Wild Bushbean, Vasey Bean

Macroptilium lathyroides

mak-rop-TIL-ee-um  lay-thy-ROY-deez

Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Native to:  Central America, South America, West Indies, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Florida abundance and distribution:  Introduced to Florida and found from Central to South Florida, Louisiana, Georgia and South Carolina.

Recognition: Prostrate or twining depending on sun or shade, can be up to 1.5 m tall, annual or biennial, lower portion can become woody; stalks and petioles pubescent; stipules lanceolate;  leaflets trifoliate, elliptic to ovate lanceolate.  Flowers in pairs, in racemes, maroon, or blood-red  to red-purple. Wings and keel tinged green, red or white; keel spirally twisted; pods pubescent, linear and twisted neatly also.

Potentially confused species:  Macroptilium atropurpureum is similar but has black flowers and broader leaves.

Other:  Good nitrogen fixation, suspected of causing poisoning with horses and alternative host for Silverleaf Whitefly.