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The three subfamilies (Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae, and Faboideae) of the Fabaceae differ in certain morphological and anatomical features of their seeds. One of these feature is alleged to be the presence of a lens on most faboid seeds and the absence of a lens on caesalpinioid and mimosoid seeds. In the report, however, the lens, a biconvex bulge along the sagittal midline, is shown to also be a widespread but not ubiquitous feature of seeds of the Caesalpinioideae and Mimosoideae. A comprehensive review of the occurrence of the lens on seeds in all three subfamilies is presented. The review is followed by original scanning electron microscope observations of the surface and interior of seedcoats from 13 species of 13 genera representing all 5 tribes of the Caesalpinioideae and from 16 species of 14 genera representing all 5 tribes of the Mimosoideae.