Sea bean, Mackay bean
Entada rheedii
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A creeping shrub. It has a long stem that is climbing. It can be 50 m long. The stems can be large and can be 30 cm across. The stems are angled and twisted. The leaves have 1 or 2 pairs of leaflets stalks. There are 3-5 pairs of leaflets on each stalk. These are oblong and 9 cm long by 4 cm wide. There is a forked tendril at the end. The flowers are in long spikes in the axils of leaves. These are up to 23 cm long. These hang in the axils of side branches. The flowers are pale yellow. The fruit are large woody pods 2 m long by 15 cm wide. It is jointed. There are 10 seeds. They are oval and flattened. They are flat and woody but break into single seeded pieces. The seeds are 4.5 cm long by 5 cm wide and very hard.
It is also confused with Entada gigas. Also as Mimosaceae.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in the canopy of the evergreen and deciduous forest. It grows in coastal and lowland regions. It grows below 600 m above sea level. It grows in areas with a rainfall below 5,000 mm. It can grow in arid places. It grows from 200-400 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. It can grow up to 1,400 m above sea level. In Yunnan. It occurs in the Western Ghats in India.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guam, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Togo, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The seeds are used in porridge as a famine food. They are baked, pounded and soaked in water for an extended period then re-cooked. The seeds are made into a paste with water and cumin. Caution: The seeds are poisonous when raw. The young leaves are eaten as a vegetable. The young tender leaves are boiled and eaten.
It is a famine food.
Edible parts
Leaves, seeds, vegetable, flowers
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds.
In India plants flower in April to June and then fruit from June onwards.
Its other names
Local names
Angkunh, Bendo, Bolcchak chhan, Bumburandje, Cariu, Elephant climber, Gila, Gumpe, Gunguro, Irikki, Kaka valli, Kakkankai, Kawi-hrui, Makkinkokka, Malam thellukka, Manga kodi, Mi ri gae, Mufwihi, Pangra, Sanguzi, Vor angkhournh, Wijang, Yanaikozhinji, Zangusi
Synonyms
Adenanthera gogo Blanco; Entada gigas G. Gilbert & Boutique; Entada gogo (Blanco) I. M. Johnston; Entada monostachya DC.; Entada pursaetha DC.; Entada pusaetha DC.; Entada rheedei Spreng.; Entada rheedii subsp. rheedii Spreng.; Entada schefferi Ridl.; Mimosa entada L.; Entada cirrhosa Raf.;