Mackenzie Bean, Fire Bean, Coastal jack bean
Canavalia rosea

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

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.

There are about 50 Canavalia species.

Where it is found

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.

Countries/locations it is found in

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, 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

How it is used for food

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.

Edible parts

Seeds, pods, flowers, fruit

How it is grown

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

It takes 2 years to complete its life cycle.

Its other names

Local names

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

Synonyms

Canavalia apiculata Piper; Canavalia arenicola Piper; Canavalia baueriana Endl.; Canavalia emarginata (Jacq.) G. Don; Canavalia maritima (Aubl.) Thouars; Canavalia 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 Dunn; Clitoria rotundifolia (Vah.) Sesse & Mocino; Dolichos emarginatus Jacq.; Dolichos littoralis Vell.; Dolichos maritimus Aubl.; Dolichos miniatus Kunth; Dolichos obcordatus Roxb.; Dolichos obovatus Schum. & Thonn.; Dolichos obtusifolius Lam.; Dolichos roseus Sw.;