Flora of North America species comparison

usually twining or trailing, rarely suberect, angled, base lignescent, strigose, hairs not uncinate, glabrescent.

alternate, odd-pinnate, pulvinate;

stipules present, persistent, sessile, not produced below point of insertion, striate;

petiolate, petiole and rachis canaliculate, pubescent, stipels present;

leaflets 3, blades membranous to leathery, often basally lobed, margins entire, surfaces sparsely pilose.

2–12[–30]-flowered, axillary, pseudoracemes, with 1 or 2 swollen floral nodes, glandular, flowers 2 per node;

bracts present, primary nodal bracts entire;

bracteoles present.

mostly shorter than calyx tube.

papilionaceous;

calyx campanulate to tubular, tube pleated, lobes 4 (by connation of 2 adaxial ones);

petals distinct;

corolla usually light purple or white-purple, rarely lavender;

banner forming hood at apex;

wings spatulate, conspicuously projected beyond distal bend of keel;

keel beak gradually twisted into a hook with conspicuous, interlocking, marginal hairs, distalmost portion of beak folded back on itself, tip of beak not hidden by wings;

stamens 10, diadelphous, vexillary stamen geniculate;

anthers sub-basifixed, dehiscing laterally, pollen tricolporate;

ovary with nectary disc at base, style distally thickened with short brush, extending beyond stigma, stigma laterally extrorse from torsion of style.

legumes, sessile, mostly erect, straight to slightly curved, linear-cylindric, short-beaked distally, sutures thickened, dehiscent, pubescent.

9–11[–13], oblique position from long funicles, oblong;

hilum lateral, aril broad-rimmed.

, annual [perennial], unarmed;

with thick taproot.

= 9.