Descriptive Flora 



109 



yellow bonnet-shaped flowers in the axils of the leaves. Leaves 

 compound (consisting of one leaflet), alternate. Blades broader 

 than long (1 to 2^" broad, 1 to IV2" l° n g)> rough veiny beneath, 

 velvety above, heart-shaped at base. Pods short, flat, 1 to 2- 

 seeded. Sandy soil. April and May. . 



Dolicholus texensis (Torr. & Gray) Vail. 



Plant with many spreading vine-like branches, 1 to 3' long, 

 lying on the ground, trifoliate leaves, and small, yellow bonnet- 

 shaped flowers followed by small usually 2-seeded pods about y<£ 

 long. Leaflets 3, the blades y 2 to 1" long, leathery, oblong, 

 lanceolate or ovate, entire, veiny underneath. Flowers small, 

 yellow, solitary or 2 to 4 together in the axils of the upper leaves. 

 Pods flat, reticulated, veiny, sickle-shaped, usually 2-seeded, and 

 resembling small pods of " culled' ' beans. May to fall. Plants 

 are common but not showy. In dry soil. 



Strophostyles helvola (L.) Ell. Wild Bean. 



(Phaseolus helvolus L.) 



Rank growing, twining vines with trifoliate leaves, purplish 

 flowers similar to those of the cultivated bean, and pods 2 to 4 

 inches long strongly resembling string beans. Leaflets rhombic- 

 oval, usually three-lobed, the lobes mucronate-tipped. Moist 

 wastes. Summer and fall. 



Strophostyles pauciflora (Benth.) Wats. 



Annuals with slender, spreading, trailing or twining 

 branches, trifoliate leaves, and small, pale purple, bonnet-shaped 

 flowers followed by pods % — \y 2 long. Leaflets 3, the blades 

 lanceolate, rarely broadly linear, y 2 — iy 2 " long, entire (rarely 

 lobed). Flowers small, few at the ends of slender, threadlike, 

 axillary peduncles longer than the sub-tending leaves. Pods 3 

 to 5 seeded, % to IV2" long, strongly resembling a small, short 

 string bean. April to July. Banks of streams. Not common. 



