Legumes

plants · food · agriculture · nature's helpers

Seeds you eat. Legumes include peas, beans, lentils, and peanuts. These seeds are called pulses when we dry them and eat them, and they are packed with protein that helps build strong muscles and bones.

Nature's fertilizer. Legumes have a superpower: they work with special bacteria in their roots to pull nitrogen from the air and store it in the soil. This makes the soil richer and better for growing other plants, so farmers don't need to add as much chemical fertilizer.

Special seed pods. Legume seeds grow inside long pods that split open on two sides when they are ready, letting the seeds scatter. This unique two-sided splitting is one of the things that makes legumes special in the plant world.

Food for animals. Legumes aren't just for humans. Farmers grow them as nutritious food and fresh silage for cows, horses, and other livestock to eat and stay healthy.

Grown everywhere. Legume crops are planted all around the world because they are nutritious, help soil stay healthy, and can grow in many different climates and conditions.