Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 30 - 2550 m.; Amazonia, Andes, Orinoquia, Pacífico.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba, trepadora

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Amazonia, Andean, Orinoquia, Pacific. Elevation range: 30–2550 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Amazonas, Antioquia, Bogotá DC, Caquetá, Cundinamarca, Huila, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Valle del Cauca, Vaupés.

Habit

Herb, Climbing.

Conservation

IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, native grassland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.

Vernacular

Fríjol, Frísol

Kew Species Profiles

General Description

Phaseolus vulgaris is widely cultivated for its delicious seeds which add flavour and protein to the diets of millions of people throughout the world. This ancient crop belongs in the legume family and like many other legumes it has an ability to fix nitrogen from the air through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria housed in root nodules. As a result, common bean is high in protein and in many parts of the world it is considered the 'meat of the poor'. The impressive diversity of colours, textures and tastes of the common bean make it a popular choice for people everywhere. 

Species Profile

Geography and distribution

The common bean originated in Central and South America where small seeded wild types can still be found growing today. Domestication occurred in Central America (Mexico and Guatemala) and in South America (Peru) independently leading to two distinct genepools.

The common bean is an ancient crop and archaeological evidence indicates that it was being cultivated as early as 6,000 BC. The crop was brought to Africa in the 16th century by Portuguese traders and carried to high altitude regions by slave trading caravans and merchants.

Today, common bean is a globally important crop, especially in North and South America, Europe and Africa. They are less common in India, where other pulses are preferred. 

Description

Overview: Phaseolus vulgaris is an annual herb up to 3 metres long which can be found growing in climbing, trailing, or erect and bushy forms. It has a well developed taproot with many lateral roots. 

Leaves: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem; each leaf supported by a petiole (appendage which connects the leaf to the stem) which is grooved above and thickened at the base and can be up to 30 cm long. Each leaf is composed of 3 ovate (2 dimensional egg-shaped) leaflets, up to 20 cm x 15 cm in size. 

Flowers: The flowers are arranged alone or in pairs along an unbranched axis (a raceme). The flowers are white, pale purple or red-purple and are papilionaceous, resembling those of the pea, Pisum sativum . Each flower has 10 stamens (male reproductive organs), nine of which are fused into a partial tube, with the tenth stamen free. The ovary (female reproductive organ) is positioned above the sepals, petals and stamens. The style is upturned and spiralled, with a collar of fine hairs below the stigma. 

Fruits: The fruit is a linear pod up to 20 cm long which is fleshy when immature and can be green, yellow, red or purple and contains up to 12 seeds. The seeds are up to 2 cm long and can be rounded, kidney-shaped, ellipsoid or oblong. They vary in colour from black, brown and yellow types to red, white, speckled and flecked forms. 

Uses

Common bean is an important food crop adding flavour, protein and essential vitamins and minerals (such as iron and folic acid) to the diets of millions of people throughout the world. The dry mature seed are mostly eaten as a pulse and the immature pods and seeds as a vegetable. Common bean is often considered the 'meat of the poor' and forms the main protein source for people in many countries although it is also popular with wealthier consumers. 

In tropical Africa the seeds are typically boiled with seasoning and oil. They can also be eaten mashed or made into soup. The seeds of the common bean are canned in many parts of the world, either alone or in tomato sauce. When food is scarce some people consume the leaves as a vegetable, but the majority of cultivars have leaves which are too tough to be eaten. In Java, the young leaves of the plant are eaten as a salad.

In temperate regions it is more common to grow Phaseolus vulgaris for its green immature pods (French bean) which are canned, frozen or eaten fresh.

As well as being an excellent food source for humans, the crop can be used as fodder to feed animals.

Common bean plays an important role in folk medicine and is said to relieve a variety of ailments from acne and diabetes to diarrhoea, eczema and even hiccups.

Some unusual uses for Phaseolus vulgaris include using the leaves to trap bedbugs in houses (the insects get caught on the leaf's microscopic hairs (trichomes), and using the beans to tell fortunes, a method of divination known as favomancy. 

