The pea family, also known as Fabaceae, encompasses a large number of plant species that are found all around the world. These plants share several common traits, including the shape of their flowers, their fruit type, and their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil. Some common synonyms for the pea family include legumes, bean family, and pulse family. Legumes refer to plants that have pods with edible seeds inside, such as beans, lentils, and chickpeas. The bean family is another name for the same group of plants, while pulse family refers specifically to the dried seeds of legumes that are used for food.