Abstract Sixty-two legume seed samples representing 25 species were selected to investigate the identification of food and feed legumes by random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). Template DNA was extracted from defatted seed meal with SDS-containing buffer and purified by extraction with chloroform:isoamyl alcohol (24:1, v/v). Amplification was performed with Taq DNA polymerase and six commercially available 10-mer nucleotide primers using standard template dilutions for 12 species and optimum template concentrations ascertained by testing serial dilutions for the remaining species. Identification of 19 legume species, common beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris ), runner beans ( P. coccineus ), lima beans ( P. lunatus ), soybeans ( Glycine max ), broadbeans ( Vicia faba ), green gram ( Vigna radiata ), black gram ( V. mungo ), moth beans ( V. aconitifolia ), peas ( Pisum sativum ), chickpeas ( Cicer arietinum ), pigeon peas ( Cajanus cajan ), grasspeas ( Lathyrus sativus ), broad-leaved peas ( L. latifolius ), lentils ( Lens culinaris ), blue lupin ( Lupinus angustifolius ), European yellow lupin ( L. luteus ), white lupin ( L. albus ), alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ), and common sainfoin ( Onobrychis viciifolia ), was achieved using four of the primers. The technique may also be suitable to identify the remaining species studied, jackbeans ( Canavalia ensiformis ), swordbeans ( C. gladiata ), horsegram ( Macrotyloma uniflorum ), Florida velvetbean ( Mucuna deeringiana ), sweet trefoil ( Trigonella coerulea ), and birdsfoot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus ).