The characteristics of micropyle, hilum and lens in seeds of 12 species and 3 subspecies representing 8
genera of the Mimosoideae were examined by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The micropyle and
hilum features proved useful in the delimitation of some taxa at the species and subspecies levels. The
combination of lens characteristics (including the lens position in relation to hilum and the lens elevation
concomitantly with the lens shape) offered indispensable criteria for separation of the taxa primarily at the
species level and sometimes at the subspecies level as well as very rarely at the rank of genus. A key to the
taxa investigated was provided based mainly upon the lens characteristics.