Flora of North America species comparison

4–6 cm × 5–10 mm proximally, to 20+ cm × 1–2 mm distally.

trailing to scandent and twining, wiry, pubescent, hairs microuncinate.

1–4, 2–3 m × 1–2 mm.

alternate, odd-pinnate;

stipules present, persistent, striate;

petiolate;

leaflets 3, blade margins entire, surfaces glabrate abaxially, uncinulate-hairy adaxially.

stipules deltate, 1 mm;

petiole angular, sulcate adaxially, 1–4 cm;

stipels persistent, striate, linear to subulate, 1–2 mm;

petiolules 1.5–2 mm;

rachis 0.5–1.5 cm;

leaflet blades elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate to lanceolate, 15–55 × 8–25 mm, leathery, base rotund to truncate, primary lateral veins 5–7 pairs, apex broadly acute.

1 or 2(–4)-flowered, axillary, pseudoracemes;

bracts present, persistent;

bracteoles deciduous in fruit, appressed to calyx, often obscuring calyx tube and distal and lateral lobes.

1 per node, 3–8 cm;

bracts striate, concave around pedicel, elliptic-ovate, 4–6 mm;

bracteoles striate, lanceolate-ovate, 8–10 × 4–5 mm, adaxial surface with uncinulate hairs;

rachis flexuous, 1–1.5 cm, strigose.

paired, borne laterally at peduncle apex, spirally twisted to invert flowers.

5–8 mm, 10–14 mm in fruit, thinly pilose.

papilionaceous, resupinate, showy;

calyx campanulate, lobes 5, equal to or longer than tube, 2 abaxial lobes connate, adaxial lobe conspicuous, often extending between bracteoles;

corolla lavender, pinkish lavender, bluish violet, or purple, 20–35(–40) mm, banner conduplicate, spurred or gibbous, distal to claw, obovate-orbiculate, emarginate, with medial white stripe on adaxial surface;

wings slightly adherent to keel, falcate-obovate, with auricles distal to claw, subequal to keel;

keel incurved, adaxial margin broadly U-shaped;

stamens 10, diadelphous, distinct apically;

anthers dorsifixed or basifixed, uniform;

style strongly incurved, broadly U-shaped, flattened, base persistent as beak in fruit, ± dilated apically, barbellate near apex.

calyx tube 3–4 × 5–7 mm, lobes unequal, abaxial and lateral ones 4–6 mm, adaxial one 8–11 mm, hairs uncinulate;

corolla lavender to pinkish lavender;

banner 20–30 mm, claw 5–6 mm, spur 2 mm;

wings 20–24 × 4 mm, claw 5–6 mm;

keel 20–25 × 10–11 mm, claw 4–5 mm;

staminal tube 32–34 mm;

apical distinct filaments 3–4 mm;

ovary 16–19 mm;

style 17–20 mm, apex dilated 2 × 1 mm, barbate.

legumes, sessile, green, straight, compressed, flat with raised rib near margin, linear, 3–6 mm wide, dehiscent by valves breaking from replum and spirally twisting to expel seeds, glabrate.

dehiscence causing valve to twist 2–3 turns, (70–)90–125 × 5–6 mm;

beak 8–12 mm.

8–18, reniform, smooth.

8–12, brownish black, 3–4 × 4–5 × 1 mm.

= 10.