Match box bean
Entada phaseoloides

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree climber which forms loops between branches. The stems are thick 12 cm across and irregularly round. They are twisted or have an irregular spiral. The small branches are slender. The leaves have long leaf stalks. The leaves are twice divided. The leaflets are 2.5 to 5 cm long and like leather. The flower stalk is 15 cm or more long. The flowers are 2 to 3 mm long and attached without a stalk. They are yellowish white. They are crowded on a long spike in the axils of leaves. The few pods hang down and the beans have flattened sides and are chocolate brown. They can be 1 m long. They are woody and jointed between the seeds.

There are about 30 Entada species. They occur in the tropics. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It is sensitive to cold. It needs well drained soils. They are found throughout the Philippines occurring everywhere in tropical forests. In Yunnan in China it grows between 800-1300 m altitude. It grows in subtropical broadleaved evergreen forest. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo, Cook Islands, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marianas, Marquesas, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, Samoa, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Yap

How it is used for food

The seeds are edible cooked. They are eaten after roasting, baking, grinding, and immersing in running water for 10-12 hours. They contain two saponins. The leaves are eaten both raw and cooked. The young tender pods are eaten.

Edible parts

Seeds, kernel, leaves, nuts, fruit, pods, caution

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. The hard seed coat needs to be cut prior to sowing.

Its other names

Local names

Babari, Bambam, Chian, Chituatua, Cinerope, Cocopa, Elephant creeper, Elva climber, Garambi, Garbe, Garbee bean, Geredi, Ghavaulu, Gila-lewa, Gila, Gilatige, Gilla, Gogo, Hallekayi balli, Kaikavu, Kakkavalli, Kayu gandu, Khavauru, Mackay bean, Malamanchadi, Nicker bean, Peddamadupu, Pangra, Saba, Tifa, Vaheakarabo, Vewu, Wa Lai, Wataqiri

Synonyms

Entada scandens Benth.; Lens phaseoloides L.; Mimosa scandens L.;