Scientific name Mimosoideae Higher classification Legumes | Rank Subfamily | |
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Lower classifications Sensitive plant, Silk plants, Shameplant, Persian silk tree, Inga | ||
The Mimosoideae comprise a subfamily of the flowering plant family Fabaceae (Leguminosae) characterized by flowers with small petals and numerous prominent stamens.
Contents
In some classifications (e.g. the Cronquist system), "Mimosoideae" refers to what was formerly considered the tribe Mimoseae.
Taxonomy
Some classification systems, for example the Cronquist system, treat the Fabaceae in a narrow sense, raising the Mimisoideae to the rank of family as Mimosaceae. The Angiosperm Phylogeny Group treats Fabaceae in the broad sense. The Mimosoideae were historically subdivided into four tribes (Acacieae, Ingeae, Mimoseae, and Mimozygantheae). However, modern molecular phylogenetics have shown that these groupings were artificial. Several informal subgroups have been proposed, but not yet described formally as tribes. Additionally, the genus Acacia was recently segregated into five genera (Acacia sensu lato, Acaciella, Mariosousa, Senegalia, and Vachellia).
Fossils
The following fossil wood morphogenera have been described:
Systematics
Modern molecular phylogenetics suggest the following relationships:
