THE FLOWERING PLANTS 
299 
Pulse Family. —Beans, 
peas, vetch, alfalfa, pea¬ 
nuts, clover, and the 
like are members of this 
family. These plants 
may be recognized by 
their irregular, papiliona¬ 
ceous flowers, alternate 
leaves with stipules (see 
Figure 292), and by their 
having the fruit in the 
form of a pod. This 
family furnishes us with 
most of our vegetable 
protein food. The plants 
improve the soil by the 
aid of bacteria. Wis- ^ IGURE 278 Nodules Caused by Bac- 
t ,! TERIA ON THE ROOTS OF BEAN PLANTS. 
tena, red bud, and the 
locusts are cultivated for ornamental purposes. 
Flax Family. — While 
this is not a large family, 
yet it furnishes all of our 
linen. Flax rarely grows 
wild, but requires culti¬ 
vation. 
Mallow Family .—This 
family is also important 
in furnishing material for 
our clothing, as the cot¬ 
ton plant belongs here. 
Hollyhock and althaea 
are forms cultivated for 
ornament. 
Parsley Family .—This 
family includes such gar- 
After the ovules are fertilized the piant 
pushes the pistils into the soil, where they 
mature. Note the nodules on the roots. 
The peanut is a dry, indehiscent fruit. 
