Vines perennial, with tuberous taproots. Stems trailing, 100 to 400 cm. Leaves: stipules spreading or reflexed, tri­an­gular to lanceolate, 1.5–3.5 × 0.5–1.5 mm, often stri­gil­lose; petiole and rachis with same pubescence as stem; petiole (2–)3–6(–9) cm; rachis (0.5–)1–2(–2.5) cm; stipels ovate, 1 mm, proximal stipels ovate to lanceolate, 1–2.5 mm; leaflet blades usually 3-lobed, sometimes deltate or broadly ovate, 2–4 × 1–3 cm, leathery, venation reticulate, base obtuse or broadly rounded, apex usually obtuse, rarely acute, surfaces abaxially sparsely to densely covered with ascending and uncinate hairs, adaxially glabrous or sparsely covered with ascending and uncinate hairs. Peduncles (1–)5–25 cm. Inflorescences rarely with basal and lateral branches, flowers clustered apically, 8–55 cm; main axis sparsely to densely covered with uncinate and often ascending hairs; rachis (2.5–)8–27.5 cm, with 5–15 often scattered, biflorous nodes, secondary rachis often developed with 3–5 flowers; primary bracts ovate to lanceolate, 1–4 × 0.3–1.2 mm, 3-veined, glabrous or strigillose. Pedicels 5–10 mm, sparsely covered with uncinate and often with ascending hairs; bracteoles usually persistent, ovate to oblong, 0.5–1.2 mm. Flowers: calyx campanulate, 2.5–3 mm, glabrous or sparsely covered with ascending hairs; lateral and abaxial lobes orbiculate; adaxial lobes connate; corolla deep rose or rosy pink, 10–12 mm; banner ovate, 9–11 mm, usually wider than long, apex emarginate; wings obovate, 10 mm; keel strongly incurved, 10 mm; ovary lanceolate-falcate, 5–6 mm. Legumes pendent, compressed, falcate, 35–55 × 8–10 mm, elastically dehiscent, valves leathery, glabrous, short-stipitate. Seeds 4–6, dark red-brown to blackish, reniform, 7 × 5.5 mm, smooth; hilum lanceolate, 1.5 mm, epihilum white.

Phenology: Flowering May–Nov.
Habitat: Pine-scrub vegetation, loamy, sandy soils.
Elevation: 0–100 m.

Distribution

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Ala., Fla., Ga., Miss., N.C., S.C.

Discussion

Phaseolus sinuatus is widespread in Florida, but it is restricted to the coastal plain in the rest of its range.

D. Isely (1998) noticed that in addition to the trailing habit and its distinctive deltate, subcoriaceous leaflets, Phaseolus sinuatus has brownish floral buds, which is an unusual trait in the genus.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.