Sea-bean
Entada gigas

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A woody climber. The fruit is a long woody pod. It can be 1-2 m long. The seeds are heart shaped and can be 6 cm across. They are a shiny deep red to brown.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in low elevation, wet places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Belize, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Colombia, Congo DR, Congo R, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial-Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Hispaniola, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Martinique, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Panama, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, South America, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia

How it is used for food

The seeds are roasted and eaten. The stem sap is used as a drink. The young shoots are boiled and the water discarded and then eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Seeds, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chembe, Kaang, Ling, Lute, Mackay-bean, Nicker-bean, Mjamba, Pangra, Sea heart

Synonyms

Mimosa gigas L.; Entada phaseoloides Merr.; Entada scandens Benth.; and others