Dune bean, Marine vine, Beach bean
Vigna marina

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A climbing or scrambling herb. It can grow to several metres long. The stems can be hairy. The leaflets are rounded. They are 3.5-9.5 cm long by 2.5-7.5 cm wide. The leaf stalks are 2-11 cm long. The flowering stems are erect. They can be 4-10 cm long. The flower is yellow but often green when young. The flowers are 1.2 cm long. The fruit are narrow pods which are slightly curved. They are 4-6 cm long and 8-9 mm wide. They are constricted between the seeds. There are 2-6 seeds. The seeds are brown or red. They are oblong and 6-7 mm long by 5-6 mm wide.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs just above high tide mark on sandy beaches. It occurs throughout the tropics. It is salt tolerant. It grows on atolls.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Cameroon, Caroline islands, Central Africa, China, Chuuk, East Africa, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, FSM, Gabon, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Hawaii, Japan, Kiribati, Liberia, Maldives, Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Niue, Norfolk Island, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yap

How it is used for food

The roots can be eaten cooked and probably raw. The young leaves are sometimes eaten cooked with other food. The young pods are cooked as a vegetable. The seeds are boiled and eaten.

Edible parts

Root, leaves, pods, seeds - drink, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Beach cowpea, Erekogo, Fue sina, Kachang laut, Kodeppayam, Lau fue fue, Lima karal, Markinenjojo, Mekaral, Notched cowpea, Pe-dalet-yaing, Pudalangai, Taut-tul, Te kitoko

Synonyms

Phaseolus marinus Burman; Phaseolus obovatus Gagnepain; Calicysthus volubilis Endl.; Scytalis anomala E. Meyer; Scytalis retusa E. Meyer; Vigna anomala Walp.; Vigna lutea (Sw.) A. Gray; Vigna retusa (E.Meyer) Walp.;