Phaseolus filiformis

Slender-stem bean

Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1

Slender-stem bean is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native perennial found in the southern desert regions of Coachella Valley, Riverside County in desert washes at elevations around 125 meters. Flowering from October to December, this plant produces pink-purple flowers approximately 1 centimeter long with a distinctive keel coil about 2.5 millimeters in diameter. Growing as a trailing or twining vine with many branches emerging from the base, it develops a slender taproot and cylindric or angled stems. Its leaves feature ovate-triangular leaflets generally 1 to 5 centimeters long, often with slight lobing. The plant produces pendant, slightly curved oblong fruits 2.5 to 3.5 centimeters long containing 4 to 6 wrinkled, net-like seeds.

Habitat: Washes

Bloom period: Generally Oct-Dec

Elevation: +- 125 m.

Bioregions: DSon (Coachella Valley, Riverside Co.)

California counties: Riverside

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.