Rebecca Burns, age 12, of Chattanooga, Tenn., for her question:

ARE THERE MANY KINDS OF LEGUMES?

A legume is any of the plants that belong to the pea family. It is the second largest family of flowering plants. There are about 13,000 different species of legumes, and they can be found throughout most of the world.

In addition to peas, the legume family also includes beans of all types and peanuts. Such important forage and pasture plants as alfalfa, clover and vetch are also in the family.
Legume plants vary greatly. Some grow as trees while others can be large or small shrubs.

Legumes take nitrogen into their roots from the air. Knotlike growths called nodules form along their roots. Bacteria called rhizobia live in the nodules.