Canavalia papuana Merr. & L.M.Perry

Scientific Description

Twining or climbing plants. Stems terete, not spiny, glabrous; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, compound, alternate, continuous with stem, 60-130 mm long, hairy, with simple hairs, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent, pinnately arranged, terminal leaflet present, stalked; pustules or glands absent. Stipules present but early deciduous ( only visible on youngest leaves ). Pedicel present, 2-3 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles present but early deciduous. Calyx 10-13.5 mm long, not accrescent, hairy, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 18-23 mm long, multicoloured, mostly purple or blue, with some purple or blue spots, streaks or blotches; claws absent; standard 15-22.5 mm long, glabrous, auriculate, wings 15-22 mm long, not auriculate, keel 15-22 mm long, not beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten; anthers 2-2.5 mm long, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments united in an open sheath with one free stamen, 14-19 mm long. Fruit dehiscent (a pod or follicle), 110-130 mm long, 12-25 mm wide, stipitate or sessile or subsessile, constricted between the seeds or not constricted between the seeds, flat or compressed, glabrous, not beaked. Flowers in April, May, June, July and August. Occurs in the Northern Botanical Province, in the Northern Kimberley, Victoria Bonaparte, Central Kimberley, Ord-Victorian-Plain and Dampierland IBRA regions.