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Zenia is a genus of plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Dialioideae. It contains a single species, Zenia insignis.
The Fabaceae family is known for their extraordinary ability to be efficient in symbiotic nitrogen-fixation. The Papilionoidea and Caesalpinioideae subfamilies have been found to be the two sister families that Z. insignis seemed to diverge from, through the evidence of fossil calibration points. Based on genetic research, Z. insignis appears to have lost the genes relating to key-nodulation during its evolution. This results in the tree's inability to establish a relationship with Rhizobium (nitrogen-fixating bacteria), and limits it from partaking in the process of nitrogen-fixation.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Zenia insignis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
