for Faboideae's early history, with the earliest Faboideae-like fruits documented from Eocene deposits in India around 50 million years ago, suggesting an initial presence in southern continental floras.^[19] More definitive macrofossils, including papilionoid-like flowers, appear slightly earlier in the late Paleocene to early Eocene of North America, dated to approximately 56 million years ago, indicating rapid post-boundary establishment.^[20] By the Oligocene, around 34–23 million years ago, Faboideae fossils become more abundant and diverse, with fruits, leaves, and woods assigned to modern genera, reflecting consolidation across hemispheres. Ancestral Faboideae likely evolved papilionoid flowers—characterized by a banner, wings, and keel—from simpler mimosoid precursors in earlier legume subfamilies, a transition evident in early Eocene fossils with specialized floral structures.^[20] This floral innovation coincided with co-evolution alongside pollinators, particularly bees, as fossilized flowers from ~56 million years ago contain pollen masses consistent with hymenopteran pollination syndromes, enhancing reproductive efficiency in diverse Paleogene habitats.^[20] Critical to Faboideae's spread was the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) around 56 million years ago, a hyperthermal event that warmed global climates by 5–8°C, expanded tropical rainforests, and facilitated biotic dispersal across land bridges and via ocean currents.^[17] In post-dinosaur landscapes, Faboideae contributed to nutrient cycling through emerging nitrogen-fixing capabilities, stabilizing soils in pioneer vegetation. The biogeographic cradle is inferred as Gondwanan, with primary centers in Africa and South America, where vicariance and subsequent migrations shaped early distributions before northern hemisphere expansions.

Phylogenetic Relationships

Faboideae occupies a derived position within the family Fabaceae, sister to Caesalpinioideae, with this pair in turn sister to Detarioideae; Cercidoideae is the sister group to all other subfamilies. As the largest subfamily, Faboideae accounts for the majority of the family's ~20,000 species.^[1] Phylogenetic analyses based on plastid matK sequences have firmly established these interfamilial relationships, highlighting Faboideae's monophyly and its role as the species-rich, papilionoid lineage characterized by zygomorphic flowers.^[21] Within Faboideae, the 50-kb inversion clade—marked by a characteristic inversion in the large single-copy region of the plastid genome—represents the dominant lineage, encompassing over 90% of genera and the bulk of species diversity.^[21] This clade bifurcates into two primary branches: one comprising dalbergioids sensu lato and genistoids sensu lato (non-IRLC groups including tribes like Genisteae with genera such as Genista and Lupinus), and the other forming the core papilionoids.^[1] The inverted repeat-lacking clade (IRLC), a well-supported subclade within the core papilionoids, dominates with approximately 70% of Faboideae species across tribes like Trifolieae (Trifolium), Fabeae (Vicia, Pisum), and Galegeae (Astragalus).^[22] Early single-gene studies, such as those using the plastid rbcL and matK loci, provided foundational resolution of these major clades but revealed conflicts at basal nodes due to limited sampling and homoplasy.^[21] Multi-gene phylogenies from the Legume Phylogeny Working Group (LPWG), incorporating plastid, nuclear, and mitochondrial data across ~90% of genera, have clarified these relationships, confirming, for instance, that Phaseoleae (including Phaseolus and Glycine) forms a sister group to the IRLC within the core papilionoids.^[1] These analyses (LPWG 2013; LPWG 2017) underscore the paraphyly of traditional groupings and have driven recircumscriptions, such as the 2020s splits within the Desmodium group of Desmodieae, where polyphyletic Desmodium species were reassigned to genera like Podocarpium and Hylodesmium based on molecular evidence.^[23]