Crop wild relatives of common bean

The Millennium Seed Bank and the Global Crop Diversity Trust are engaged in a ten-year project, called 'Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change'. The project aims to protect, collect and prepare the wild relatives of 29 key food crops, including common bean, so that they are available to pre-breeders for the development of new varieties that are more resilient to the effects of climate change.

Millennium Seed Bank: Seed storage

The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership aims to save plants worldwide, focusing on those plants which are under threat and those which are of most use in the future. Once seeds have been collected they are dried, packaged and stored at -20°C in our seed bank vault.

Description of seeds: Average 1,000 seed weight = 319 g

Number of seed collections stored in the Millennium Seed Bank: One

Seed storage behaviour: Orthodox (the seeds of this plant can be dried to low moisture contents without significantly reducing their viability. This means they are suitable for long-term frozen storage such as at the MSB)

Germination testing: Successful

This species at Kew

Pressed and dried specimens of common bean are held in Kew's Herbarium, where they are available to researchers by appointment. Details and images of some of these specimens can be seen online in Kew's Herbarium Catalogue.

Distribution

Mexico, Peru

Ecology

Phaseolus vulgarism grows best in well-drained soils up to 0.5 metres deep at an optimum pH of 6.0-7.5.

Conservation

Widespread in cultivation.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/71777161/173264641

Conservation

LC - least concern

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

Annual climber or suberect herb 0·2–several m. tall.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrescent or pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets 3, ovate or ovate-rhombic, the laterals oblique, 4·5–15 cm. long, 2·5–6·5 cm. wide, acuminate, ± rounded at the base, pubescent; petiole 4–9 cm. long; rhachis 1·2–4 cm. long; petiolules 1·5–2·5 mm. long; stipules lanceolate, 4 mm. long, ribbed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 1–3-flowered or flowers solitary, shorter than the leaves; peduncles 0–5 cm. long; pedicels 3–10 mm. long; bracts ovate, 3 mm. long; bracteoles conspicuous, ovate-lanceolate, 5–6 mm. long, 2·5–3·5 mm. wide, conspicuously veined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx puberulous; tube 2–3 mm. long; lobes ± 1 mm. long, the upper pair joined to form a slightly emarginate lip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard oblate-oblong, 1(–1·9) cm. long, 1·1 cm. wide, glabrous; keel spirally incurved, ± 2·2 cm. long. Corolla white, yellowish, purple or dark or pale pink.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods linear-lanceolate, (5–)10–12-seeded, 11–12·5(–20) cm. long, 1–1·3 cm. wide, compressed, beaked, puberulous or glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds oblong-ellipsoid or reniform, compressed, longest dimension 0·9–2 cm., shorter dimension 0·3–1·2 cm., 0·4–1·1 cm. thick.

Habitat

Cultivations, also as an escape in waste places; 1750–1950 m.

Distribution

probably in every districtof American origin, now the most widely cultivated bean throughout the world K3 T2 T3 T7 U2

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds Protein Content

23.20% Entire seed/nut. Moisture content not stated (Earle & Jones, 1962)

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Cultivated

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Climbing/Not climbing, Herb

Vernacular

Adi Lobya, Bakla, Bohne, Bruna Bonor, Chichees Buurtzag, Common Bean, Common Haricot, Darzines Pupeles, Dwarf Bean, Egel Shosh, Fagiolo Comune, Fasol Obyknovennaya, Fasola Zwykla, Fasole Comuna, Fasole Urketoare, Fasolya Zvychainaya, Feijao, Feijoeiro, Fi

