Examples of genera within this subfamily are Acacia and Mimosa . Certain Acacia species are extremely important economically. In comparison to cereal grains the seeds of Legumes are rich in high quality protein, providing man with a highly nutritional food resource. The major staple foods such as beans, soya, lentils, peas and chickpeas are all legumes. The total world value for leguminous crops is thought to be approximately two billion US dollars per annum.
Many more legumes are local food plants.
Legumes are utilised for a variety of other purposes including timber, medicine, tannins and gums. Various species of Lonchocarpus and Derris are the source of rotenone, which is used as an insecticide, fish poison or molluscicide. The economic importance of the family is likely to increase as human pressure places greater demand on marginal land. Many Legume species are characteristic of open and disturbed places and are thus well adapted to grow under poor conditions. These bacteria have a symbiotic relationship with Legumes, fixing free nitrogen for the plants.