For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Beach Bean (Canavalia rosea)
Family Fabaceae
Canavalia rosea is a species of flowering plant of the genus Canavalia in the pea family, Fabaceae, that has a pantropical distribution. Common names include Beach Bean, Bay Bean, Seaside Jack-bean, Coastal Jack-bean, and MacKenzie Bean.
Coastal Jack-bean is a trailing, herbaceousvine that forms mats of foliage. Stems reach a length of more than 6 m (20 ft) and 2.5 cm (0.98 in) in thickness.
Each compound leaf is made up of three leaflets 5.1–7.6 cm (2.0–3.0 in) in diameter, which will fold themselves when exposed to hot sunlight. The flowers are purplish pink and 5.1 cm (2.0 in) long. The flat pods are 10.2–15.2 cm (4.0–6.0 in) long and become prominently ridged as they mature.
The buoyancy of the seeds allows them to be distributed by ocean currents. The plant seems to contain L-Betonicine.
