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Glite Dictionary
Papilionoideae

Papilionoideae

9.9
A group of plants like beans and peas that have a special flower shape
  • noun
  • /ˌpæpɪlɪˈoʊniˌdiː/
  • Specialized
translation icon : papilionoideas
  • The subfamily Papilionoideae includes many species known for their unique floral structures and nitrogen-fixing abilities.

Examples

  • The Papilionoideae subfamily includes many species of flowering plants.

  • The unique flower structure is a distinguishing feature of Papilionoideae.

  • Botanists have reclassified Papilionoideae as a subfamily within Fabaceae.

  • Many important crops such as beans and peas belong to the Papilionoideae subfamily.

  • Did you know that Papilionoideae are often called papilionoid legumes?

  • Flowers from the Papilionoideae subfamily often resemble butterflies, which is how they got their name.

  • Researchers identified several plants in the Papilionoideae group that are important for sustainable agriculture.

Synonyms

subfamily Papilionoideae
vsPapilionoideae
  • Specialized
9.9

A large group of plants that include beans, peas, and lupins

is the subfamily often named by older classifications rather than a separate family
Papilionaceae
vsPapilionoideae
  • Archaic
9.9

A group of plants with butterfly-shaped flowers, like peas and beans

is the modern subfamily classification that now includes that former family
Papilionacea
vsPapilionoideae
  • Archaic
9.9

A group of plants like peas and beans that have butterfly-shaped flowers

is the formal subfamily term used in current classifications rather than a morphological group

Surface Forms

Papilionoideae singular
Papilionoideae plural

Etymology

Papilionoideae comes from the Latin word papilio meaning 'butterfly', because many of these flowers look like a butterfly. The ending -oideae shows it is a group of related plants, so the name points to 'butterfly-like plants', which helps explain why peas, beans and their relatives are placed in this subfamily.