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Glycine max

Species category

Agricultural, Vegetable

Common name

soybean, reseeding soybean, wild soybean

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

True seedTrue seed:
A mature fertilized ovule consisting of an embryo, with or without and external food reserve (e.g., endosperm) enclosed by the testa.

Shape

Circular, to broadly ellipticElliptic:
Outline of an ellipse; greatest width midway sloping to an equally pointed apex and base.
, to globose

Size

  • Length 8 mm
  • Width 8 mm
  • Thickness 5 mm

Color

Yellow, to yellowish tan, to green, to olive green, to black

Texture

Smooth

Other structures

The large ovalOval:
Broadly elliptic.
 hilum will vary in color from buff to tan to black.

Identification notes

The roundness of this seed is a function of maturity; more mature seeds are rounder. HilumHilum:
The scar on the seed coat at the place of its detachment from the seed stalk (funiculus).
 color varies with variety from yellow, imperfect black, brown to black.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Included

More information

For more information, see ISMA fact sheet.

Nomenclature

Family

Fabaceae

Valid name

Glycine max (L.) Merr.

Synonyms

Dolichos soja L.
Glycine gracilis Skvortzov
Glycine hispida (Moench) Maxim.
Glycine soja (L.) Merr., non Siebold & Zucc., nom. illeg.
Glycine ussuriensis Regel & Maack
Phaseolus max L.
Soja hispida Moench
Soja max (L.) Piper

Glycine max. Seeds that vary in color with hilums that are yellow, imperfect black, or brown to black. Photo courtesy of Colorado State University, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
Glycine max. Seeds that vary in color with hilums that are yellow, imperfect black, or brown to black. Photo courtesy of Colorado State University, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.