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

aguadeño, ahumado, algarrobeño, algarrobo, amarillo de mata, américa, andino trepador, angulo, antioqueño, antioquia, argentina, argüello, azul, azulín, bala, bala rojo, balín, balita, balitas, bambaro, bambaro negro, barbuches, barcino, barrero, bayo, bayo rayado, bejuquiador, berraquito, bichirito, blanco, blanco chico, blanco enredadera, blanco grande de Ecuador, blanco redondo, blanco sabanero, blanquillo, blanquillo de árbol, boca de ángel, boca de sapo, bocatigre, bola, bola maní, bola maní morado, bola roja, bolito, bolivariano, boliviano, bolo, bolo rojo trepador, bolón blanco, bolón rojo, cabro, cacha, cachaco, cachinegro, cafecito, cagatinta, cagavivo, caicedonia, calabocito, calabozo, calima de tallo, canario, canchuncho, capio de enredadera, capulí, caraota negra, carauta, caregato, carerratón, careto, careto negro, carevaca, cargabello, cargamantico, cargamanto, cargamanto blanco, cargamanto blanco de árbol, cargamanto carmeño, cargamanto colorado, cargamanto corriente, cargamanto de arbolito, cargamanto de mata, cargamanto gerardito, cargamanto gigante, cargamanto grueso, cargamanto menudo, cargamanto mocho, cargamanto petaco, cargamanto rojo, cargamanto rosado, cargamento ecuatoriano, cargamento pintas negras, cariaco, carmín, carricito, catalino, caucano, cejón, cejudito, cejudo, chico, chiguano, chileno, chimbolo, chincheño, chiquito, chiquito colorado, chiro, chirolico, chiva, chivo, chochito, chocho, chorlo, chulito, coloradito, colorado, colorado de tallo, conejo, consentido, copetón, crema, criollo, cristal bayo, cuarentano, culateño, cunde, diablo, enredador, estrada blanco, estrada de árbol, estrada rosado, facultad, federado, felidia, flor de Nima, fontana, fríjol, fríjol aguadeño, fríjol ahumado, fríjol algarrobeño, fríjol algarrobo, fríjol amarillo, fríjol amarillo de mata, fríjol américa, fríjol andino trepador, fríjol angulo, fríjol antioqueño, fríjol antioquia, fríjol año, fríjol arbolito, fríjol arbolito blanco, fríjol argentina, fríjol argüello, fríjol azul, fríjol azulín, fríjol bala, fríjol bala rojo, fríjol balín, fríjol balita, fríjol balitas, fríjol bambaro, fríjol bambaro negro, fríjol barbuches, fríjol barcino, fríjol barrero, fríjol bayo, fríjol bayo rayado, fríjol bejuco, fríjol bejuquiador, fríjol berraquito, fríjol bichirito, fríjol blanco, fríjol blanco chico, fríjol blanco enredadera, fríjol blanco grande de Ecuador, fríjol blanco redondo, fríjol blanco sabanero, fríjol blanquillo, fríjol blanquillo de árbol, fríjol boca de ángel, fríjol boca de sapo, fríjol bocatigre, fríjol bola, fríjol bola maní, fríjol bola maní morado, fríjol bola roja, fríjol bola rojo, fríjol bolito, fríjol bolivariano, fríjol boliviano, fríjol bolo, fríjol bolo rojo trepador, fríjol bolón blanco, fríjol bolón rojo, fríjol bolorrojo, fríjol cabro, fríjol cachaco, fríjol cachinegro, fríjol cafecito, fríjol cagatinta, fríjol cagavivo, fríjol caicedonia, fríjol calabocito, fríjol calabozo, fríjol calima, fríjol calima de tallo, fríjol canario, fríjol canchuncho, fríjol capio de enredadera, fríjol capulí, fríjol caraota negra, fríjol carauta, fríjol caregato, fríjol caregente, fríjol carerratón, fríjol careto, fríjol careto negro, fríjol carevaca, fríjol cargabello, fríjol cargamantico, fríjol cargamanto, fríjol cargamanto blanco, fríjol cargamanto blanco de árbol, fríjol cargamanto carmeño, fríjol cargamanto colorado, fríjol cargamanto corriente, fríjol cargamanto de arbolito, fríjol cargamanto de mata, fríjol cargamanto gerardito, fríjol cargamanto gigante, fríjol cargamanto grueso, fríjol cargamanto menudo, fríjol cargamanto mocho, fríjol cargamanto petaco, fríjol cargamanto rojo, fríjol cargamanto rosado, fríjol cargamento ecuatoriano, fríjol cargamento pintas negras, fríjol cargamento rojo, fríjol cariaco, fríjol carmín, fríjol carricito, fríjol catalino, fríjol caucano, fríjol cejón, fríjol cejudito, fríjol cejudo, fríjol cenizo, fríjol chico, fríjol chiguano, fríjol chileno, fríjol chimbolo, fríjol chincheno, fríjol chincheño, fríjol chiquito, fríjol chiquito colorado, fríjol chiro, fríjol chirolico, fríjol chiva, fríjol chivo, fríjol chochito, fríjol chocho, fríjol chorlo, fríjol chulito, fríjol