Smoothseeded wild bean (Strophostyles leiosperma Torr. & A. Gray) is an herbaceous annual legume native to North America from Canada to Mexico. Rio Rojo (Reg. No. CV295, PI 658217) was selected by Texas AgriLife Research and The Noble Foundation to fill the need for easily propagated, nutritious forage, and high seed producing native annual legumes in subhumid climates of the southern Great Plains. It was selected from germplasm collected in the wild for its vigor and forage and seed characteristics. Depending on climate and soil conditions, it can produce up to 3.9 Mg forage DM yr1 ha1 and over 800 kg seed ha1 yr1. Rio Rojo will be ideal for those seeking native annual legume germplasm for wildlife plantings or in native grassland restoration efforts.
