What is the Difference Between Leguminous and Non Leguminous Plants?

The main difference between leguminous and non-leguminous plants lies in their ability to fix nitrogen, their family classification, leaf structure, and symbiotic relationships with bacteria. Here are the key differences between the two:

1. Family: Leguminous plants belong to the Fabaceae family, which is the third-largest family of flowering plants. Non-leguminous plants, on the other hand, belong to various families other than Fabaceae, with Orchidaceae and Asteraceae being two of the largest in the plant kingdom.
2. Leaf Structure: Leguminous plants typically have pinnate, compound, and stipulated leaves, while non-leguminous plants have a variety of leaf structures, ranging from simple to compound and stipulated to unstipulated.
3. Symbiotic Relationships: Leguminous plants form symbiotic relationships with the bacteria Rhizobia, which helps them fix nitrogen. In contrast, various dicotyledonous non-leguminous plants form symbiotic relationships with actinomycetes, such as Frankia.
4. Fruits: The fruit of a leguminous plant is usually a legume or pod, while non-leguminous plants produce a variety of different fruits.

Both leguminous and non-leguminous plants are part of the larger family of flowering plants. Although leguminous plants are known for their nitrogen-fixing capacity, some non-leguminous plants also possess this ability.

Comparative Table: Leguminous vs Non Leguminous Plants

Here is a table comparing the differences between leguminous and non-leguminous plants:

Both leguminous and non-leguminous plants are flowering plants, but they belong to different families. Leguminous plants are known for their nitrogen-fixing capacity, thanks to their symbiotic relationship with Rhizobia bacteria. On the other hand, non-leguminous plants may also fix atmospheric nitrogen, but they form symbiotic relationships with actinomycetes instead. The leaves of leguminous plants are typically pinnate, compound, and stipulated, while non-leguminous plants have a variety of leaf structures. The fruits of leguminous plants are usually legumes or pods, whereas non-leguminous plants produce different types of fruits.