Phasey bean
Macroptilium lathyroides, Fam. Fabaceae
Herbaceous annual or short-lived perennial, 0.6-1m tall, slightly branching or sometimes trailing, stems covered with short, soft erect hairs.
| Weed Category: |
Other invasive plants Invasive plants that are not prohibited or restricted invasive plants, but are known to spread readily and cause negative impacts, within the region.
|
| Weed: | Yes |
| Form or habit: | Herb |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Leaf: | Compound Alternate Compound, alternate, pinnate with three lanceolate to narrow-elliptic leaflets, 40-80 x 10-30mm, lower surface hairy. Stipules triangular, 4-8mm long. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Red, Pink |
| Flower description: | Crimson or dark pink pea-flowers to 13mm wide, crowded in pairs along the upper half or quarter of stout axillary racemes up to 400mm long. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown |
| Fruit: | Dry |
| Fruit description: | Pods sub-cylindrical straight, 80-100 x 2.5-3mm, with soft hairs and containing approximately 20 seeds; brown when mature and twisted after opening. Seeds plump kidney-shaped, 3-4 x 1-2.5mm, reddish brown flecked with black. |
| Habitat: | |
| Distribution | |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | The Americas |
| Notes: | Spread by: seeds in water and contaminated soil. Invades/threats: disturbed areas including native vegetation, creek bank communities, roadsides and pastures. Notes: grown as a palatable, nitrogen fixing plant in pasture situations; also a source of pollen for honey bees. Environmental weed. |
| Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |
