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Showing posts from November, 2012

Winged Bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.)

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Taxonomic Classification Kingdom: Planate Division: Manoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Leguminosae Genus: Psophocapus Species: P.teragonolobous Psophocarpus is a genus of five species of twining, tuberous-rooted herbs. The plants have trifoliate leaves and 4-sided, 4-winged pods. P. tetragonolobous is grown for its immature pods which are eaten as a vegetable. The plant is a twining glabrous perennial herb, usually grown as an annual. It has numerous roots; main long, thick, tuberous laterals running horizontally at a shallower depth. Morphological Characters Stem: The stem is ridged and 2-3 m long. Leaves: Trifoliate leaves are arranged alternatively. The leaf has a long petiole, which is deeply grooved on the upper surface. A large pulvinus is located at the base of the leaf. The stipules are 2-parted and the stipels are small. Flowers: The inflorescence is an axillary raceme, with 2-10 flowe...

Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

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Taxonomic Classification Kingdom: Planate Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnolipsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Leguminosae Genus: Phaseolus Species: P. vulgaris Phaseolus has about 150 species of annuals and perennials. P. vulgaris is the best known and most widely cultivated species of Phaseolus. It is grown for the immature edible pods and dry ripe seeds. Many cultivars of P. vulgaris are recorded and all can be divided into two. 1) Dwarf or bush cultivars: These do not need a support and are early maturing 2)Climbing or pole cultivars: These require supports, take longer time to mature and have a longer bearing period. Morphological Characters Stem: The climbing cultivars are 2-3m tall, whereas, the erect bushy cultivars reach only up to 20-60 cm height. Leaves: The leaf arrangement is alternate. The leaf is trifoliate, somewhat hairy and has a long petiole grooved above. Pulvini are present at the base of the le...

Soya Bean, Soybean (Glycine Max (L.) Merr.) (Syn. G. Soja Sieb, & Zucc. , G. Hispida (Moench) Maxim. , Soja Max (L.) Piper

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Taxonomic Classification Kingdom: Planate Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Leguminosae Genus: Glycine Species: G.max G.max is one of the world’s most important sources of oil and protein. The unripe seeds are eaten as a vegetable. The seeds are processed to make soy milk, curd, tofu and cheese. Many different food products are made from G. max. It is also an important pasture and fodder crop that made in to hay and silage and also used as a green manure and a cover crop. Morphological Characters Stem: The plants are erect, bushy, pubescent annuals of 20-180 cm in height. Grey hairs present on the stem, leaves, calyx and pod. Plants show two types of growth.   1)    Determinate Growth: The terminal bud develops in to a terminal inflorescence.   2)    Indeterminate Growth: The stem does not terminate with an inflorescence. Roots: A tap root system is present,...

Pigeon Pea (Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millsp.) Syn. Cajanus Indicus Spreng

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Taxonomic Classification Kingdom: Planate Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Leguminosae Genus: Cajanus Species: C. cajan C. cajan is a woody, short-lived perennial shrub, but sometimes grown as an annual. The plant reaches 1-4m in height and has a deep tap-root with longer laterals. Morphological Characters Stem: The young stems are angled and hairy. Leaves: Leaves are trifoliate and spirally arranged with a phyllotaxy of 2/5. They tend to be deciduous. The leaf petiole is grooved above. Stipules are small and hairy and the stipples are small. Puluvinus is present at the base of petiole and at the base of leaflets. Leaflets are lanceolate to narrow elliptic in shape, entire, acute at both ends and hairy on both surfaces. The lower surface of the leaflets is grey color with minute yellow resinous glands. The terminal leaflet is larger and longer-stalked than the short-stalked laterals. F...

Ground Nut, Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L)

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Taxonomic classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Leguminosae Genus: Arachis Species: A. hypogaea Arachis is a small genus of about 40 species. Except A. hypogaea, all other species are wild and perennial. In all species, ripening of the fruits takes place underground.   A.    hypogaesis is an annual herb, with erect or trailing habit. The plant is sparsely hairy and 15-60cm in height. The plant shows a dimorphic branching habit, with monopodial vegetative branches and reduced reproductive branches. In the first 3-5 nodes, monopodial branches arise, whereas, secondary monopodia may also arise from these branches. Reduced reproductive branches arise singly at nodes of monopodia. According to the arrangement of the monopodial vegetative and reduced reproductive branches, there are two distinct types of A. hypogaea. Alternate branches and sequential branches. ...