Canavalia papuana

Merr. & Perry

Wild Jack bean

Fabaceae Edible: Seeds - coffee 25 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A climbing bean up to 1-4 m tall. The stems are thin and wiry. They do not have hairs except at the nodes. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaf stalks are 4-10 cm long. They have a channel on the top surface. The leaflets are 10-13 cm long by 5-8 cm wide. The leaflets are thin, but oval and pointed at the top. The flowers are about 3 cm long. They are purple with a curved blunt keel. The flowers are in clusters of 10-20 flowers on flower stalks 10-14 cm long. The pods are 6-8 cm long by 1.5-2 cm wide. They are oblong and have a keel. The seeds are dark brown and oblong. They are 1.3 cm long by 8 mm wide. The seed scar is about 1 cm long.

Edible Uses

The seeds have been roasted and used to make coffee.

Traditional Uses

The seeds have been used to roast and make coffee.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in warm, moist coastal districts. It is very cold sensitive. It needs well drained soil in a sunny position. It grows from 5 to 1250 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. In tropical Australia it grows from sea level to 630 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Australia*, East Timor, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia, Timor-Leste,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed.

Notes

There are about 50 Canavalia species.

References (8)

Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 203
Cowie, I, 2006, A Survey of Flora and vegetation of the proposed Jaco-Tutuala-Lore National Park. Timor-Lests (East Timor) www.territorystories.nt/gov.au p 47
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1982, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 2. Lothian. p 456
Jackes, B.R., 2001, Plants of the Tropics. Rainforest to Heath. An Identification Guide. James Cook University. p 54
Low, T., 1992, Bush Tucker. Australia’s Wild Food Harvest. Angus & Robertson. p 27

Show all 8 references

Melzer, R. & Plumb, J., 2011, Plants of Capricornia. Belgamba, Rockhampton. p 367
Paczkowska, G . & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 419
Townsend, K., 1994, Across the Top. Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 119