Phasey bean is an annual plant in the pea family, climbing to about 1 metre. The leaves have 3 leaflets, ovate to lanceolate, each leaflet symmetrical and up to 8 cm long. Flowers are borne in long erect racemes, up to 40 cm long. The flowers are typical pea flowers, 15 mm long, red or pink in colour. The seed pods are linear and pubescent, up to 10 cm long by 3 mm wide, with up to 20 seeds.

Flowering Stems
Near Landsborough, Queensland, 6th January 1992

Phasey bean is native to tropical America and Asia, and was introduced into Australia. It now occurs in farm land and along roadsides in northern New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

The foliage is food for some Caterpillars, including :

Euchrysops cnejus cnidus LYCAENIDAE

Link to FAQs about Caterpillars

Australian butterflies Australian caterpillars Australian moths

Link to Flowers in Australia

(updated 28 December 2009)