Vanilla glycine, Glycine Pea
Glycine tabacina

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A creeping herb which keeps growing from year to year. It can trail along the ground or be a climber. The stems are slender. The rootstock is woody. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are 5 cm long by 0.7 cm wide. The end leaflet is the largest. The flowers are pea shaped. They are 0.7 cm across and blue or purple. They occur in groups on stalks 4-20 cm long in the axils of leaves. The fruit are pods 3 cm long by 0.4 cm wide. They are slightly hairy.

There are 10 Glycine species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in heavy clays and deep sands. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia (country/location of origin), China, Fiji, Kenya, New Caledonia, Pacific, Taiwan, Tasmania, Tonga, Vanuatu

How it is used for food

The liquorice flavoured taproot is chewed.

Edible parts

Root

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Leptolobium elongatum Benth.; Leptolobium tabacinum Benth.;