Climbing and twining perennial herb. Leaflets ovate, large, to about 12 cm long and 10 cm wide, pointed, hairy. Flowers to 5 cm long, white or yellow with pinkish purple wings, the keel coiled, giving a snake-like appearance, fragrant. Fruit pod to 15 cm or more long, linear. Syn. Phaseolus caracalla L.

Tropical S America.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Fabaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.