Phaseolus angustissimus
Phaseolus angustissimus is a perennial, herbaceous vine of the Fabaceae family, native to the American Southwest, as well as northern Sonora, Mexico. It is a close relative of the cultivated tepary bean, also native to the same region.
Description
Phaseolus angustissimus is a perennial, herbaceous vine which trails along rocky, eroded hillsides. Its leaflets are distinctively narrow and waxy, it has a very deep, slightly thickened taproot, its flowers are magenta to purple and face upwards from the ground, and its pods are small and curved, yielding 2-4 seeds with a ridged seed coat and hypogeal germination. P. angustissimus has shown freezing resistance in field trials in Canada.
Uses
The Zuni people rub the crushed leaves, blossoms and powdered root on a child's body as a strengthener.