Sword bean
Canavalia gladiata
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A climbing or sometimes bushy and upright bean plant. Mostly it is a climber. It can be 4 m long. The leaves have 3 large leaflets. The leaflets are oval and 7.5-20 cm long by 5-12 cm wide. The top of the leaf can narrow abruptly to a tip while the base can be rounded or broadly wedge shaped. The leaves are slightly hairy on both surfaces. The leaf stalk is 5-12 cm long. The flowers are in groups and are white. The flower cluster is 7-12 cm long and the flower cluster stalk 4-20 cm long. The individual flower stalks are 2 mm long. The pods are long (20-40 cm) and curved. Seeds are coloured red or pink. The hilum is dark brown and almost as long as the seed.
There are about 50 Canavalia species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It requires a tropical climate. Temperatures of 20-30°C suit it well and it grows from sea level to about 1000 m altitude in equatorial zones. They are drought and salt resistant. They can grow on lowland tropical nutrient depleted soils. They can grow on soils with pH from 4.5-7.0. They can tolerate some shade. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Burundi, Cambodia, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo DR, Cuba, East Africa, Fiji, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guianas, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, SE Asia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
Young pods are cooked and eaten. Seeds can be cooked and eaten, but the water should be changed and they should be well boiled. They are also fermented. The seeds can be toasted and ground and used as a coffee substitute. The leaves are blanched and eaten. CAUTION The seeds can be poisonous due to hydrocyanic acid and saponin. Cooking will remove these.
It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Pods are sold in local markets. Only occasionally grown in Papua New Guinea.
Edible parts
Seeds, leaves, pods, spice, vegetable
How it is grown
They are grown from seeds. Seeds germinate readily and the plant is relatively fast growing. Seeds can be sown 5 cm deep. Plants should be 60-70 cm apart. Climbing types need support. Often natural supports such as trees, walls and fences are used in backyard production. For large scale production 25-40 kg/ha of seed are needed.
Green seeds/pods are produced in 3-4 months and mature seeds in 5-10 months. Seed yields of 700-900 kg/ha are possible. Green pods are hand picked when 10-15 cm long before they swell and become fibrous.
Its other names
Local names
Abai, Abbo, Alad, Baikang, Baikng, Bara sem, Bo ba ji noe, Bon shim, Carabanz, Chemma kaaya, Dau-rua, Frijol cafe, Frijol de machete, Ghevada, Habas, Jangli Sem, Jungli abhui, Kacang parasman, Kacang polong, Kachang hantu, Kachang nyonya, Kachang parang, Kaos parasman, Kara pedang, Kara wedung, Koas bakol, Lal kadsumbal, Madezo, Magtambokau, Makhan shim, Moushim, Naga sem, Nam-nawbaw, Namtaipee, Nkasa, Pe-dalet, Pe-dama, Pe-damouk, Pe-det, Pe-gale, Pe-naung-ni, Rar bu-shot kwen-e, Sanndaek triehs, Scimitar-bean, Segapu thambattai, Sem, Shembi avare, Tarvardi, Thampattai, Thua phraa, Tioeuhs, Tua pra, Tumbekai, Yerra tamma
Synonyms
Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. var. alba Makino; Canavalia ensiformis auct. non (L.) DC.; Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. var. gladiata (Jacq.) Kuntze; Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC. var. alba (Makino) Hisauti; Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC. var. machaeroides DC.; Canavalia gladiolata J. D. Sauer; Canavalia incurva (Thunb.) DC.; Canavalia incurva Thouars; Canavalia loureirii G. Don.; Canavalia machaeroides (DC.) Steudel; Canavalia maxima Thouars; Dolichos gladiatus Jacq.; Dolichos incurvus Thunb.; Malocchia gladiata (Jacq.) Savi;