Diversity and Distribution

Genera and Species Diversity

The subfamily Faboideae is the most species-rich group within Fabaceae, comprising approximately 503 genera and around 14,000 species (as of 2025). This accounts for the majority of the family's overall diversity, estimated at about 770 genera and 20,900 species globally. Among the genera, Astragalus is the largest, encompassing over 3,000 species of primarily herbaceous perennials adapted to arid and temperate environments. Indigofera follows as another major genus with roughly 760 species, many of which are shrubs or herbs native to tropical and subtropical regions.^[24] In contrast, Phaseolus includes about 87 species, notable for its herbaceous climbers and erect plants that include several cultivated beans.^[25] Diversity patterns in Faboideae show a predominance of herbaceous forms, estimated at around 80% of species, over woody shrubs and trees, which reflect adaptations to varied ecological pressures.^[2] Species richness is notably higher in tropical areas compared to temperate zones, though the latter host concentrations in genera like Astragalus. The inverted repeat-lacking clade (IRLC) within Faboideae contributes substantially to this diversity, representing around 4,800 species (approximately one-third of the subfamily's total) across approximately 56 genera. Key tribes in the IRLC include Galegeae, encompassing species like alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and Fabeae, which includes peas (Pisum sativum). Conservation challenges affect Faboideae, particularly endemics concentrated in global biodiversity hotspots where habitat loss poses significant risks.

Global Distribution

The Faboideae subfamily displays a near-cosmopolitan distribution across all continents except Antarctica, encompassing a wide array of habitats from tropical rainforests to temperate grasslands. Highest species diversity occurs in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly the Andes of South America and Southeast Asia, where environmental conditions favor extensive radiations of woody and herbaceous forms. This broad range reflects the subfamilys adaptability, with approximately 503 genera and around 14,000 species documented globally (as of 2025), many concentrated in the Neotropics, Africa, and Australasia.^[4]^[2] Centers of origin for basal Faboideae groups trace to the Old World, including Africa and Australia, where early-diverging tribes exhibit high endemism and phylogenetic diversity. In contrast, major New World radiations, such as in the Phaseoleae tribe, have driven diversification in the Americas, contributing to elevated species richness in Andean and Amazonian ecosystems. Biogeographic patterns vary by clade: the inverted repeat-lacking clade (IRLC), comprising around 4,800 species, dominates temperate zones of Eurasia and North America, while tropical clades like Millettieae, with nearly 1,000 species, are predominantly pantropical, spanning Africa, Asia, and the Americas.^[13]^[21]^[26] Long-distance dispersal in Faboideae has been enabled by specialized seed pods that facilitate ballistic ejection, wind transport, and animal-mediated spread, allowing colonization across oceans and continents. Human activities have further amplified this distribution through intentional introductions for agriculture and horticulture, establishing many species far beyond their native ranges. Emerging research highlights the vulnerability of these patterns to climate change, with projections indicating range shifts toward higher latitudes and elevations, potentially placing many legume species at risk of habitat loss by 2050 due to altered precipitation and temperature regimes.^[4]^[2]^[27]

Ecology and Symbiosis

Habitat Adaptations

Faboideae species exhibit remarkable habitat versatility, occupying diverse environments from arid deserts to saturated wetlands. In desert ecosystems, genera such as Prosopis thrive as phreatophytes, accessing deep groundwater through extensive root systems that enable survival in extremely dry conditions with minimal surface water availability.^[28] Conversely, Neptunia species adapt to wetland habitats via a floating growth habit, allowing them to colonize flooded areas and maintain access to oxygen in anaerobic soils.^[29] This subfamily's altitudinal distribution spans from sea level to over 4,300 meters, as seen in genera like Adesmia, facilitating occupation of montane and high-elevation zones.^[30] Key physiological and structural adaptations underpin these habitat tolerances. Drought resistance in arid-adapted species, including Prosopis, involves deep taproots that reach groundwater reserves and mechanisms to reduce transpiration, such as stomatal regulation during peak heat.^[31] Salt tolerance is prominent in coastal genera like Vigna marina, which withstands saline conditions through ion exclusion and osmotic adjustment in roots and leaves, enabling growth in salt-sprayed or brackish environments.^[32] Life history strategies vary with habitat stability, enhancing competitive fitness. Annual species predominate in disturbed soils, completing rapid reproductive cycles to exploit ephemeral resources, while perennials dominate stable habitats, investing in persistent structures for long-term resource capture.^[33] Climbing vines, common in genera like Phaseolus, employ twining growth to access sunlight in dense vegetation, mitigating light limitation in competitive understories. Responses to environmental stressors include allelopathy in species such as Teline monspessulana, where compounds inhibit neighboring plant germination and growth to reduce competition.^[34] Woody forms in fire-prone areas exhibit fire-adapted seed germination from persistent soil seed banks, promoting post-fire regeneration, as seen in species like Acmispon glaber. In temperate climates, many Faboideae genera, such as Vicia and Pisum, require vernalization—a prolonged cold exposure—to synchronize flowering with spring conditions, preventing premature reproduction during unfavorable winters.^[35] This adaptation ensures reproductive success by aligning phenology with seasonal warming trends.

