Marbles vine, Sea purse
Dioclea reflexa

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A woody creeper or liana. It grows 6 m long. The stem is 3 cm across. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaf stalks are 407 cm long. The leaflets are narrowly oval and broad at the base and taper to a short tip. They are 6-14 cm long by 4-9 cm wide. The flowers are in groups 30 cm long. They are purple. The fruit are fairly stiff long pods. They are 12-18 cm long by 5-6 cm wide. They are slightly constricted between the seeds. There are 2-3 dark brown seeds. They are a flattened round shape and about 3 cm across.

Seeds float almost worldwide.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in swamp forest near the coast and mangrove swamps. The seeds can float for 2 years and then still grow. It occurs throughout the tropics, near the sea.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Belize, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Cuba, East Africa, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hispaniola, Kiribati, Madagascar, Nigeria, Niger, Pacific, Panama, Puerto Rico, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America, Suriname, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The seeds are used as thickening in soup. Caution: The seeds have been shown to have mild antibacterial properties.

Edible parts

Seeds, seeds - oil, caution

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Bapiana, Bejuco de mato, Dauwa, Furafande, Irlinore, Lukoso, Maya prieta, Te barariku

Synonyms

Dioclea labathei