Phaseolus_polystachios
Phaseolus polystachios
Species of legume
Phaseolus polystachios, also known as the thicket bean or wild kidney bean, is a perennial, herbaceous vine that is native to North America.[2][1] It is unique among the Phaseolus in that its native range extends across the eastern temperate United States to southeast Canada, while most Phaseolus are tropical or subtropical.[2] It is the namesake for the Polystachios group clade, which is the most species-rich within Phaseolus (17 species).[3] In spite of its common name, it is more closely related to the lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus), and it holds potential as a crop wild relative due to its resistance to white mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum).[4]