Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet

Global description
 
Lablab purpureus is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows in clumps or which is voluble and can reach 3 m to 4.50 m long. The leaves are large, alternate, long-stalked, composed of three triangular to rhombic leaflets, large in size. The flowers are grouped in a long inflorescence. The flower is papilionaceous type. Its color varies from purple to pink or white. The fruit is a flat pod, usually pubescent, reaching 14 cm long and 4 cm wide. The seed, rounded and flattened, is dark brown.
 
General habit
 
Herbaceous perennial plant, growing in tuft or voluble, reaching 3 m to 4.50 m.
 
Underground system
 
The plant has a taproot system.
 
Leaf
 
The long-stalked leaves are alternate, compound trifoliate, 10 to 50 cm long. The petiole is framed by 2 oval-triangular stipules, striated, 4 to 6 mm long. The leaflets are ovate-triangular to rhombic-ovate, obtuse to truncate base, with triangular acute to obtuse end, acuminate. They are 4 to 20 cm long and 3 to 19 cm wide. They are generally pubescent.
 
Inflorescence
 
The flowers are held by axillary inflorescence, 10 to 60 cm long.
 
Flower
 
The pedicel measure 2 to 3.5mm long, bracteoles 4 to 8 mm long and 1 to 4.5 mm wide. The calyx, 5 to 9 mm long, is glabrous to pubescent, with lower lobes narrow in size matching the tube. The flower is of papilionaceous type. The upper petal (the standard), 1.2 to 1.5 cm long, is variable in color: purple, pink, purple, cream tinged with purple or white.
 
Fruit
 
The flattened pod, 3.5 to 14 cm long and 1.2 to 4 cm wide, is generally pubescent.
 
Seed
 
The seed is rounded and flattened, dark brown. It measures 5 to 17 mm long, 4 to 6 mm wide, 3 to 5.5 mm thick.

Origin

Lablab purpureus is native to tropical Africa, Madagascar and India.

Worldwide distribution

This species has been introduced, cultivated and naturalized in many countries, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands.

https://www.gbif.org/fr/species/2952236