Canavalia rosea

(Swartz) DC.

Mackenzie Bean, Fire Bean, Coastal jack bean

Fabaceae Edible: Seeds, Pods, Flowers, Fruit 9,041 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Canavalia rosea is a species of flowering plant of the genus Canavalia in the pea family of Fabaceae, it has a pantropical and subtropical distribution in upper beaches, cliffs, and dunes. Common names include beach bean, bay bean, sea bean, greater sea bean, seaside jack-bean, coastal jack-bean, and MacKenzie bean.

Description

A perennial climbing or trailing legume. It can be 1.8-10 m long. The stems are silky hairy when young. Leaves have 3 leaflets and the central one is the largest. The leaves are smooth, dark green and slightly leathery. The leaflets are oval or round and often with an indent at the top and 2.5-9.5 cm long by 1.5-9 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 2-7 cm long. The flower cluster can stick upright or hang over. It is 4-18 cm long and the flower stalk is 10-21 cm long. The main rear petal is pink or purple often with a white area near the base. The fruit or pods are oblong and compressed. They are flattened and woody. They can be 11.5-15 cm long by 2.5-3 cm wide. Each section of the pod has a rib. The seeds are brown with streaks. The seeds are 1.5-2 cm long, 0.9-1.4 cm wide and 5-11 mm thick. The seed scar is 7-9 mm long.

Edible Uses

Flowers - eaten as a flavouring. Young pods. Boiled. Young seeds - cooked. Said to make a good pease porridge. The seeds serve as an important source of dietary protein in West Africa and Nigeria.

Traditional Uses

CAUTION: The seeds are poisonous raw. The seeds are edible after thorough cooking. They are also roasted ad ground and used as a coffee substitute. The flowers are eaten as a flavouring. They are used in sauces. The pods are edible when young.

Medicinal Uses

The root is diuretic. It contains a bitter and purgative principle. It is steeped in vinegar and used for gargles. An infusion of the seed is used as a purgative. The juice from the petioles is applied to puncture wounds from thorns or other sharp objects. A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of rheumatism. A paste of the leaves is used as a treatment for boils. The dried leaves have been used as an entheogen, a component to some ancient rituals. The seeds are ingested or smoked with the dried leaves as a marijuana substitute. There is an increasing in following for its use as a marijuana substitute.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It occurs throughout the tropics and into the subtropics. It is very common along sea shores. It occurs on sandy beaches at high tide mark. It can grow in arid places. They need a well drained soil and a sunny position. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Where It Grows

Africa, American Samoa, Angola, Anguilla, Asia, Australia, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Equatorial-Guinea, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indochina, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mozambique, Nauru, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. The seeds need treatment to break the hard seed coat. They can also be grown from cuttings.

Other Uses

The plant is a spontaneous sand binder on beaches; it is occasionally cultivated as a cover crop in plantations.

Production

It takes 2 years to complete its life cycle.

Notes

There are about 50 Canavalia species.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Fruit	10.4	—	—	4.3	—	—	—	—
Seeds	10.9	—	—	22	—	—	—	—
Flowers - flavour	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Synonyms

Canavalia apiculata PiperCanavalia arenicola PiperCanavalia baueriana Endl.Canavalia emarginata (Jacq.) G. DonCanavalia maritima (Aubl.) ThouarsCanavalia miniata (Kunth) DC.Canavalia moneta Welw.Canavalia obcordata Voigt.Canavalia obtusifolia (Lam.) DC.Canavalia obtusifolia (Lam.) DC. var. emarginata (Jacq.) DC.Canavalia obtuifolia (Lam.) DC. var. insularis Ridl.Canavalia podocarpa DunnClitoria rotundifolia (Vah.) Sesse & MocinoDolichos emarginatus Jacq.Dolichos littoralis Vell.Dolichos maritimus Aubl.Dolichos miniatus KunthDolichos obcordatus Roxb.Dolichos obovatus Schum. & Thonn.Dolichos obtusifolius Lam.Dolichos roseus Sw.

Also Known As

Fanta, Fue fai va'a, Kachang laut, Kachang rang-rang, Kam pra, Kia tia, Lerelere, N'habo, Nhabo, Norfolk Island bean, Tagale, Tobalo-sosso, Tua-kla

References (53)

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Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 210 (Also as Canavalia maritima)
Borrell, O.W., 1989, An Annotated Checklist of the Flora of Kairiru Island, New Guinea. Marcellin College, Victoria Australia. p 89
Brock, J., 1993, Native Plants of Northern Australia, Reed. p 113

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