Flora of North America species comparison

twining or trailing, densely pilose or hirsute, hairs spreading, not uncinate, glabrous, or glabrescent.

alternate, odd-pinnate, pulvinate;

stipules present, persistent, not produced proximal to insertion;

petiolate;

leaflets 3, stipels present, blade margins entire, surfaces pubescent or glabrous.

2–10-flowered, axillary, pseudoracemes, rachis with glandular, swollen nodes, 1 or 2 flowers per node;

bracts present;

bracteoles deciduous, ovate, shorter than calyx tube.

mostly shorter than calyx tube.

papilionaceous;

calyx campanulate, lobes 4, ca. 1/4 as long as tube;

lower and lateral lobes triangular to lanceolate, equal to or 2 times longer than tube, upper lobes triangular, broad and emarginate;

petals distinct;

corolla light to deep purple or deep lilac;

banner expanded at anthesis, usually hooded;

wings obovate, conspicuously projected beyond distal bend of keel;

keel beak sigmoid to coiled, distally flaplike, very tightly coiled distally, projected downward, tip not hidden by wings, not folded back distally;

stamens 10, diadelphous;

anthers sub-basifixed, oblong;

ovary straight, nectary disc at base;

style distally thickened with pollen brush distal to stigma;

stigma apical to slightly introrse or laterally extrorse.

legumes, sessile, compressed, narrowly linear or slightly curved, sometimes long-beaked at apex, dehiscent, puberulent or thinly strigose.

1–20, oblong to reniform, testa smooth.

, perennial, unarmed, base woody;

taproot woody.