Macroptilium lathyroides (L.) Urb.
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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 - Erect or clambering herb, scarcely twining, with numerous basal or lateral branches, attaining 1.5-2(3) m in length. Stems almost cylindrical, up to 5 mm in diameter, pubescent, glabrescent. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets elliptical, ovate, or lanceolate, 3-5 x 2-3 cm, chartaceous, the apex mucronate, acute or obtuse, the base obtuse or cuneate, the margins entire; upper surface glabrous, dark green, dull; lower surface pale green, dull, puberulent, with prominent venation; petiolules thickened, pubescent. 2-3 mm long; petioles sulcate, pubescent, sometimes reddish, with the base thickened; stipules lanceolate. 5-10 mm long, with notable parallel venation; stipels subulate, minute. Inflorescences of axillary pseudoracemes, 15-30 cm long, the flowers paired on the swellings on the distal portion of the rachis. Calyx campanulate, 5-7 mm long, strigose or puberulent, the sepals lanceolate, two of which are slightly smaller than the rest; corolla maroon, pink, and sometimes white, the standard 1-1.5 cm long, the wings longer than the standard, concave, the keel shorter than the standard, recurved in the form of a spiral. Legume linear, somewhat flattened and recurved, 6-12 cm x ca. 3 mm, dehiscent by valves that open in a spiral. Seeds numerous, 2-3 mm long, oblong-reniform, dark brown.
Phenology - Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.
Conservation Status - Apparently native, very common.
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Common Names
habichuela parada, wild bush bean