The Leguminosae is an economically important family in the Dicotyledonae with many cultivated species, e. g., beans and peas. The family also contains many well-known medicinal plants. It is composed of 17,000 or more species that constitute nearly one twelfth of the world's flowering plants (1). Traditionally the family has been divided into three subfamilies, Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae and Papilionoi deae, which are sometimes recognized as separate families Caesalpinia ceae, Mimosaceae and Papilionaceae. The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature permits alternative nomenclatures,...

The volumes of this classic series, now referred to simply as "Zechmeister" after its founder, L. Zechmeister, have appeared under the Springer Imprint ever since the series' inauguration in 1938. The volumes contain contributions on various topics related to the origin, distribution, chemistry, synthesis, biochemistry, function or use of various classes of naturally occurring substances ranging from small molecules to biopolymers. Each contribution is written by a recognized authority in his field and provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the topic in question. Addressed to...