# trailing fuzzy-bean (*Strophostyles helvola*) Trailing fuzzy-bean is a fun plant with soft, fuzzy pods that kids love to explore. It grows along the ground and can be found in many places, making it a great plant to discover during outdoor adventures. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![trailing fuzzy-bean](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Strophostyles_helvola.jpg&width=800) Photo: Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA SCS. 1991. Southern wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. South National Technical Center, Fort Wo, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Strophostyles_helvola.jpg) ## Appearance The trailing fuzzy-bean is a low-growing plant with slender, hairy stems that spread along the ground. It has trifoliate leaves and small, pea-like flowers, typically purplish-pink to cream, followed by distinctly fuzzy, cylindrical seed pods. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Strophostyles ## Interesting facts - Its scientific name, Strophostyles, means "twisted style" for its unique flower parts! - Its seeds can stay viable in the soil for a very long time, waiting for perfect conditions! - The seeds are sometimes carried long distances by hungry birds or small foraging mammals! - This plant is a member of the pea family, even though its beans are not for eating! ## Special abilities - **Nitrogen Fixer:** The trailing fuzzy-bean has special root nodules that help it pull nitrogen from the air, making its own food! - **Spreading Growth:** The trailing fuzzy-bean can spread widely across the ground, helping it cover more space and find sunlight to thrive. - **Fuzzy Seed Pods:** The trailing fuzzy-bean has distinctly fuzzy seed pods that may deter some predators and aid in seed dispersal. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-30 cm - **Spread:** 50-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Symbiotic with:** Rhizobium bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — Helps fix nitrogen in the soil for the plant - **Pollinates:** [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits flowers to collect nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Forages on the leaves and stems of the plant ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't eat plants unless you're sure they're safe! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify trailing fuzzy-bean? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is trailing fuzzy-bean? 10-30 cm ### How wide does trailing fuzzy-bean spread? 50-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on trailing fuzzy-bean? 1-1.5 cm ### When does trailing fuzzy-bean bloom? Summer-fall ### Is trailing fuzzy-bean edible? No ### Is trailing fuzzy-bean toxic? None ### What is trailing fuzzy-bean's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Mattatuck State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mattatuck-state-forest) — Connecticut, US · Forest - [Mount Carroll Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-carroll-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Trailing Fuzzy-bean: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/trailing-fuzzy-bean)