Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC.

Leguminosae, B. Mackinder, R. Pasquet, R. Polhill and B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 3:5. 2001

Morphology General Habit

Usually an erect bushy annual crop plant 1–2 m tall, but can become a perennial climber to 10 m.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrous to appressed pubescent.

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 6–20 × 3–12 cm, elliptic or ovate-elliptic, subacute to shortly acuminate, glabrescent to sparsely pubscent on both surfaces; petiole 2–11 cm long; stipules soon deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 6–40 cm long, long-pedunculate; pedicels 2–5 mm long; bracteoles c. 2 mm long, obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx sparsely pubescent; tube 6–7 mm long; upper lip 4–5 mm long, truncate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard rose to purple, 2.7–3 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 15–35 × 3–3.5 cm, linear-oblong, each valve with a sutural rib and an extra rib just below this, pubescent, glabrescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds white with a brownish mark round the hilum, 14–21 × 10–15 × 7–11 mm; hilum 5.5–9 mm long.

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 450 - 1400 m.; Andes, Orinoquia, Valle del Cauca, Valle del Magdalena.

Morphology General Habit

Trepadora

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean, Orinoquia. Elevation range: 450–1400 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Caldas, Cundinamarca, Meta, Putumayo, Quindío, Valle del Cauca.

Habit

Climbing.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, shrubland, artificial - terrestrial.

Vernacular

Canavalia, Frijol blanco, Fríjol burro, Fríjol de playa, Fríjol de puerco, Fríjol machete, Fríjol mataarriera, Frijolón, Haba, Haba criolla

Papilionaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit

Climbing on fences and trees

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers rose, mauve or white with a red base.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Cultigen not known in the wild

Ecology

Africa: Cultivated

Morphology General Habit

Annual/Perennial, Climbing/Not climbing, Herb/Shrub

Vernacular

Awara, Bara Sem, Bu-wal-awara, Cocorico, Dolique, Garde Place, Gros Pois, Haba Criolla, Horse Bean, Horsebean, Jack Bean, Jackbean, Jangli Sem, Kadsambal, Overlook Bean, Pipi, Pois de Sabre, Pois Maldioc, Pois Sabre, Sabre-Bean, Sufed Kadsumbal, Sword Bea

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

Plant usually grown as an annual but capable of becoming a perennial climber, 0·6–0·9 m. long.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrous or adpressed pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 5·7–20 cm. long, 3·2–11·5 cm. wide, obtuse, sub-acute or shortly acuminate, ± cuneate, glabrescent or sparsely pubescent on both surfaces; venation raised and reticulate on both surfaces; petiole 2·3–11 cm. long; rhachis 1–3·5 cm. long; petiolules 1–11 mm. long, densely pubescent; stipules soon deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 5–12 cm. long above a peduncle 10–34 cm. long; pedicels 2–5 mm. long; bracteoles 2 mm. long, obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx sparsely pubescent; tube 6–7 mm. long; upper lip 5 mm. long, truncate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard rose to purple, rounded, 2·75 cm. long, emarginate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods linear-oblong, 15–35 cm. long, 3–3·5 cm. wide, each valve with a sutural rib and an additional rib just below it.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds white with a brownish mark near the hilum, oblong, compressed, longest dimension 1·45–2·1 cm., shorter dimension 1–1·5 cm., thickness 0·7–1 cm.; hilum 5·5–9 mm. long.

Habitat

Cultivated (more widely than the above records suggest) up to 1800 m. and sometimes seen as an escape

Distribution

K4 K6 K7 T1 T3 T4 T7 Z a food plant probably developed by prehistoric American Indians now widely cultivated throughout the tropics as a cover crop or as a green manure

Use

Environmental, Food and Drink, Forage