Vigna aconitifolia

Vigna aconitifolia is a drought-resistant legume, commonly grown in arid and semi-arid regions of India. It is commonly called mat bean, moth bean, matki or dew bean. Moth bean is a creeping annual herbaceous plant which grows to approximately 40 centimetres (16 in) high. Yellow flowers on its hairy and densely packed branches develop into yellow-brown pods, 2 to 3 inches in length. The beans of these pods contain approximately 22–24% protein. The pods, sprouts, and protein-rich seeds of this crop are commonly consumed in India. Moth bean can be grown on many soil types, and can also act as a pasture legume. Due to its drought-resistant qualities, its ability to combat soil erosion and its high protein content, moth bean has been identified as possibly a more significant food source in the future. It has been suggested that its suitability as a grain legume in semi-arid Africa should be further investigated.

Description

A slender annual herb. It can be erect or creeping. The vines form a mat like cover over the soil. It is slightly hairy. The leaves have stalks. They are deeply 3 lobed. The lobes are narrow. The flowers are yellow. The fruit is a pod shaped like a cylinder. There are usually 7-8 seeds. They are small and yellowish brown.

Edible Uses

Moth bean is consumed as forage by animals. Whole or split moth bean seeds can be cooked or fried. In India, particularly in the state of Maharashtra, moth beans are sprouted before cooking and used for making a spicy stew called matki usal. Matki usal forms the base of the Indian street food dish called misal pav. Fried dal of the bean is used to make a dry savory snack, known in India as dalmoth. The moth bean pods can be boiled and eaten. The flour of the bean is used for making another savoury snack called bhujia.

Traditional Uses

Seeds are used in lentil soup. They are boiled, parched, fried in oil or prepared with salt as a snack. They can be ground into flour and mixed with other grains to make unleavened bread. In India is it made into Dahl and bean paste. The young pods are cooked as a vegetable.

Medicinal Uses

The seeds are used medicinally in diets to treat fevers. The roots are said to be narcotic.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. In Nepal it grows up to 1000 m altitude. It will grow on shallow dry soils. It is not tolerant of frost. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 380-1,730 mm. It grows in acid, neutral and alkaline soils. It grows below 1,300 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Africa, Americas, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Central America, China, Costa Rica, East Africa, Ethiopia, Fiji, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Kenya, Mexico, Middle East, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, Yemen,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed.

Propagation

Seed - can be sown in situ. Presoaking overnight in warm water can shorten the time taken to germinate. It germinates best at a temperature of 25 - 27°c.

Other Uses

The plant provides good weed control and adds nitrogen to the soil when it is grown as a cover crop for soil improvement as a green manure. In India the plant is usually grown as a sole crop, or is intercropped with pearl millet, sorghum or other cereals, occasionally with pulses. It is grown as a green manure in rotation with cotton.

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is an important bean in India. The young pods re enjoyed.

Notes

There are about 150 Vigna species. They are mostly in the tropics. Also as Papilionaceae.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Bhioni, Bhringga, Birmoch, Birmung, Dau Odau, Dew bean, Gurans, Kheri, Kuncumape-salu, Madike, Makushthaka, Masjang, Mat bean, Math, Matki, Moch, Moot, Mugirambara, Mut, Muth bean, Papillon bean, Taw-pe-nauk, Tulukkapayir

References (35)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 676
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 1017
• Brink, M. & Jansen, P.C.M., 2006. Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Maréchal. [Internet] Record from Protabase. Brink, M. & Belay, G. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa), Wageningen, Netherlands. < http://database.prota.org/search.htm>. Accessed 23 October 2009
• Bull. Jard. Bot. Etat 39:160. 1969
• Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 1734 (As Phaseolus aconitifolius)

More from Fabaceae

Maackia amurensis

Chinese Yellow Wood, Amur maackia

Machaerium grandifolium

Venezuela macharium

Machaerium lunatum

Lunate machaerium

Macrolobium acaciifolium

Macroptilium lathyroides

Phasemy bean

Macroptilium panduratum