Fabales, cooperative plants ...

The plants of this order can be found worldwide and are extremely cooperative. Most leguminous plants live in a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the root zone. Woody species often develop thorns that protect them from pests and serve as a home to ants. Toxic alkaloids also serve this purpose. Butterfly-like flowers in panicle shaped umbels serve as ornaments, while numerous plants are important sources of protein. With over 20,000 species, the order is one of the largest in the plant world.