Fabaceae

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/fabaceae

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the estimated species count?Approximately 19,000 to 24,000 species
2. What is the primary ecological function?Biological nitrogen fixation via symbiosis with rhizobia bacteria
3. How do Fabaceae help the Earth breathe?They have special bacteria in their roots that turn invisible atmospheric nitrogen into a form the plant can use. This makes the soil richer and helps other plants grow.
4. Why do Fabaceae need bacteria to get nitrogen?The plants can't use the nitrogen gas that is in the air. The bacteria in their root nodules change the gas into ammonia, which the plant can turn into food.

Angiosperm: A flowering plant that produces seeds enclosed within a fruit.
Rhizobia: A group of soil bacteria that form symbiotic relationships with legumes to fix nitrogen.
Mutualism: A symbiotic relationship where both interacting species benefit from the association.
Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF): The process by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into ammonia by living organisms.