Scientific Family
Fabaceae
Synonyms
Phaseolus carterae, P. sanctorum, P. wrightii
Other common names
slender-stem bean
desert bean
Wright's limabean
Wright's phaseolus
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual or perennial
Height
Up to 4 feet long
Riparian
No
Vine-like annual or short-lived perennial with prominent 3-lobed leaves; grows flat on the ground or is semi-erect (climbing on other plants). Pink, butterfly-like flowers grow in clusters at the leaf axils (between leaf and stem) or at the stem tips.
Vine-like; branches many from the base; distinctive 3-lobed leaves, the lobes triangular and sometimes quite large, flowers showy banner, wing and keel, pink, leaf axils or at stem tips; sepals much shorter than the flower lobes; 9 stamens fused, 1 free.
Habitat
Found in rocky soils on slopes, hillsides, in canyons, washes and roadsides.
Plant Community
Interior Chaparral
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
1000
High elevation
4000
Flower Characteristics
Flower stalk often has 2 flowers per cluster but flowers may occur singly. Each flower grows up to 1/2 inch wide, has 5 petals consisting of 1 wide upper banner petal, 2 flattened side wing petals and a keel of 2 fused spiral-shaped center petals.
Flower color
Pink
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
October
Last bloom month
December
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are shiny, grow up to 1-1/5 inches long and 1 inch wide, are oval in outline and are divided into 3 triangular leaflets with rounded lobes. Stems and leaves have a sparse covering of short hairs, some of which are minutely hooked.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Dark green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit is a curved pod about 1/4 inch wide and up to 2 inches long and has a smooth or slightly hairy surface. The pod breaks open when mature to release its seeds.
Fruit type
Pod
Fruit color
Green
1 to several seeds are produced in the fruit. The seeds are brown, 1/16 to 1/4 inch long, oblong to kidney-shaped with a wrinkled net-like surface.