coloradito, fríjol colorado, fríjol colorado de tallo, fríjol común, fríjol común de enredadera, fríjol común negro, frijol común pintado, fríjol común pintado, fríjol conejo, fríjol consentido, fríjol copetón, fríjol crema, fríjol criollo, fríjol criollo blanco, fríjol cristal bayo, fríjol cuarentano, fríjol cuarzo, fríjol culateño, fríjol cunde, fríjol de año, fríjol de árbol, fríjol de arbolito, fríjol de bejuco, fríjol de bola, fríjol de guasca, fríjol de jardín, fríjol de la tierra, fríjol de mata, fríjol de monte, fríjol de perro, fríjol de pie, fríjol de tallo, fríjol de tierra, fríjol de vara, fríjol de yunga, fríjol del monte, fríjol diablo, fríjol duba, fríjol enredador, fríjol estrada blanco, fríjol estrada de árbol, fríjol estrada rosado, fríjol facultad, fríjol federado, fríjol felidia, fríjol flor de Nima, fríjol fontana, fríjol frutilla, fríjol galeras, fríjol garrapatero, fríjol garrapato, fríjol garrapato enredadera, fríjol gerardito, fríjol grande, fríjol granito de oro, fríjol guadeño, fríjol guamo, fríjol guanábano, fríjol guarango, fríjol guarcillo, fríjol guarcillo negro, fríjol guarcillo rojo, fríjol guarso, fríjol guarzo, fríjol guarzo amarillo, fríjol guarzo colorado, fríjol guarzo de árbol, fríjol guarzo de vara, fríjol guarzo nariño, fríjol guarzo rayado de árbol, fríjol guarzo rojo, fríjol guarzo sesentano, fríjol guasca, fríjol güesito, fríjol guifarito, fríjol guifarito negro, fríjol guinche, fríjol gurrubo, fríjol habascundas, fríjol habichuela, fríjol habichuela amarilla, fríjol habichuela blanca, fríjol habichuela enredadera, fríjol habichuela negra, fríjol habichuelo, fríjol higuerillo, fríjol holstein, fríjol hondano, fríjol huevo de pinche, fríjol huevo de tominejo, fríjol huinche, fríjol indio, fríjol jardinerito, fríjol juanoy, fríjol labrancero, fríjol lajero, fríjol las guacas, fríjol liberal, fríjol liborinito, fríjol liborinito redondo, fríjol liborino, fríjol liborino alargado, fríjol liborino de mata, fríjol liborino de tallo, fríjol liborino pintas negras, fríjol liborino pintas rojas, fríjol lima, fríjol limoncillo, fríjol limoneño, fríjol llanero, fríjol luciano, fríjol luciano guasca, fríjol macías, fríjol magola, fríjol maicero, fríjol mandarino, fríjol maní, fríjol mantequillo, fríjol mantonegro, fríjol matahambre, fríjol matahambre negro, fríjol matahambre rosado, fríjol matambre, fríjol matero, fríjol matero lajero, fríjol mazamorrero, fríjol mediaceja, fríjol mitaquero, fríjol mocho, fríjol mocho moro, fríjol mojito, fríjol moniquireño, fríjol monte, fríjol monte oscuro, fríjol montería, fríjol montoyita, fríjol moradito, fríjol morado, fríjol moro, fríjol mortiñito, fríjol mortiño, fríjol mortiño alargado, fríjol mortiño negro, fríjol mortiño rojo, fríjol motilón, fríjol nariño, fríjol negrillo, fríjol negrito, fríjol negrito chiquito, fríjol negro, fríjol nevado, fríjol nima, fríjol ocañero, fríjol pajarito, fríjol pájaro, fríjol palisero, fríjol palomo, fríjol panameño, fríjol paperito, fríjol paradillo, fríjol pardo, fríjol pelagañote, fríjol peoresnada, fríjol peruano, fríjol petaco, fríjol petaco guasabreño, fríjol pico de oro, fríjol pielroja, fríjol pintadito, fríjol pintado, fríjol pintado blanco, fríjol piojillo, fríjol pirolo, fríjol plomo, fríjol popayán, fríjol poroto, fríjol poroto amarillo, fríjol poroto rey de los negros, fríjol quebrollo, fríjol quincharito, fríjol quincho pinto, fríjol quincho rojo, fríjol rabo de gallo, fríjol radical, fríjol radical de enredadera, fríjol radical restrepo, fríjol radicalito, fríjol rastrojero, fríjol rayadito, fríjol rayado, fríjol regional, fríjol regional pintado, fríjol repelente, fríjol revoltorio, fríjol revoltura, fríjol revoltura de liborino, fríjol revoltura de los indios, fríjol riñón rojo, fríjol rochela, fríjol rochela negro, fríjol rochela radical, fríjol rochelas, fríjol rochelitas, fríjol rochelo, fríjol rofis, fríjol rojito, fríjol rojo, fríjol rojo común, fríjol rojo grande, fríjol rojo huila, fríjol romano, fríjol rosado, fríjol ruanaalhombro, fríjol rubo, fríjol rugo, fríjol sabanero, fríjol sabanero oscuro, fríjol sanantonio, fríjol sánchez, fríjol sangileño, fríjol sangre de toro, fríjol sangre de toro café, fríjol sangre de toro grande, fríjol