Amberique Bean
Strophostyles helvola
Fabaceae (Bean) Family

Plant is a sprawling or climbing perennial vine with three-foliate leaves. Preferred
habitat is sandy soils, beaches. low dunes and edge of marshes. Distribution is primarily coastal in the Escambia region.

Leaves are in sets of three (trifoliate); no teeth and no lobes.

Flowers are large and few in dense clusters on stalks that arise from the leaf axil. Small bracts beneath each flower taper to the tip and are slightly curved to the left. Filaments are hairy, united and bundled; one remains aloof. Flowers occur in the spring and summer.

Fruit is a legume.

The related S. umbellata is similar but is a perennial and the bracts below the flower are not so strongly curved. It resides in similar habitats.