Jack bean, Maunaloa
Canavalia cathartica

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A climbing herb. The vine is less than 2 cm across. The leaves are compound and alternate. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are 4-24 cm long by 3-12 cm wide. The veins are easy to see on the upper surface. The leaf stalk is 2-12 cm long. The flowers are lilac. They occur in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a pod. It is often curved. It is 8-12.5 cm long by 3-4.5 cm wide. There are 3-5 ribs along one side. There are 2-6 seeds. They are dark reddish-brown and 18 mm long.

There are about 50 Canavalia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Nepal it grows from 1000-1400 m altitude. In tropical Australia it grows from 20-200 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, China, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, East Africa, Ethiopia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Taiwan, Tonga, Tuvalu, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yap

How it is used for food

The young tender pods and seeds are cooked as a vegetable. The mature pods are poisonous and must be boiled with several changes of water. Caution: The pods and seeds become poisonous when ripe.

Pods are sold in local markets. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Seeds, pods, fruit, caution

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Aaboi, Dau-co bien, Fang-ra, Kattupayar, Maa foavvalhihimeri, Maunaba, Saketa, Tarwar simi

Synonyms

Canavalia bouquete Montrouz.; Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. var. turgida Baker; Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. var. turgida (A.Gray) Baker; Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. var. virosa (Roxb.)Baker; Canavalia glandifolia Streets; Canavalia microcarpa (DC.) Piper; Canavalia obtusifolia sensu Prain; Canavalia obtusifolia (Lam.) DC. var. insularis Ridl.; Canavalia polystachya Schweinf.; Canavalia stocksii Dalzell & A. Gibson; Canavalia turgida Graham; Canavalia turgida A. Gray; Canavalia virosa (Roxb.) Wight & Arn.; Dolichos virosus Roxb.; Lablab microcarpus DC.; Phaseolus virosus (Roxb.) Bojer;