This ranges widely from southeastern states to South America. A distinct variant, var. orientalis Frantz, occurs in se. Asia (W; Flora of China 10). C. mariana has the largest flowers of any legume in Ky. (Fabaceae sensu lato), with a precocious tendency to appear both early and late in the growing season (Isely 1998; W). Without flowers, Clitoria is easily confused with Galactia, but can usually be distinguished by its more developed stipules, ca. 2-4 mm long, striate-nerved and persistent (versus ca. 1 mm and withering). Also plants are usually glabrous (versus densely hairy on stems and at least lower leaf surfaces); and leaflets tend to be larger, more acute (lanceolate- versus oblong-tending) and glaucous below. C. mariana and G. volubilis often grow together, but Clitoria tends to occur in less open areas on more acid soils, on average, and it can be more self-supporting (versus twining). C .mariana is not well documented as an edible or medicinal plant. However, flowers of the se. Asian C. ternatea L. have been widely used by humans and cultivated for various purposes (Tuan-Putra et al. 2021): its anthocyanins and other polyphenols have notable applications as blue colorants and antioxidants.