Sigmoidotropis antillana
Amer. J. Bot. 98: 1711. 2011.
Vines 3–7 m. Stems twining or trailing, hollow, striate, hirsute, hairs sometimes retrorse. Leaves: stipules ovate-lanceolate, 4–8 × 4 mm; petiole 6–8 cm; rachis 2–2.5 cm; stipels persistent, awl-shaped, minute; leaflets membranous to papery, blades broadly ovate to deltate, lateral ones asymmetric, 3–9 × 2–7.5 cm, base cuneate to truncate, apex acuminate, surfaces glabrous. Inflorescences to 40 cm, flowers clustered at 2–5 nodes; bracts persistent, minute. Pedicels 1–2 mm; bracteoles 3 mm. Flowers light to deep purple, 2–3 cm; calyx 4–7 mm, puberulent, lower lobes triangular, 3 mm, lateral lobes lanceolate, slightly curved, upper lobe obtuse; banner oblong, 2–2.5 × 2 cm; wings obovate, 2–2.2 × 1–1.5 cm; keel beak sigmoid; vexillary stamen geniculate at base. Legumes narrowly linear to slightly curved, 6–14 × 0.5 cm, puberulent. Seeds 13–17, oblong to oval-reniform, 3.5–4 × 2–3 mm.
Phenology: Flowering Nov–Mar.
Habitat: Coastal areas, limestone soils.
Elevation: 0–10 m.
Distribution
Introduced; Fla., West Indies (Lesser Antilles), n South America.
Discussion
Sigmoidotropis antillana is known in the flora area from Miami-Dade County.
The name Phaseolus alatus Linnaeus was rejected in order to preserve the name Vigna antillana (now Sigmoidotropis antillana), a well-known species of the West Indies (A. Delgado-Salinas and N. J. Turland 2008).
Selected References
None.