Centrosema virginianum (L.) Benth. var. ellipticum (DC.) Fernald
Centrosema virginianum (L.) Benth.
Spurred butterfly pea, wild blue vine, blue bell, wild pea
Spurred butterfly pea is a perennial vine. It is native to parts of North, South, and Central America.
Plants: Vines reach up to 6½′ (2 m), spreading and twining on ridged stems up to 1/32″ (1 mm) around. There are no tendrils.
Leaves: Alternate, spiraling around the stems, and pinnate, 1–4″ (3–10 cm) long. Each leaflet is 1/16–⅛ ⨉ ~1/32″ (2.5–3 ⨉ 1–1.3 mm), lanceolate or ovate, with smooth edges. Leaflet shapes vary widely.
Flowers: The spur in spurred butterfly peas is adapted to welcome bees. Each flowerhead (inflorescence) contains 1-4 flowers on a delicate stem. Each flower’s calyx has five lobes, and a corolla that is 1–1½″ (3–3.8 cm) across and purple to bluish-lavendar to pale white. The corolla’s shape resemblles a butterfly. Flowers can appear from spring to fall, but most prominently in the summer.
Fruits: Pods resembling small brown pea pods are 3½–4 ⨉ ⅛–3/16″ (9–10 cm ⨉ 4.5–5 mm), and contain up to 15 kidney-shaped dark brown seeds.
Habitats: Dry woodlands and openings in subtropical climates.
Edibility: Not edible.
Online References:
Bradburya virginiana (L.) Kuntze
Centrosema virginianum (L.) Benth. var. ellipticum (DC.) Fernald
Centrosema virginianum (L.) Benth. var. ellipticum (DC.) Fernald
6/5/2024 · Saint Marten, Leeward Islands · By Heather A. Kent 
4/14/2015 · Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 4 × 4″ (10 × 10 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
6/5/2024 · Saint Marten, Leeward Islands · By Heather A. Kent 
10/18/2008 · Kimball’s Ice Cream, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 2 × 1¾″ (5.9 × 4.4 cm) ID is uncertain 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Fabales | Legumes (pea and bean families) |
| Family | Fabaceae | Legume family (peas and beans) |
| Genus | Centrosema | Butterfly peas |
| Species | virginianum | Of or from Virginia |
Centrosema virginianum description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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