Nitrogen Fixation Symbiosis

Faboideae species form a mutualistic symbiosis with soil-dwelling rhizobial bacteria, primarily from genera such as Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium, enabling the conversion of atmospheric dinitrogen (N₂) into bioavailable ammonia for plant use. This process begins when rhizobia perceive plant root flavonoids and respond by producing Nod factors—lipochitooligosaccharides that trigger plant signaling pathways, leading to root hair deformation, cortical cell division, and the formation of specialized root nodules.^[36]^[37] Within these nodules, rhizobia differentiate into bacteroids enclosed in membrane-bound structures called symbiosomes, where the bacterial nitrogenase enzyme reduces N₂ to ammonia, which is then exchanged for plant-provided carbon compounds like malate.^[38]^[39] Host-symbiont specificity ensures effective pairing, with over 100 rhizobial species interacting with particular Faboideae hosts through recognition of strain-specific Nod factors by plant LysM receptor kinases.^[40] This selectivity is genetically controlled in the plant by key regulators such as the NIN (Nodule Inception) transcription factor, which integrates Nod factor signaling to activate downstream symbiotic genes and initiate nodule organogenesis.^[41] Mutations in NIN disrupt nodulation, highlighting its central role in distinguishing rhizobial infection from other root responses.^[42] The symbiosis provides substantial ecological benefits by alleviating nitrogen limitation in nutrient-poor soils, allowing Faboideae to thrive where other plants struggle and contributing to soil fertility through organic nitrogen inputs. Rhizobial nitrogenase activity can fix 100–200 kg of N per hectare per year in crop legumes, supporting plant growth without synthetic fertilizers and enhancing biodiversity in natural ecosystems.^[43] This fixed nitrogen not only sustains the host but also becomes available to associated organisms upon decomposition, promoting nutrient cycling.^[44] Variations exist within Faboideae, where some genera, such as Chaetocalyx and Nissolia in the dalbergioid clade, are non-nodulating, likely due to secondary losses of symbiotic genes acquired via horizontal transfer in ancestral lineages. Recent genomic studies, including the 2025 sequencing of Nissolia brasiliensis, highlight its utility as a model for understanding the loss of nodulation genes.^[45]^[46] These losses may reflect adaptations to nitrogen-rich environments or shifts in life history, paralleling actinorhizal symbioses in non-legumes like Alnus, where Frankia bacteria form nodules using analogous signaling but with broader host ranges.^[47] Such variability underscores the evolutionary plasticity of nitrogen-fixing mutualisms. This co-adaptation between Faboideae and rhizobia emerged approximately 60 million years ago during the early Paleogene, coinciding with legume diversification and enabling their ecological dominance in diverse habitats.^[48] The symbiosis's development involved co-evolution of plant and bacterial genes, providing a competitive advantage that facilitated the radiation of nodulating lineages across global ecosystems.^[49]

