Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.
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Family
Fabaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Slightly woody vine, twining or creeping, much branched, attaining 3-5 m in length. Stems slender, cylindrical, hirsute. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets chartaceous, 2-10 x 1.5-6.5 cm, the apex obtuse to almost rounded, the base of the terminal leaflet cuneate to rounded, and that of the lateral leaflets markedly asymmetrical (obtuse-subtruncate), the margins entire; both surfaces dull, appressed-pubescent; lower surface with prominent venation. Inflorescences of axillary pseudoracemes, up to 10 cm long; rachis hirsute; bracts subulate, persistent, ca. 7 mm long. Calyx campanulate, 7-8 mm long, hirsute, the sepals subulate, caudate at the apex; corolla blue or purple, the standard 6-7 mm long, emarginate. Legume oblong-linear, flattened, hirsute, 2-4 x 0.3-0.5 cm. Seeds almost quadrangular, ca. 3 mm wide, reddish brown, shiny.
Phenology - Collected in flower and fruit from December to March.
Conservation Status - Exotic, naturalized, relatively common.
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Common Names
jicama