Legume

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

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/legume

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 botanical classification?Family Fabaceae (Leguminosae), characterized by fruit pods
2. What is the primary mechanism of soil enrichment?Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by Rhizobia bacteria in root nodules
3. Why do legumes help the soil?Legumes grow tiny bacteria in their root nodules that turn invisible air nitrogen into food for the plant. When the plant dies, the extra nitrogen stays in the soil and helps other plants grow.
4. How do legumes make protein for people?Legumes are a great source of plant protein, fiber, vitamins, iron, and zinc. They help people who don't eat much animal food get the nutrients they need.

Dehiscence: The process by which a fruit splits open naturally to release its seeds.
Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF): The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia by living organisms, primarily bacteria.
Crop Rotation: The practice of growing a series of different types of crops in the same area across a sequence of growing seasons.