Economic and Cultural Significance

Agricultural and Food Uses

Faboideae species are pivotal in global agriculture, serving as primary sources of protein-rich food crops, forage for livestock, and tools for sustainable soil management. Soybeans (Glycine max), a cornerstone of the subfamily, dominate global oilseed production, accounting for approximately 60% of the total oilseed output and providing both oil and high-protein meal for human and animal consumption. In 2024/25, worldwide soybean production is projected at about 424 million metric tons, primarily from Brazil and the United States, underscoring their role in food security and trade.^[50] Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and peas (Pisum sativum) are essential pulse crops, offering nutritious seeds for direct human consumption; global dry bean production stood at around 26 million metric tons in 2022, while dry pea output was approximately 14 million metric tons, with major contributions from Asia and North America. These crops contribute significantly to dietary protein in developing regions, where pulses form a staple in diets. Beyond food, Faboideae legumes like alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and clovers (Trifolium spp.) are vital forage and cover crops, supporting livestock production through high-yield hay, silage, and pasture. Alfalfa, cultivated on over 30 million hectares worldwide, yields about 450 million tons of hay annually (as of 2023), prized for its digestibility and nutritional value in dairy and beef systems. Clovers, including red (Trifolium pratense) and white (Trifolium repens) varieties, enhance pasture quality and are integrated into rotations as cover crops to suppress weeds and improve soil structure. In crop rotations, these legumes serve as green manures, leveraging their symbiotic nitrogen fixation to enrich soils; this process can supply 50-100 kg of nitrogen per hectare, reducing synthetic fertilizer needs by up to 50% in subsequent cereal crops. Such practices promote sustainable farming by minimizing input costs and environmental impacts from nitrogen runoff. Despite their benefits, Faboideae cultivation faces challenges, particularly from pests affecting pulse crops like beans and peas, including aphids, leafhoppers, and weevils, which can cause yield losses of 20-40% in untreated fields. Global production of these crops has grown steadily, but climate variability exacerbates pest pressures and underscores the need for resilient varieties. Post-2020 breeding advances have introduced drought-tolerant common bean lines through marker-assisted selection, improving yields by 15-20% under water-limited conditions in regions like sub-Saharan Africa. For soybeans, drought-tolerant germplasm such as R19-42848 has been released in 2024, boosting productivity in arid zones while maintaining high oil and protein content.^[51] These innovations, combined with integrated pest management, are key to sustaining Faboideae's agricultural prominence amid growing food demands.

Ornamental and Medicinal Uses

Several species within the Faboideae subfamily are cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens and landscapes due to their attractive flowers and growth habits. Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are popular annual climbers valued for their fragrant, colorful blooms in shades of purple, pink, and white, often used in containers, hanging baskets, and as cut flowers.^[52]^[53] Lupins (Lupinus spp.), such as bigleaf lupine (L. polyphyllus), serve as showy perennials in borders and naturalistic plantings, featuring tall spikes of vibrant flowers and a pleasant fragrance that enhances garden aesthetics.^[54] Wisteria species, including Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda) and Chinese wisteria (W. sinensis), are prized as deciduous woody vines for their cascading clusters of lavender or purple pea-like flowers, commonly trained over arbors and pergolas in ornamental settings.^[55]^[56] Faboideae plants also hold significant medicinal value in traditional and modern applications. Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is widely used for its anti-inflammatory properties, attributed to compounds like glycyrrhizin, which help treat respiratory conditions, digestive issues, and immune-related disorders without severe side effects in moderate doses.^[57]^[58] In traditional Chinese medicine, astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) root is employed as an immune booster, promoting energy restoration and supporting recovery from illnesses through its immunomodulatory effects.^[59]^[60] Beyond ornamentals and medicines, certain Faboideae species provide materials for timber and dyes. Rosewoods from the genus Dalbergia, such as D. latifolia and D. cochinchinensis, yield high-quality hardwood used in furniture, musical instruments, and carvings due to their durability and fine grain.^[61]^[62] Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria) has been historically extracted for its blue dye, applied to textiles and even ancient paper currency, with use dating back over 4,000 years in India and other regions.^[63]^[64] Culturally, Faboideae plants appear in folklore and carry warnings about toxicity. Garden peas (Pisum sativum) symbolize simplicity and antiquity in Russian folk traditions, appearing in expressions and tales evoking historical eras.^[65] However, locoweeds from genera Astragalus and Oxytropis pose risks to livestock, causing locoism—a chronic neurological disorder from ingesting the alkaloid swainsonine, which affects cattle, horses, sheep, and wildlife after prolonged exposure.^[66]^[67] Sustainability concerns arise from overharvesting of wild Faboideae species for medicinal and commercial purposes. Licorice (G. glabra) populations in the Mediterranean face depletion due to excessive collection for export, contributing to broader non-wood forest product pressures.^[68] Similarly, astragalus species experience harvesting strain in Asia, exacerbating threats from land conversion and demand in traditional medicine markets.^[69]