Scientific Family
Fabaceae
Synonyms
Phaseolus metcalfei, P. ovatifolius, P. retusus
Other common names
Metcalfe bean
prairie bean
wild bean
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Phaseolus ritensis
Height
Up to about 3 feet
Riparian
No
Slender-stemmed perennial that trails along the ground or twines on other plants. Each leaf is divided into 3 egg-shaped leaflets. Purplish-pink butterfly-like flowers with a reddish upper petal grow in clusters at the leaf axils (between leaf and stem).
Trailing; 3 egg-shaped leaflets per leaf, tips pointed, margins smooth, point upward, rough hairs make them feel like sandpaper; flowers held above the leaves, purplish-pink with reddish banners, keel curls back; fruit pods broad, flattened.
Habitat
Found on valley floors (lowest part of a valley), dry rocky hillsides in meadows, slopes in open oak woodlands, pine forests and grasslands.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Low elevation
4000
High elevation
7400
Flower Characteristics
Flowers grow in small axillary clusters (between the leaves and the stem). Each flower has 5 petals consisting of 1 wide reddish upper banner petal, 2 flatter purplish-pink wing petals and a keel of 2 fused center spiral petals that curl backwards.
Flower color
Purplish-pink, reddish
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
August
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaflets point upwards and are not pressed against the ground. They are leathery, grow up to about 3 inches long, have small hooked hairs and web-like veins especially prominent underneath. Slender stems have parallel streaks and sparse fine hairs.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Light green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
The fruit is a smooth, curved, very flattened pod 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide and 1 to 1-1/2 inches long. It produces several seeds and opens at maturity to release them.
Fruit type
Pod
Fruit color
Green
The seed is smooth, about 1/4 inch, rounded and irregularly streaked with black and brown spots on its surface (mottled).