Possible new Fabaceae vine discovered in Can Tho, Vietnam?
Hello everyone, I’m 11 years old and I think I may have found a very unusual plant near my home in Can Tho, Vietnam (coordinates: 10°05'42.0"N 105°32'07.9"E, close to Bridge No. 8 by the river).
Here are the key features I observed:
– It is a herbaceous climbing vine, not woody.
– Leaves are large, green, trifoliate (three leaflets).
– Flowers are pink, butterfly-shaped (papilionaceous), blooming sparsely with buds arranged in tiers.
– Pods are long (about 18–20 cm), smooth, thick-walled, with one side straight and the other curved like a claw.
– Seeds inside are flat and firm, but most pods are still unripe.
I compared it with common Fabaceae vines like Clitoria, Canavalia, Mucuna, Wisteria, Erythrina, and Strongylodon, but none of them match the combination of pink flowers + claw-shaped pods + thick pod walls.
Could this be a rare or even undescribed species? I would love to hear thoughts from botanists or plant enthusiasts. I have photos of the flowers and pods that I can share here.
It feels amazing to notice something unusual growing quietly on a fence by the river. Even if it’s not a new species, I’m excited to learn more about it!
by Wisteria_fabels
2 Comments
Hey, although I am not at all familiar with common plants in Vietnam. Google lens suggests it’s *Canavalia ensiformis* you mentioned it didn’t match with *Canavalia* but you should look into all species and not genus.
If you have access to local flora or monograph check with the key to identify the genus.
You need far more data, you need to dissect the flower and more.
Good luck on your journey. If I can help reply to this thread rather than dm.
I recommend uploading it to Inaturalist to see if any experts there can ID it to a species. If not, get ahold of perhaps a botanist near you