sangre de toro morado, fríjol sangre de toro pequeño, fríjol sangretoro, fríjol sangretoro enredador, fríjol sangretoro grande, fríjol sangretoro pequeño, fríjol sangretoro voluble, fríjol sanjorge, fríjol santalucía, fríjol santo, fríjol santo grueso, fríjol sardinato, fríjol sardinato de arbolito, fríjol sardo italiano, fríjol sinvergüenza, fríjol tabla roja, fríjol tallo, fríjol tamarindo, fríjol tempranero, fríjol tena, fríjol tenzano, fríjol tía, fríjol tierra, fríjol tierrero, fríjol tipo calima redondo, fríjol todoelaño, fríjol tolima, fríjol torta, fríjol tórtolo, fríjol trepador de Manizales, fríjol trillo, fríjol tumbamaíz, fríjol tunjano, fríjol ubre de vaca, fríjol uribe, fríjol uribe catarina, fríjol uribe de árbol, fríjol uribe jaspeado, fríjol uribe largo, fríjol uribe limoneño, fríjol uribe macías, fríjol uribe oscuro, fríjol uribe redondo, fríjol uribe rojo, fríjol uribe rosado, fríjol vaca, fríjol vagabundo, fríjol vagamundito, fríjol vagamundo, fríjol vaina larga, fríjol vaquitas, fríjol varero, fríjol venadito, fríjol victorio, fríjol villorito, fríjol villorro, fríjol zaragoza, fríjol zaragoza blanca, fríjol zaragoza cuarentana, fríjol zaragoza roja, fríjol zarzaleño, fríjol zarzaleño de árbol, frijolillo criollo combinado, frijolito rojo, frisol, frisol de monte, frisol gigante, frisol indio, frisol mantequilla, frisol rochela negro, frisol rochelas, frisol rosado, frisol villorro, frutilla, galeras, garrapatero, garrapato, garrapato enredadera, gerardito, granito de oro, guadeño, guamo, guanábano, guarango, guarcillo, guarcillo negro, guarcillo rojo, guarzo, guarzo amarillo, guarzo colorado, guarzo de árbol, guarzo de vara, guarzo nariño, guarzo rayado de árbol, guarzo rojo, guarzo sesentano, guasca, güesito, guifarito, guifarito negro, guinche, gurrubo, habascundas, habichuela amarilla, habichuela blanca, habichuela enredadera, habichuela negra, habichuelo, higuerillo, holstein, hondano, huevo de pinche, huevo de tominejo, indio, juanoy, labrancero, lajero, las guacas, liberal, liborinito, liborinito redondo, liborino, liborino alargado, liborino de mata, liborino de tallo, liborino pintas negras, liborino pintas rojas, limoncillo, limoneño, llanero, luciano, luciano guasca, macías, magola, maicero, mandarino, maní, mantonegro, matahambre, matahambre negro, matahambre rosado, matambre, matero, matero lajero, mazamorrero, mediaceja, mitaquero, mocho moro, moniquireño, monte, monte oscuro, montería, montoyita, moradito, morado, moro, mortiñito, mortiño, mortiño alargado, mortiño negro, mortiño rojo, motilón, nariño, negrillo, negrito, negrito chiquito, negro, nevado, ocañero, pajarito, pájaro, palisero, palomo, panameño, paperito, paradillo, pardo, pelagañote, peoresnada, peruano, petaco, petaco guasabreño, pico de oro, pielroja, pintadito, pintado, pintado blanco, piojillo, pirolo, plomo, popayán, poroto, poroto amarillo, poroto rey de los negros, quebrollo, quincharito, quincho pinto, quincho rojo, rabo de gallo, radical, radical de enredadera, radical restrepo, radicalito, rastrojero, rayadito, rayado, regional, regional pintado, revoltorio, revoltura, revoltura de liborino, revoltura de los indios, riñón rojo, rochela, rochela negro, rochela radical, rochelas, rochelitas, rochelo, rofis, rojito, rojo, rojo común, rojo grande, rojo huila, romano, rosado, ruanaalhombro, rubo, rugo, sabanero, sabanero oscuro, sanantonio, sánchez, sangileño, sangre de toro, sangre de toro café, sangre de toro grande, sangre de toro morado, sangre de toro pequeño, sangretoro, sangretoro enredador, sangretoro grande, sangretoro pequeño, sangretoro voluble, sanjorge, santalucía, sardinato, sardinato de arbolito, sardo italiano, sinvergüenza, tabla roja, tamarindo, tapajeño, tempranero, tena, tenzano, tía, tierrero, todoelaño, tolima, torta, tórtolo, trepador de Manizales, trillo, tumbamaíz, tunjano, ubre de vaca, uribe, uribe catarina, uribe de árbol, uribe jaspeado, uribe largo, uribe limoneño, uribe macías, uribe oscuro, uribe redondo, uribe rojo, uribe rosado, vaca, vagabundo, vagamundito, vagamundo, vaina larga, vaquitas, varero, venadito, victorio, villorito, villorro, zaragoza, zaragoza blanca, zaragoza cuarentana, zaragoza roja, zarzaleño, zarzaleño de árbol

