A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Legume, “the fruit of leguminous plants; a solitary two-valved carpel, bearing its seeds on the ventral suture only” (Lindley); a dry, dehiscent fruit formed from a single carpel (i.e. simple ovary), opening along two sides (the follicle of Asclepias species, also from a simple ovary, opens along one side): legumen,-inis (s.n.III), acc. sg. legumen, dat. sg. legumini, abl. sg. legumine, nom.& acc. pl., legumina, gen. pl. leguminum, dat.& abl. pl. leguminibus; legumentum,-i (s.n.II), abl. sg. legumento [> L. legumen,-inis (s.n.III), “pulse, any leguminous plant; in particular, the bean” (Lewis & Short)]; see bean, vetch;

NOTE: for samaroid legume descriptions see samaroideus,-a,-um (adj.A). Also see lobe: LOBUS,-i (s.m.II), abl.sg. lobo = pod > Gk. lobos (s.m.II), “capsule or pod of leguminous plants.”

- legumina lineam fere lata. Semina lineam paulo excedentia (F. Mueller), the legume nearly one line [i.e. 2.1 mm] wide. The seeds somewhat exceding one line (i.e. 2.1 mm] (F. Mueller).

- legumina nonnulla v. omnia sub terram maturescunt et tunc crassiora sunt saepe carnosula v. dura et indehiscentia (B&H), some legumes or all of them mature under the ground and then they are thicker, often somewhat fleshy or hard and indehiscent.

- legumen 2-valve, v. si rarius indehiscens parvum 1-2-spermum v. membranaeco- inflatum (B&H), legume 2-valved, or if more rarely indehiscent, small 1-2-seeded or membranaceously inflated.

- legumen articulatum (B&H), the legume segmented [i.e. articulated].

- legumen planum, intus continuum, v. intus celluloso-septatum(B&H),legume flat, inside continuous, or inside celulose-septate

- legumen rectum lineare sesquipollicare calyce persistente cinctum 6-8-spermum dorso carinatum, legume straight linear 1 1/2 inches long by the persistent calyx surrounded 6-8-seeded on the back keeled (Stearn).

- legumen incurvum crassum exalatum subcompressum, epicarpio fragili, mesocarpio pulposo, endocarpio coriaceo, legume incurved thick wingless somewhat compressed, with the epicarp brittle, the mesocarp pulpy, the endocarp leathery (Stearn)..

- legumen sessile vel stipitatum, teres vel turgidum vel inflatum, ad suturam superiorem incrassatum, legume sessile or stipitate, terete or swollen or inflated, at the upper suture thickened (Stearn).

- legumen subgloboso vel ovoideo glabro vel piloso (pilis albis copiose tecto) inermi vel spinoso indehiscenti vel tardius bivalvi, with the legume almost globose or else ovoid glabrous pilose (with white hairs plentifully covered) unarmed or spiny indehiscent or at length two-valved (Stearn).

- legumine 5-valve, with the legume 5-valved.

- legumine 3.7-3.9 cm lato, coriaceo vel suberoso, with the legume 3.7-3.9 cm wide, coriaceous or corky.

- legumina polysperma, fere recta, basi et apice acutiuscula, ad suturas canaliculata, indehiscentia, septis tenuibus tranversalibus multi-loculata (F. Mueller), the legumes many-seeded, almost straight, at the base and apex nearly acute, canaliculate on the sutures, indehiscent [i.e. opening irregularly], multi-loculate, with the septa thin, transverse.

- legumina polysperma, fere recta, ad suturas canaliculata, indehiscentia, (F. Mueller), the legumes many-seeded, almost straight, at the base and apex nearly acute, canaliculate on the sutures, indehiscent [i.e. opening irregularly].

- Var. a, ad caules stipitesque aridos mucescentes herbarum diversarum , legumina Phaseoli exsiccata etc. ubique vulgata, perennis (S&A), Var. a, on dry molding stems and stalks of diverse herbs, the dry legumes of Phaseolus plants etc. everywhere common, throughout the year.

- legumen longissimum (2-pedale) lineare, compressum, 2-valve, seminibus isthmis interceptis membranaceis (Swartz), the legume very long (2-foot), linear, compressed, 2-valved, with the seeds interuppted by the membranaceous constriction.

- ínter cutem externam Leguminis, membranamque internam semina eparantem, liquor, syrupi consistentia & colore, continetur, graveolens, amarus, adstringens (Swartz), between the external skin of the legume, and the inner membranemembranamque separating the seeds, is contained a liquor, the consistency and color of syrup, strong-smelling, bitter, astringent.

NOTE: pulse, “the edible seeds of various leguminous crops (as peas and beans); a plant yielding pulse; pulse plants” (WIII).

Bentham and Hooker: Order Leguminosae:

- Fructus legumen dictus, siccus, carnosus, v. rarius drupaceus, nunc indehiscens, nunc in valvas 2 secus suturam superiorem v. interiorem, et costam seu suturam dorsalem v. inferiorem, v. rarius more folliculi ad suturam superiorem tantum dehiscens; intus unilocularis et continuus, v. interdum pulpa repletus, v. inter semina substantia cellulosa farctus, v. septis spuriis cum endocarpio continuis transverse divisus, et tunc nonnunquam maturitate in articulos monospermos secedens:

the fruit, called a legume, dry, fleshy or more rarely drupaceous, sometimes indehiscent, sometimes dehiscing into two valves along an upper or interior suture, and on the rib or dorsal suture or lower, or more rarely in the manner of a follicle only dehiscing on the upper suture; inside unilocular and continuous, or sometimes filled with pulp, or stuffed with a cellulose substance among the seeds, or with spurious septa continuous with the endocarp transversly divided, and at that time sometimes at maturity separating into monospermous segments.

arcuato-contortus,-a,-um (part.A): “forming a depressed spiral, as in some kinds of legume” (Lindley).