Bean

Canavalia

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The genus Canavalia in the large legume family (Fabaceae), comprises approximately 70-75 species of tropical origin. These vines have usually bright pea-flowers which are pollinated by insects such as solitary bees and carpenter bees (e.g. Xylocopa confusa).

They are commonly known as jack-beans. The species of Canavalia endemic to the Hawaiian Islands were named ʻāwikiwiki by the Native Hawaiians. That name means essentially "the very quick one" and comes from the Hawaiian word for "fast" that has also been appropriated into the name "Wikipedia".

Uses and ecology

Several species are valued legume crops, including Common Jack-bean (C. ensiformis), Sword Bean (C. gladiata) and C. cathartica. At least the first makes a beneficial weed- and pathogen-suppressing living mulch. The Common Jack-bean is also known as the plant from which Concanavalin A was described. This lectin is of major commercial importance as a reagent in glycoprotein biochemistry and immunology. Also, the Jack-bean is a common source of purified urease enzyme for scientific research.

Bay Bean (Canavalia rosea) supposedly is mildly psychoactive when smoked; it is used in tobacco substitutes.

Some animals have adaptation to the defensive chemicals of jack-beans. Caterpillars for example of the Two-barred Flasher (Astraptes fulgerator) are sometimes found on Canavalia. The plant pathogenic ascomycete fungus Mycosphaerella canavaliae was described from a jack-bean. Introduced herbivores have wreaked havoc on Canavalia on the Hawaiian Islands and made some nearly extinct; it may be that these lost their chemical defenses as no herbivorous mammals existed in their range until introduced by humans.

History

The genus name Canavalia was, as recently as 1913, known as Canavali

Species

Parts drawing of Canavalia cathartica. Francisco Manuel Blanco, Flora de Filipinas, etc (1880-1883)

Canavalia lineata in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, India.

See also

• Thierry Bardini - researched Venezuelan jack-bean agriculture early in his career

Footnotes

References

• Caamal-Maldonado, Jesús Arturo; Jiménez-Osornioa, Juan José ; Torres-Barragán, Andrea & Anaya, Ana Luisa (2001): The Use of Allelopathic Legume Cover and Mulch Species for Weed Control in Cropping Systems. Agronomy Journal 93(1): 27-36. PDF fulltext
• International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS) (2005): Genus Canavalia. Version 10.01, November 2005. Retrieved 2007-DEC-17.
• Pukui, Mary Kawena; Elbert, Samuel Hoyt; Mookini, Esther T. & Nishizawa, Yu Mapuana (1992): New Pocket Hawaiian Dictionary with a Concise Grammars and Given Names in Hawaiian. University of Hawaii PRess, Honolulu. ISBN 0-8248-1392-8

Gallery

Canavalia lineata in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, India.	Canavalia lineata in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, India.	in Uppalapadu, Andhra Pradesh, India.	in Uppalapadu, Andhra Pradesh, India.
in Uppalapadu, Andhra Pradesh, India.

External links

Wikispecies has information related to: Canavalia

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Canavalia

• International Plant Names Index: Canavalia taxa database.
• Barboza, Rick (2008-03-21). "Climbing vine makes for beautiful lei". Honolulu Star-Bulletin 13 (81). http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/03/21/features/garden.html.