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abrus

Stems

twining, pubescent becoming glabrescent.

Leaves

alternate, even-pinnate;

stipules present;

petiolate;

leaflets 16–40, opposite, stipels absent or minute, blade margins entire, surfaces glabrous or pubescent.

Inflorescences

10–30-flowered, axillary or terminal, racemes [pseudoracemes or fascicles];

bracts and bracteoles present.

Flowers

papilionaceous;

calyx campanulate, lobes 5;

corolla pink or lavender to white, [yellowish, blue, or purplish];

stamens 9, vexillary stamen absent, connate 1/2 length;

anthers dorsifixed, uniform or 4 smaller;

ovary densely strigose;

style slightly curved, relatively short, glabrous;

stigma terminal, capitate, penicillate.

Fruits

legumes, subsessile, slightly inflated [compressed], curved, oblong [linear], beaked, elastically dehiscent, puberulent.

Seeds

(1–)3–7, subglobose [ellipsoid and compressed].

Vines

, perennial, woody or suffrutescent, unarmed.

Abrus

Distribution
from USDA
Asia; Africa; pantropical; tropical; and subtropical regions [Introduced, Florida; introduced also in Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Indian Ocean Islands, Pacific Islands, Australia]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Species ca. 17 (1 in the flora).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 11. Authors: Velva E. Rudd†, Michael A. Vincent.
Parent taxa Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae
Subordinate taxa
A. precatorius
Name authority Adanson: Fam. Pl. 2: 327, 511. (1763)
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