KIRKBRIDE, JR., JOSEPH H.*, CHARLES R. GUNN, AND MICHAEL J. DALLWITZ. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, Rm. 304, Bldg. 011A, BARC-West, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350; 120 White Squirrel Lane, Brevard, NC 28712; CSIRO, Division of Entomology, GPO Box 1700, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia. - Identification of legume (Fabaceae) fruits and seeds to genus using INTKEY (DELTA).
Fabaceae (or Leguminosae) or legume family has 675 genera and more
than 17,000 species. Fruit data (140 characters) were collected for
652 genera, seed data (139 characters) for 640 genera, and
distributional data (four characters) for all genera. Our final data
matrix had 91,280 items of fruit data, 88,960 items of seed data, and
2,700 items of distributional data. Approximately 1,400 images were
attached to the genera, and more than 175 images to individual
characters. The database in combination with the INTKEY software
program will: 1) facilitate identification of legume seeds and fruits
to genus through interaction between users and the database with
characteristics of the users' choice on microcomputers; and 2)
retrieval of information concerning seeds, fruits, and distribution of
legume genera tailored according to the specific needs of the users.
Key words: DELTA, Fabaceae, fruit, legume, Leguminosae, seed