Variableleaf bushbean
Macroptilium gibbosifolium

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A climbing plant that keeps growing from year to year. It grows 30 cm long. The leaves have 3 leaflets. These leaflets can have lobes. The flowers are on stalks 20 cm long. There are several flowers. They are red. The fruit are narrow pods, 2-5 cm long. They are curved.

There are 8 Macroptilum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows between 1,400 and 2,200 m above sea level. It grows on dry plains.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, North America, Paraguay, Peru, South America, Uruguay, USA, West Indies

How it is used for food

A minor food.

Edible parts

Vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Frijol chichimeque, Jicama de monte, Wild bushbean

Synonyms

Macroptilium heterophyllum (Willd.) Marechal & Baudet; Macroptilium heterophyllum var. rotundifolium (A.Gray) Marechal & al.; Macroptilium heterophyllum var. rotundifolium (A. Gray) Maréchal, Mascherpa & Stainier; Phaseolus bilobatus Engelm.; Phaseolus fraternus Piper; Phaseolus gibbosifolius Ortega; Phaseolus heterophyllus Willd.; Phaseolus heterophyllus var. rotundifolius (A. Gray) Piper; Phaseolus macropoides A. Gray; Phaseolus macropus Benth.; Phaseolus micranthus M. Martens & Galeotti; Phaseolus parviflorus Schltdl.; Phaseolus rotundifolius A. Gray; Phaseolus seleri Harms;