Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC.
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Authority
Britton, Nathaniel L. & Millspaugh, Charles F. 1920. The Bahama Flora.
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Family
Fabaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Perennial herbs, with prostrate or twining stems. Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate; leaflets chartaceous or thick. Flowers large, in axillary peduncled racemes. Calyx 2-lipped, the upper lip truncate or 2-lobed, the lower one entire or 3-lobed. Standard reflexed, suborbieular; -wings curved or twisted; keelpetals incurved, broader than the wings, obtuse or with an inflexed or spiral beak. Stamens diadelphous (9 and 1) or monadelphous to the middle. Style glabrous, incurved. Ovules several. Pod flat or slightly swollen, oblong or broadly linear, 2-valvecL Seeds white, red or brown. [Aboriginal name in the South Sea Islands.] About 15 species, natives of tropical regions. Type species: Dolichos ensiformis L.