NAME: Canavalia ensiformis
FAMILY: Leguminosae
COMMON NAMES: Wonder bean, Sword bean, horse bean
LOCAL NAMES: Ponpondo, sese-nla
MORPHORLOGICAL DESCRIPTION: This is an annual to short-lived perennial plant that can be bushy or twining plant up to about 2m in height. It is resistant to drought because of it deep roots
USEFUL PART(s): seed, pod
GENERAL USES:
The roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute
Young foliage is edible
Unripe seeds are cooked and eaten like broad beans
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Central America, Caribbean.
WHY IS IT GREEN?
Antibiotic
antiseptic
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
It is cultivated as a cover crop to conserve and fertilize the soil for other crops
The beans are mildly toxic, and copious consumption should be avoided
FUN FACT
FURTHER READINGS
Mubiru, D. N., & Coyne, M. S. (2009). Legume cover crops are more benefi cial than natural fallows in minimally tilled ugandan soils. Agronomy Journal. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2007.0391
Postal, M., Martinelli, A. H. S., Becker-Ritt, A. B., Ligabue-Braun, R., Demartini, D. R., Ribeiro, S. F. F., Pasquali, G., Gomes, V. M., & Carlini, C. R. (2012). Antifungal properties of Canavalia ensiformis urease and derived peptides. Peptides. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2012.08.010
Sridhar, K. R., & Seena, S. (2006). Nutritional and antinutritional significance of four unconventional legumes of the genus Canavalia - A comparative study.Food Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2005.07.049