Legumes (Angiosperm: Fabaceae) of Birbhum District, West Bengal, India
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Abstract
The present paper deals with a comprehensive enumeration of leguminous taxa found in Birbhum District of West Bengal, India. We recorded 140 species, one subspecies, and two varieties, representing 82 genera from 24 tribes under four subfamilies, viz., Cercidoideae (6 species in 2 genera belonging to 1 tribe), Detarioideae (3 species in 3 genera belonging to 3 tribes), Caesalpinioideae (43 species in 24 genera belonging to 5 tribes), and Papilionoideae (91 taxa including 88 species, 1 subspecies and 2 varieties in 53 genera belonging to 15 tribes). Herbs (59 taxa) were the largest group, followed by trees (39), climbers (23), and shrubs (22). Crotalaria and Indigofera (7 species each) emerged as the dominant genera, followed by Senna (6) and Bauhinia and Senegalia with five species each. In this district, the legumes are represented under 24 tribes, of which the Phaseoleae is the largest comprising 24 taxa, followed by Desmodieae (16) and Cassieae (12). Regarding endemics, Indigofera prostrata exclusive to West Bengal is recorded from Birbhum District, while Grona brachystachya, Hardwickia binata, Pterocarpus marsupium, and P. santalinus are endemic to India.
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