More than 460 genera and in excess of 12000 species. Cosmopolitan but mainly in temperate regions. The Fabaceae are divided into numerous tribes and subtribes, the number of the former varying according to the author, but generally around 30. As such, specimens are easy to associate with the taxon. Since my paper on the suprageneric names in Fabaceae published prior to 1870 was published, I have found additional names and have surveyed the literature up to 1900.
Numerous species are significant economically.
Their uses range from fodder to crop plants to cultivated ornamentals and shade trees. Many are poisonous, some deadly so, and especially the seeds of certain kinds. Numerous members of the family have been used medicinally. Certain genera dominate the landscape thereby making them important ecologically. Some of the trees are cut for lumber.