Legume (Fabaceae) Fruits and Seeds [CD-ROM]

Jr., Charles R. Gunn, Anna L. Weitzman, Michael J. Dallwitz Joseph H. Kirkbride (Author), Joseph H., Jr. Kirkbride (Author), Charles R. Gunn (Author), Anna Weitzman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 2000 | ISBN-10: 1887905251 | ISBN-13: 978-1887905251 | Edition: CD-Rom

The legumes (Fabaceae or Leguminosae) are the third largest family of flowering plants after sunflowers (Asteraceae) and orchids (Orchidaceae). Only the grasses (Poaceae) are more economically important than the legumes. Legumes, however, are put to a greater number of uses. The legumes have 686 genera with approximately 17,000 species. They have three subfamilies with the genera distributed amongst them in the following mannr: Caesalpinioideae with 156 genera; Mimosoideae with 76 genera; and Faboideae with 454 genera. This CD-ROM is a database of legume genera with fruit and seed characters stored in the DELTA format for interactive access. The data for fruits of 667 genera are included and each fruit is described in terms of 157 characters such as shape and color. Seed data for 653 genera are included, and each seed is described using 127 characters such as thickness and length. Seven distributional characters such as world cultivation and distribution in the New World were recorded for all genera. Thus the resulting DELTA matrix has 104,719 pieces of fruit data, 82,931 pieces of seed data, and 4,802 pieces of distributional data. In addition, each genus was illustrated using: (1) photographs or drawings of the fruits, (2) seed photographs, (3) scanning electron microscope images of testa at 50 and 1,000 magnifications, and (4) drawings of the cotyledons and embryos. The illustrative materials were scanned in black and white, and there are 1,377 images illustrating the genera. Of the 291 characters used to describe the fruits, seeds, and distributions, images of 204 characters are included in this CD-ROM. Database and images are accessed using the program INTKEY of the DELTA software system. INTKEY can be used for either identification of unknown fruits and seeds or for querying data. The identification of unknown legume fruits and seeds is facilitated through interactive querying of data. Unlike traditional identification tools, which require the use of specific characters in a defined order, any characters can be employed in any order. Users can visually pick the character states as an identification proceeds. Integration of the generic images allows visual comparison of one or more genera with an unknown specimen at any stage during the identification for rapid verification. Data retrieval can be performed for any combination of fruit, seed, and distributional characters, such as fruit length, testa color, embryo orientation, or presence in North America. The queries can be tailored to the specific needs of users.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joseph H. Kirkbride, Jr. is a Research Botanist at Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture. Charles R. (Bob) Gunn is a retired Research Botanist at the same laboratory. Gunn began the project in 1981 and a series of printed publications by him and Kirkbride et al. have culminated in this electronic publication. Anna L. Weitzman is a Research Associate at the Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution. Michael Dallwtiz is the developer of the DELTA software system. He is an entomologist at the Division of Entomology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia.

Product Details

• CD-ROM
• Publisher: Parkway Pub; CD-Rom edition (March 31, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887905251
• ISBN-13: 978-1887905251
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,915,590 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)