Slimleaf Bean, Narrowleaf Bean, Wild Pea, Phaseolus angustissimus, Pea (Fabaceae)

Found on dry hillsides
Seen blooming on August 27, 2018 in Red Wash Canyon
​
Slimleaf Bean is a long twining and trailing plant with leaves divided into three narrow leaflets. Pink, pea-like flowers grow from the leaf axils. Flowers are less than ½ inch long and have five petals, one of which is tightly coiled. Narrow seed pods are up to 3" long. I was surprised to learn that this slender little plant with delicate flowers was used to strengthen a child. This is from the Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution published in 1915: “When an infant boy evinces timidity his father carries a small quantity of corn meal wrapped in a bit of corn husk to the warrior of his choice, and, presenting it, requests that the warrior apply the medicine to his child that he may have a brave heart and never be afraid of the enemy. Crushed leaves and blossoms with the powdered root of this plant are chewed by the officiating warrior and ejected into his hands, which he rubs over the nude body of the child; he also gives the child a small quantity of the crushed blossoms to eat. This is sure to give the boy a brave heart, and he manifests a desire to fight on the slightest provocation.” Source.
If you want to identify a different flower then you might find it useful to check what was blooming this time last year. If you cannot identify a flower from the website send a photo and where you took it to [email protected]. Read online for tips.