Macroptilium lathyroides (L.) Urb.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Fabaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Erect or scandent herb to 2(-3) m long, many-branched from base or along main stem. Leaves trifoliolate; leaflets 3-5 x 2- 3 cm, elliptic, ovate, or lanceolate, chartaceous, pubescent to puberulent on lower surface, the apex mucronulate, acute or obtuse, the base obtuse or cuneate, the margins entire; petiolules 2-3 mm long, pubescent; rachis 1-1.5 cm long; stipules lanceolate, straw-colored, to 1 cm long; stipels awl-shaped, minute, persistent. Pseudoracemes axillary, to 30 cm long, the flowers shortly pedicellate, borne on swollen nodes; bracts minute, persistent. Calyx 5-6 mm long, pubescent; corolla burgundy, the standard to 1.5 cm long, the keel spirally twisted. Legume 6-12 cm long, linear, cylindrical, dehiscent by twisting valves. Seeds numerous, 2-3 mm long, oblong.
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Discussion
Common name: wild-bush-bean.
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Distribution
A common roadside weed. Cruz Bay (A860), Fish Bay (A3879), Lameshur (A2757). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Tortola; the West Indies and Central America.
Central America| West Indies| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|