$\rightarrow$ This family was earlier called Papilonoideae, a subfamily of family Leguminosae.

$\rightarrow$ Vegetative Characters : Trees, shrubs, herbs; root with root nodules.

$\rightarrow$ Stem : Erect or climber

$\rightarrow$ Leaves : Alternate, pinnately compound or simple; leaf base, pulvinate; stipulate; venation reticulate.

$\rightarrow$ Floral characters :

$\rightarrow$ Inflorescence : Racemose.

$\rightarrow$ Flower : Bisexual, zygomorphic

$\rightarrow$ Calyx : Sepals five, gamosepalous; imbricate aestivation

$\rightarrow$ Corolla : Petals five, polypetalous, papilionaceous, consisting of a posterior standard, two lateral wings, two anterior ones forming a keel (enclosing stamens and pistil), vexillary aestivation

$\rightarrow$ Androecium : Ten, diadelphous, anther dithecous

$\rightarrow$ Gynoecium : Ovary superior, mono carpellary, unilocular with many ovules, style single

$\rightarrow$ Fruit : Legume; seed: one to many, non-endospermic