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Useful Temperate Plants

Strophostyles helvola

(L.) Elliott

Fabaceae


The name of this species is based on Phaseolus helvolus L., nom. cons. for which "helvolus" is conserved against the original spelling "helvulus" (Melbourne ICN Art. 14.11 & App. IV)

+ Synonyms

Cajanus helvolus (L.) Spreng

Glycine helvola (L.) Elliott

Phaseolus diversifolius Pers.

Phaseolus helvolus L.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Strophostyles helvola is an annual trailing or climbing plant, branching at the base, the fuzzy stems usually growing 100 - 300cm long, though sometimes reaching 600cm when climbing. The plant is erect when young, the stem then trails over the ground or twines into any surrounding vegetation for support[
235
Title
An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada
Publication
 
Author
Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Publisher
Dover Publications. New York.
Year
1970
ISBN
0-486-22642-5
Description
Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book.
,
277
Title
Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It has value for soil stabilization[
1309
Title
The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
Publication
 
Author
Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin
Year
1981
ISBN
0-333-32221-5
Description
An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

235
Title
An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada
Publication
 
Author
Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Publisher
Dover Publications. New York.
Year
1970
ISBN
0-486-22642-5
Description
Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book.

Range

Eastern and southern N. America - Ontario to Quebec, south to New Mexico. Texas and Florida

Habitat

Along the banks of rivers, in damp thicket, in open woodlands, low places between coastal dunes, fields, abandoned cropland and roadsides[
277
Title
Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitAnnual Climber
Height1.00 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Although it prefers sandy soils, it can be found on a wide range of medium to fine-textured upland soils[
277
Title
Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
755
Title
Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].

Edible Uses

Roots - cooked. Boiled and then mashed[
277
Title
Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
]. (as Phaseolus diversifolius)

Medicinal

The plant (part not specified) is combined with Cassia tora (Indian Coffee) to make a tea for treating typhoid[
277
Title
Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
].

The whole leaves are rubbed on the affected area of the skin to treat poison ivy rash and warts[
277
Title
Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant has value for soil erosion control[
1309
Title
The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
Publication
 
Author
Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin
Year
1981
ISBN
0-333-32221-5
Description
An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ mid to late spring[
277
Title
Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
]. Pre-soaking the seed for 12 hours in warm water can help to speed up germination. If seeds are in short supply, then sow in a seedtray in a greenhouse, pricking out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to hold and plant out when 15cm tall.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Strophostyles+helvola>

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