Seed Collecting Guide. RBG Kew (2013-2016)

Morphology General Habit

Perrenial climbing indeterminate vine, tending to be Annual, 1-6 m long, at ground level to 2-3 cm thick, strongly twinging erect, often branching

Morphology Leaves

8-16 cm long; petiole 3-5 cm long; petiolule 1.5-2.5 cm long, moderately covered with strigose and shorter uncinate hairs; pulvini 3-5 mm long, moderately covered with strigose hairs; terminal leaflet ovate to broadly ovate, 4-8 cm long, 3-7 cm wide at just below midpoint

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

pseudoraceme, often 2-4 flowers, sometimes many flowered, vertical to extending horizontally; pedunde 5-8 cm long, rachis 3-9 cm long, usually 4-6 flowering nodes but may have as many as 8 or more, with 2 per node, heavily to moderately covered with short uncinate hairs; primary bracts broadly ovate, 4 mm long, 3.5 mm wide, heavily 8- to 12- nerved, glabrous to pubescent, minutely ciliate near tip

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

flower purple, white, or bicolour, infrequently veined purple; calyx bilabiate, 4 mm long, the upper two teeth united, scarcely elongated, emarginated

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

pod nearly linear to slightly curved, 5-6.5 cm long, 5-7 mm wide, 3-5 mm thick, inflated but compressed, the beak curved, 3-6 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

seed oblong-rhomboid to spherical, 5-10 mm long, 4-7 mm wide, 3-4.5 mm deep.

Ecology

dryer localities of desert to thorny scrub, on hill sides or steep slopes in open pine-oak forest. altitude1000 - 2800 m

Distribution

Argentina, Guatemala, Peru, venezuela.

Conservation

least concerned

Phenology

Flower (may - july), fruit (august - november)

Use

Food, fodder, medicine.

Use

Food and Drink, Forage, Medicine