Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC.
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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 - Non-woody vine, twining, attaining 1-4 m in length. Stems slender, densely pubescent, striate, cylindrical, with numerous resinous dots in the furrows. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate, chartaceous; margins entire, slightly revolute; upper surface dull, glabrous or white-pubescent, especially on the veins, with numerous orange resinous dots; lower surface pale green, glabrous, puberulent or pubescent, with minute orange resinous dots and the primary and secondary venation prominent; terminal leaflet rhombic, 0.9-2.8(7.5) x 0.6-2.8(6.3) cm, the apex acute or obtuse, the base cuneate; lateral leaflets asymmetrical, elliptical-ovate, slightly smaller than the terminal leaflet, the base obtuse; petiolules densely pubescent, 1-1.5 mm long; petiole striate, densely pubescent, 1.5-2 cm long; stipules subulate, 2-2.5 mm long, densely pubescent; stipels subulate, ca. 3 mm long. Inflorescence a raceme, as long as or longer than the leaves. Calyx green, the lobes lanceolate, 2-3 mm long; corolla yellow with purple or brown venation, the standard 5 mm long, orbicular-ovate; wings oblong, unguiculate, 4-5.5 mm long, with resinous dots. Legume falcate to oblong-ovate, flattened, minutely villous, 9-20 x 3-5 mm, with a beak at the apex. Seeds 2-3, ovate-reniform. dark brown to almost black, 3-4 mm long.
Phenology - Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.
Conservation Status - Probably exotic, naturalized, very common.
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Discussion
The seeds of Abrus precatorius are apt to be confused with those of Rhynchosia phaseoloides, since both have a similar coloration. Nevertheless, in R. phaseoloides the hilum is on the red portion ofthe seed, while in A. precatorius the hilum is on the black portion.
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Common Names
frijolillo, habilla