Strophostyles leiosperma
slickseed fuzzybean, slick-seed bean, piper
Family
Fabaceae
Leaf Arrangement
alternate, opposite
Leaf Margin
entire
Leaf Type
compound, pinnate, simple, trifoliolate
Growth Form
forb, vine
Flower Color
pink, purple, white
Flower Month
May - October
Height (meters)
0.0 - 2.0
Milky Sap
No
Armed/Unarmed
Unarmed
Origin
native
Lifespan
annual
Field Characters
Simple and compound leaves. Leaves of the lowest 1-4 nodes usually opposite and simple. The principal leaves are alternate and pinnately trifoliolate.Small flowers 5-8 mm long on a peduncle less than 10 cm long, pods 1.5 - 3.5 cm long. The flowers of other species of Strophostyles are 9-15 mm long on peduncles 15 cm or longer.
Natural History
Foliage readily eaten by cattle and wildlife.
Habitat
Sandy loam soil, sandy prairies, sand dunes, stream valleys, fields, and roadsides.