Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC.
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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 - Herbaceous twining vine to 3 m long, many-branched from a woody base; branches slender, cylindrical, pubescent. Leaves trifoliolate; leaflets 1.7-3 x 1.7-3 cm, widely ovate to rhombic, the lateral ones asymmetric, chartaceous, glabrous or puberulent, densely gland-dotted on lower surface, the apex acute to obtuse, the base cuneate on central leaflet, rounded-obtuse on laterals, the margins entire; petiolules minute, pubescent: rachis 4-8 mm long; petiole grooved, pubescent, to 3 cm long; stipules narrowly lanceolate, 2-3 mm long; stipels minute. Pseudoracemes axillary, to 10 cm long, few-flowered. Calyx ca. 23.5-3 mm long; corolla yellow, the standard 3.5-4 mm long, the wings and keel as long as the standard. Legume 1.2-1.6 x 0.4-0.5 cm, oblong, flattened, pubescent, dehiscent by twisting valves, brown when mature. Seeds 1 or 2, 3-4 mm long, kidney-shaped, light brown.
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Distribution
Common along roadsides and open ground. Enighed (A3921), Maria Bluff (A2337). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; common throughout the Caribbean and the tropics.
Virgin Gorda Virgin Islands South America| South America| 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|