Phaseolus lunatus L.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Phaseolus lunatus L.

  • Description

    Description - Herbaceous vine, twining, attaining 5-6 m in length. Stems obtuse-pentagonal or cylindrical, puberulent. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets chartaceous, the apex acute or short-acuminate, the margins sinuate; upper surface dark green, dull, glabrous, with slightly prominent venation; lower surface pale green or glaucous, glabrous, with the primary and secondary venation prominent; terminal leaflet 5.5-11 x 3.5-7.5 cm, rhombic or deltate, the base cuneate or truncate; lateral leaflets asymmetrically deltate, the base truncate; petiolules thickened, 3-5 mm long, pubescent; rachis 1 .5-2.5 cm long; petioles 6.5-9 cm long, sulcate, puberulent, the base slightly broadened. Inflorescences of axillary pseudoracemes, erect, 3-30 cm long, the flowers in groups of 2 per node of the inflorescence; pedicels 6-9 mm long, pilose; bracteoles minute, oblong. Calyx 2-2.5 mm long, green, campanulate. pilose, the sepals deltate. subequal; corolla white or lilac, pink or bluish, the standard semicircular, 7-10 mm long, abaxially pilose, the wings obovate, unguiculate, as long as the standard, the keel spirally twisted, ca. 1 cm long; stamens 10, diadelphous, the vexillar stamen broadened at the base; ovary with hispidulous pubescence, intermingled with uncinate hairs. Fruit an oblong-falcate legume or in the form of a half-moon, flattened, 5-7 x 1-2 cm, puberulent with uncinate hairs or glabrescent, dehiscent by valves that open in a spiral. Seeds reniform, flattened, ca. 7 mm long, reddish brown, with dark spots.

    Phenology - Collected in flower and fruit from December to June.

    Conservation Status - Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, locally common.