Jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis)

Jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) is a plant species in the Fabaceae family. It is an annual herb with a deep, white root system; it grows vigorously, climbing, twining, and spreading, reaching lengths of up to 10 meters. The stems become somewhat woody with age. Branching occurs from the lower nodes, with the development of secondary branches. The stem surface is green and covered in hairs.

The leaves are compound and petiolate, consisting of three leaflets arranged alternately. Each leaflet is 7.5–15 cm long and 5–10 cm wide, green in color, with a rounded base, entire margins, curved venation, and a hairy surface.

The inflorescences are axillary, 7.5–20 cm long, and bear papilionaceous (butterfly-like) flowers that range in color from bright red to white. The corolla is also papilionaceous and purple, measuring 2–4 cm in length. The fruit is an oblong, laterally compressed pod—yellow or white in color—containing 8-16 seeds; the hilum is brown and 6–9 mm long. The individual seeds are 2.5 cm long.

C. ensiformis grows at elevations ranging from 0 to 2,500 meters, in temperatures around 26.3°C, and with an average annual rainfall of 700–4,000 mm; it requires sunlight. It is tolerant of acidic soils, waterlogging, and salinity.

This plant is used as a vegetable, animal feed, and green manure. The green pods are consumed as a boiled vegetable. The flowers and young leaves are used as a side dish and as green manure. The pink seeds are employed in traditional medicine. The seeds are also used to produce tofu and tempeh, as an ingredient to mix with beef, as a snack, and as a treatment for cancer.

TAXON

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Tribe: Diocleae
Genus: Canavalia Adans. in Fam. Pl. 2: 325, 531 (1763)
Species: Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. in Prodr. 2: 404 (1825)

HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS

Canavalia ensiformis var. normalis Kuntze in Revis. Gen. Pl. 3(2): 55 (1898)
Dolichos ensiformis L. in Sp. Pl.: 725 (1753)

HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS

Canavalia ensiformis var. albida DC. in Prodr. 2: 404 (1825)
Canavalia ensiformis var. coriacea Domin in Biblioth. Bot. 22(89): 224 (1926)
Canavalia ensiformis var. truncata Ricker in Castanea 11: 56 (1946)
Canavalia gladiata f. leucocarpa Taub. in Mém. Soc. Bot. France 3: 140 (1906)
Canavalia gladiata var. leucosperma Voigt in Hort. Suburb. Calcutt.: 234 (1845)
Canavalia stocksii Dalzell & A.Gibson in Bombay Fl.: 69 (1861)
Dolichos acinaciformis Jacq. in Collectanea 1: 114 (1787)
Dolichos cienskowskii Schweinf. & Asch. in G.Schweinfurth & auct. suc. (eds.), Beitr. Fl. Aethiop.: 256 (1867)
Dolichos cultratus Wight ex Steud. in Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2. 1: 523 (1840)
Dolichos mutabilis Salisb. in Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 334 (1796)
Dolichos pugioniformis Raeusch. in Nomencl. Bot. Pl. Illustr., ed. 3.: 209 (1797)
Malocchia ensiformis Savi in Nuovo Giorn. Lett., ser. 3, 8: 113 (1824)
Phaseolus virosus Bojer in Hortus Maurit.: 106 (1837)
Psophocarpus cienkowskii Schweinf. ex Baker f. in Legum. Trop. Africa: 384 (1929)

PUBLICATIONS

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VERNACULAR NAME

Afrikaans: Asboontjie, Sewejaarboontjie
Chinese (simplified): 直生刀豆
Chinese (traditional): 白鳳豆 - 關刀豆
English: Jack bean, Ash bean, Horse bean
Filipino: Habas, Lagaylay, Badang-badang
French: Pois sabre, Fève jacques
Indonesian: Kacang parang, Kacang koro pedang
Japanese: タチナタマメ
Java: Kacang parang
Kannada: Tamate balli
Khmer: ទីអេស Tiehs
Korean: 작두콩
Lao: ທວາດສ໌ ຟາກ ຟາສ Thwâx fak ph'aaz
Malaysia: Kacang parang putih
Marathi: Abai
Melayu: Kacang parang
Mizo: Fangra
Polish: Kanawalia mieczokształtna
Portuguese: Fava-brava, Feijão-bravo, Feijão-de-porco
Russian: Канавалия мечевидная
Slovak: Kanavália mečovitoplodá
Spanish: Canavalia
Sunda: Kara bedog, Kacang mekah
Thai: ถั่วแขก Thua khaek
Vietnam: Dâu ra, Dâu tây, Dâu ngua

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