Botanical Name: Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC.
Common Names: Sword jackbean, Sabre bean
Family & Genus: Fabaceae, Canavalia. It is a twining herbaceous plant.
Morphological Characteristics
The vine can grow several meters long. It bears pinnately compound leaves with ovate leaflets that have broadly cuneate bases; lateral leaflets are oblique. Petioles are generally shorter than leaf blades, and petiolules are hairy.
Racemes have long peduncles, with several flowers growing on the upper part of the rachis. Flower stalks are extremely short; ovate bracteoles fall off early. The corolla is white or pink. The standard petal is broadly elliptic with a notched apex. The linear ovary is covered with hairs.
Pods are band-shaped and slightly curved. Seeds are elliptic or oblong-elliptic with red or brown seed coats. The hilum accounts for about three-quarters of the seed circumference. Flowering occurs from July to September, and fruiting from October.
Growth & Distribution
It is widely cultivated across provinces south of the Yangtze River in China, and also distributed throughout tropical, subtropical regions and Africa.
This plant loves warmth and high temperature, and requires abundant sunlight. Insufficient light will hinder flowering and pod formation. It adapts to various soil types, and grows best in loose, well-drained sandy loam.
Edibility & Precautions
Young pods and seeds are edible, but they must first be fully boiled in salt water, then re-boiled in fresh water before consumption. It can also be used as green manure, ground cover and livestock feed.
Toxicity Warning: Raw or undercooked sword beans may cause poisoning. Symptoms including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and dizziness usually appear about 3 hours after ingestion.
Medicinal Parts
Dried ripe seeds, pods and roots of Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC.
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism
Sweet in flavor, warm in nature. It acts on the Stomach and Kidney meridians.
Functions & Indications
Warms the middle energizer and descends adverse qi, tonifies the kidney and replenishes primordial qi, and relieves hiccups.
Pharmacological Research
Possesses antioxidant properties.