PAP I L I ONAG EAE 



There are doubtless others of the true beans which are worthy 

 of some attention. For example, P. acutif olius , a bean with tri- 

 foliate but very narrow lobed leaves, looks promising. Also P. 

 angustissimu s , another one with narrow lobed leaves which is a 

 trailer or twiner. These beans should first be raised in the nur- 

 sery and if they prove promising, tried in our observational plant- 

 ings. In no case should we overlook the role of legumes in our 

 program of re vegetating the range. 



* Rhynchosia texan a. This plant resembles a true bean in its 

 vinelike character. It has rather small trifoliate leaves and very 

 numerous stems from a woody spreading root system. In many places 

 in draws, swales and canyons in trie southwest it forms a consider- 

 able part of the vegetation and is an active erosion control agent. 

 It is apparently somewhat less palatable than the true beans. From 

 the standpoint of legumes, however, this is one of our most promis- 

 ing. 



H is sol i a sohottii is a true climber with woody perennial root 

 but herbaceous top. Frequently in warm sites, however, the stems 

 become perennial, only the leaves dying in the winter. In many 

 parts of its range it freezes to the ground each, wihter but makes a 

 vigorous growth during the summer. It is a delicate, beautiful vine 

 suitable for use as an ornamental on trellises. While this is a 

 legume, tho pods form a samara similar to those on the maple or ash, 

 and the vine can readily be distinguished in fruit by these pods. 

 This vine is confined in our range to southern Arizona but probably 

 will survive much more severe winters than those of regions where it 

 occurs. It can be usee! as an ornamental, as a windbreak, on trel- 

 lises or in the absence of something on which it can climb, as a 

 spreading vine or erosion control in draws and on deep slopes. 



Aesohyn omene v irgi nica, or a very close relative, was recently 

 found in southern Arizona end Sycamore Canyon. This is a plant which 

 closely resembles the sensitive pea and is sometimes called sensitive 

 joint vetch. The interesting feature of the plant in that region is 

 the abundance of nodules on the roots. In this respect it is more 

 outstanding than most peas, indicating its possible use as a nitro- 

 gen fixer. It is not sufficiently abundant in southern Arizona to 

 be of significance at present but it should be tried in the nur- 

 sery because of its possible use as a nitrogen soil vitalizer. 



Clitoria marian a, the Butterfly Pea, which is not uncommon 

 in the woody sections of the East has been reported from Santa Cruz 

 County, Arizona. In that section it grows on dry rocky or semi- 

 timber slopes and. in places is quite abundant. It is a low peren- 

 nial bush bean, the tops of which have a slight tendency to become 

 vine-like. Its pods arc rather short and thick and are quite sweet. 



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