Phaseolus lunatus L.
sieva bean
Climbing annual to biennial herb; stems moderately hairy, particularly in upper parts. Lvs hairy on petiole, petiolules and midveins; leaflets broadly ovate to deltate, acute, entire, 40-70-(100) mm long; stipules ovate-triangular, c. 2 mm long; stipels narrower than stipules, 1.5-2 mm long. Infl. racemose, <, = or > lvs, 2-6-(10)-flowered, with many small bracteoles. Pedicel ± = fls. Calyx sparsely hairy; calyx teeth much < tube. Corolla white, 8-15 mm long; beak of keel forming c. 2 turns of a spiral. Pod glabrous, brown, boat-shaped, 2-4-seeded, 40-100 mm long; seeds large, variable in shape and colour.
K.: locally established as an escape from cultivation on roadside banks on Raoul.
Tropical America 1977
FL Nov.
The stipellate lvs of P. lunatus (Fig. 68) are similar to those of Dipogon lignosus, but the fls of Dipogon lack the spirally twisted keel characteristic of Phaseolus spp.
