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slender-stem bean, slimjim bean, Wright's bean

Stems

climbing or trailing, to 300 cm.

trailing or climbing, to 250 cm.

Leaves

stipules spreading, ovate to triangular, 2 × 1 mm;

petiole 3.5–10 cm;

rachis 1.5–4 cm;

stipels lanceolate, 1.2 mm;

leaflet blades ovate-lanceolate, distinctly 3-lobed, with rounded or quadrate lobes basally, 4–8 × 5 cm, membranous to slightly papery, venation not reticulate, base truncate, apex acute, surfaces glabrous.

stipules usually ascending, ovate to broadly triangular, 1–2.5 × 0.8–2.4 mm;

petiole 2–5.5 cm;

rachis 0.5–2 cm;

stipels linear to ovate-lanceolate, 0.5–1.5 mm;

leaflet blades ovate in outline, not lobed or shallowly to deeply lobed basally, lobes quadrate-obtuse to oblong-attenuate, 1–5 × 1–4.5 cm, membranous to rigid, base broadly cuneate to truncate, apex obtuse to acute, surfaces covered with uncinate hairs, abaxially with incumbent hairs along veins.

Inflorescences

with basal and lateral branches, 5–20 cm;

main axis pubescent;

rachis 7–8 cm, flowers loosely spaced on elongated axis, with to 7 biflorous nodes;

bracts lanceolate, 1.3–1.5 × 1 mm, 3-veined.

1.2–16 cm;

axis covered with uncinate hairs;

rachis 0.2–7.5 cm, with 2–6 biflorous nodes;

primary bracts ovate to lanceolate, 1–2 × 0.5 mm, often pigmented, 3-veined.

Peduncles

4–11 cm.

often angled, 1–10 cm.

Pedicels

5–15 mm, hairs straight or curved;

bracteoles persistent, ovate-elliptic or oblong, 0.8 mm.

5 mm, hairs uncinate;

bracteoles persistent, oblong-ovate to narrowly triangular, 0.6–1.3 mm, often covered with uncinate hairs.

Flowers

calyx campanulate, 3.2 mm, strigillose;

lobes obtuse;

corolla pink to purplish, 13 mm;

banner broadly ovate, 9 mm, apex emarginate;

wings obovate, 12–13 mm;

keel 0.8 mm;

ovary lanceolate, 5 mm.

calyx campanulate, 2–3.5 mm, sparsely to densely covered with uncinate hairs;

abaxial and lateral lobes triangular;

adaxial lobes connate;

corolla pink, lavender, reddish to light purple, or white fading yellowish, 10 mm;

banner oblong to orbiculate, 10 mm, apex emarginate, surfaces glabrous;

wings obovate, 10 mm, apex acute or obtuse;

keel 6 mm;

ovary linear, 3 mm.

Legumes

pendent, compressed, lanceolate-falcate, 53–60 × 8–10 mm, dehiscent, valves leathery, glabrous.

pendent, compressed, linear-falcate, 23–35 × 4–5 mm, elastically dehiscent, valves membranous, sparsely covered with incumbent and uncinate hairs.

Seeds

5 or 6, light brown, mottled black, ovoid, 4 × 3.5 mm, smooth;

hilum lanceolate, 1 mm.

4–6(or 7), brown, usually oblong to quadrate, rarely reniform, 2–4.3 × 2.3–4 mm, rugose;

hilum ovate, 0.3 mm.

Vines

perennial, with tuberous taproots.

annual or short-lived perennial, frequently mat-forming, with slender taproots.

2n

= 22.

Phaseolus smilacifolius

Phaseolus filiformis

Phenology Flowering Aug–Sep. Flowering year-round.
Habitat Wet or mesic forests, coastal hydric hammocks, limestone soils. Sandy, gypsum, limestone, or volcanic soils, juniper communities, open oak-pine forests.
Elevation 0–50 m. (0–200 ft.) 0–1700 m. (0–5600 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
FL
from FNA
AZ; CA; NM; TX; Mexico (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Sonora)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Phaseolus smilacifolius is known from Alachua, Columbia, Levy, and Suwannee counties.

G. F. Freytag and D. G. Debouck (2002) listed specimens from Texas under this species; these later were used to describe Phaseolus texensis (A. Delgado-Salinas and W. R. Carr 2007).

Phaseolus smilacifolius has been proposed as a hybrid between P. polystachios and P. sinuatus; however, J. R. Abbott and W. S. Judd (2000) reported that plants in Waccasassa Bay State Preserve are distinctive and should be considered a separate species.

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

Phaseolus filiformis occurs from Riverside County, California, eastward through Arizona and New Mexico to western Texas (El Paso, Jeff Davis, and Presidio counties).

Phaseolus filiformis is easily distinguished by its slender taproot or fibrous root system, conspicuous variation in leaflet lobation, small number of flowers per inflorescence, falcate fruits, and seeds with rugose surfaces. In appearance, it is often confused with P. scabrellus, but the latter has a thick root system and smooth seeds.

Flowers, mature seeds, and immature pods are sometimes used as food (D. R. Newton 2013).

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

Source FNA vol. 11. FNA vol. 11.
Parent taxa Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Phaseolus Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Phaseolus
Sibling taxa
P. acutifolius, P. angustissimus, P. filiformis, P. leptostachyus, P. maculatus, P. parvulus, P. polystachios, P. ritensis, P. scabrellus, P. sinuatus, P. texensis
P. acutifolius, P. angustissimus, P. leptostachyus, P. maculatus, P. parvulus, P. polystachios, P. ritensis, P. scabrellus, P. sinuatus, P. smilacifolius, P. texensis
Synonyms P. polystachios subsp. smilacifolius P. sanctorum, P. wrightii
Name authority Pollard: Bot. Gaz. 21: 233. (1896) Bentham: Bot. Voy. Sulphur, 13. (1844)
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