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Definition of Legumes
1. legume [n] - See also: legume
Medical Definition of Legumes
1. The large family of plants, leguminosae, including many with edible parts. most species harbor nitrogen-fixing bacteria on their roots. Several species, like the vetches, cause lathyrism, favism, and other forms of poisoning of cattle or people. Other species yield useful materials like gums from acacia and various lectins like phytohemagglutinin from phaseolus. (12 Dec 1998)