Canavalia rosea (Sw.) DC.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Canavalia rosea (Sw.) DC.

  • Description

    Species Description - Trailing or less often twining vine to 6 m long, many-branched from a woody base. Leaves trifoliolate; leaflets 4-10.4 x 3-10 cm, oblong, ovate, to orbicular, chartaceous, puberulent, the apex obtuse, rounded, notched, and mucronulate, the base broadly cuneate to rounded, the margins entire; rachis 3-4.5 cm long; petioles 4-6 cm long; stipules triangular, persistent. Flowers paired at swollen nodes along erect, elongate pseudoracemes; bracts minute, deciduous. Calyx 8-11 mm long, greenish, puberulent; corolla pink to purplish pink, the standard oval, 2-2.5 cm long, reflexed, white at center, wings and keel shorter than the standard, clawed. Legume 10-17 x 2.3-2.5 cm, oblong, nearly woody, ribbed along suture, beaked at apex, dehiscent along both sutures, the valves twisting. Seeds many, 1.5-1.8 cm long, ellipsoid, slightly compressed, brown, with white hilum.

  • Discussion

    Dolichos maritimus Aubl., Hist. PL Guiane 2: 765. 1775. Canavalia maritima (Aubl.) Urb., Repert.

    Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 15: 400. 1919. Canavalia maritima Thouars, J. Bot. Agric. 1: 80. 1813.

    Dolichos obtusifolius Lam., Encycl. 2: 295. 1786, non Jacq., 1768. Canavalia obtusifolia (Lam.) D C , Prodr. 2: 404. 1825.

  • Distribution

    A common coastal vine. Chocolate Hole {All6), Little Lameshur Bay (A2018). Also on Tortola and Virgin Gorda; throughout warm coastal areas of the world.

    Virgin Gorda Virgin Islands South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America|