Rhynchosia edulis

Herbs. Stems erect, suberect, decumbent, procumbent, or twining, viscid, hirsute, hairs yellowish. Leaves trifoliolate; stipules persistent, linear to narrowly lanceolate, 3–9 × 0.5–1.5 mm, apex acute to acuminate, surfaces hirsute; petiole 15–55 mm, hirsute; leaflet blades lanceolate to obovate-oblong or ovate-deltate, 15–70 × 10–60 mm, membranous or leathery, gland-dotted, often viscid, base obtuse to rounded or truncate, margins ciliate, slightly revolute, apex acute to acuminate, surfaces strongly reticulate and sparsely to densely hirsute abaxially, strigulose to strigose adaxially. Inflorescences racemes, equal to or longer than leaves, 2.5–20 cm. Pedicels 1–3 mm. Flowers: calyx 4–7 mm, hirsute, tube 1.5–2 mm, lobes lanceolate, laterals 2–2.5 mm, lengths to 2.5 times tube, adaxials 1.5–3 mm; corolla yellow, striped reddish brown or purple; banner widely ovate to obovate, 7–10 × 4–5 mm, slightly apiculate, hirtellous and gland-dotted; wings narrowly oblong, 6.5–9 × 1.5–2 mm, gland-dotted, puberulent apically; keel 6.5–9 × 2–3 mm, glabrous; stamens 6–9 mm. Legumes oblong-ovoid, compressed, 16–26 × 6–8 mm, often viscid, long-hirsute to puberulent, hairs intermixed, glabrescent. Seeds greenish brown or mottled, widely ovoid to subglobose, compressed, 4–5 × 3–4 mm.

Phenology: Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat: Sandy or clay soils of woodland, thickets, ravines, pastures, stream banks, roadsides.
Elevation: 800–1500 m.

Ariz., Mexico (Chiapas, Durango, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Veracruz), Central America, South America.

Discussion

In Arizona, Rhynchosia edulis is found only in Santa Cruz County.

Dolicholus melanostictus (Grisebach) Kuntze is an illegitimate name that pertains here.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa