Canavalia gladiata (sword bean)
Index
- Pictures
- Identity
- Summary of Invasiveness
- Taxonomic Tree
- Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Description
- Plant Type
- Distribution
- Distribution Table
- Habitat
- Habitat List
- Biology and Ecology
- Climate
- Latitude/Altitude Ranges
- Air Temperature
- Rainfall
- Rainfall Regime
- Soil Tolerances
- Natural enemies
- Notes on Natural Enemies
- Means of Movement and Dispersal
- Pathway Causes
- Pathway Vectors
- Impact Summary
- Impact
- Risk and Impact Factors
- Uses
- Uses List
- Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
- References
- Contributors
- Distribution Maps
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Top of pagePreferred Scientific Name
- Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC.
Preferred Common Name
- sword bean
Other Scientific Names
- Canavalia foureiri G.Don
- Canavalia gladiolata J.D.Sauer
- Canavalia incurva (Thunb.) DC.
- Canavalia loureirii G.Don
- Canavalia lunareti Carriere
- Canavalia machaeroides (DC.) Steud.
- Canavalia maxima Thouars
- Dolichos gladiatus Jacq.
- Dolichos incurvus Thunb.
- Malocchia gladiata (Jacq.) Savi
International Common Names
- English: Japanese jackbean; sword jackbean
- Spanish: frijol de burro; frijol de playa ; haba de burro; poroto sable
- French: dolic en sabre; pois sabre; pois sabre rouge
- Chinese: dao dou
- Portuguese: feijão-de-porco; feijão-espada
Local Common Names
- Cambodia: tioeuhs
- Cuba: haba de caballo; frijol café; frijol de machete
- Dominican Republic: carabanz
- Germany: Schwertbohne
- India: chamma kaya; tamma; tammi kaya
- Indonesia: kacang parasman; kara pedang; koas bakol
- Laos: 'khao 'khièo; khùa
- Malaysia: kacang parang; kacang polong
- Philippines: habas; magtambokau
- Thailand: thua-phra
- Vietnam: dậu rựa
EPPO code
- CNAGL (Canavalia gladiata)
Summary of Invasiveness
Top of pageCanavalia gladiata is a fast-growing climber that has been widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas for its edible seeds and seed pods as an ornamental, and for ground cover, forage and green manure. This species has escaped from cultivation and can be found naturalized in ruderal sites, lowlands, wet habitats, savannahs and grassy habitats. In addition, C. gladiata is well adapted to grow in adverse environmental conditions (e.g. acid soils and waterlogging) and produces large amounts of seed. Currently, it is listed as invasive only in Cuba, but it can be found naturalized in a wide range of habitats and regions around the world. It is also included in the Global Compendium of Weeds.
Taxonomic Tree
Top of page- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Spermatophyta
- Subphylum: Angiospermae
- Class: Dicotyledonae
- Order: Fabales
- Family: Fabaceae
- Subfamily: Papilionoideae
- Genus: Canavalia
- Species: Canavalia gladiata
Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Top of pageThe genus Canavalia comprises approximately 60 species of lianas that are mostly distributed not only across tropical and subtropical America, but also in Asia and Africa. Taxonomic revisions have divided this genus into four subgenera (de Queiroz et al., 2015; Moteetee, 2016; Snak et al., 2016): Canavalia (including species with a pantropical distribution), Catodonia (including species with a neotropical distribution, excepting one species also found in the Old World), Maunaloa (including species occurring in Hawaii) and Wenderothia (including species with a neotropical distribution).
Description
Top of pageThe following is based on descriptions by Moteetee (2016) and the Flora of China Editorial Committee (2019):
Vigorous woody perennial climber with twining stems, up to 10 m long; leaflets ovate or ovate-elliptic, acuminate at the apex, 80-200 × 75-150 mm, sparsely pubescent; petiole (50) 145-175 mm long; stipules ±2 mm long. Peduncles 100-300 mm long, with 8-10 flowers, flowers 25-30 mm long; bracteoles ±1 mm long. Calyx sparsely pubescent, upper lip large, 12-15 mm long, lower lip much smaller, 8-10 mm long. Corolla white or pink; standard broadly obovate, 25-35 × 15-20 mm, claw 3-4 mm long; wings oblong, 14-18 × 4-5 mm, smaller than keel, claw 3-5 mm long; keel obovate,16-22 × 6-8 mm, claw 3-5 mm long. Ovary narrowly oblong, 8-10 mm long. Pod linear-oblong, very large, slightly compressed, 160-400 (-600) × 35-50 mm, with two longitudinal ribs near the upper suture, 8-16-seeded; seeds very large, brick red, pink or reddish brown, with hilum extending most of the upper margin elliptic-oblong, ca. 3.5 × 2 cm; hilum ca. 1.5 cm.
Cultivars vary widely, particularly in the degree of twining, the size of the pods and the number and colour of the seeds. In some areas semi-erect forms are found. Forms with red or reddish to blackish seeds are sometimes classified as C. gladiata var. gladiata and forms with white seeds as var. alba (Makino) Hisauchi.
Distribution
Top of pageCanavalia gladiata is native to Asia. It was probably domesticated in eastern Asia and it is only known in cultivation, except as an escape. It is widely cultivated across tropical and subtropical regions. It can currently be found cultivated and naturalized across Asia, Africa, Australia, North, Central and South America and the Caribbean (PROTA, 2019; POWO, 2020).
Distribution Table
Top of pageThe distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
Last updated: 25 Feb 2021Continent/Country/Region | Distribution | Last Reported | Origin | First Reported | Invasive | Reference | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Africa |
|||||||
Burundi | Present | Introduced | |||||
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | Present | Introduced | |||||
Congo, Republic of the | Present | Introduced | |||||
Madagascar | Present | Introduced | |||||
Mauritius | Present | Introduced | |||||
Mozambique | Present | Introduced | |||||
Réunion | Present | Introduced | |||||
Rwanda | Present | Introduced | |||||
Seychelles | Present | Introduced | |||||
South Africa | Present | Introduced | |||||
Tanzania | Present | Introduced | |||||
Zambia | Present | Introduced | |||||
Zimbabwe | Present | Introduced | |||||
Asia |
|||||||
Bangladesh | Present | Native | |||||
Cambodia | Present | Native | |||||
China | Present | Native | |||||
-Hainan | Present | Native | |||||
-Hubei | Present | Cultivated | |||||
India | Present | Native | |||||
-Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Present | ||||||
-Assam | Present | Native | |||||
-Kerala | Present | Cultivated | |||||
-Tamil Nadu | Present | Cultivated | |||||
Indonesia | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Java | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Lesser Sunda Islands | Present | Introduced | |||||
Japan | Present | Native | |||||
Laos | Present | Native | |||||
Malaysia | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Sabah | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Sarawak | Present | Introduced | |||||
Myanmar | Present | Native | |||||
Philippines | Present | Introduced | |||||
South Korea | Present | ||||||
Sri Lanka | Present | Introduced | |||||
Taiwan | Present | Native | |||||
Thailand | Present | Native | |||||
Vietnam | Present | Native | |||||
North America |
|||||||
Cuba | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
Dominican Republic | Present | Introduced | |||||
Guadeloupe | Present | Introduced | |||||
Honduras | Present | Introduced | |||||
Jamaica | Present | Introduced | |||||
Mexico | Present | Introduced | |||||
Panama | Present | Introduced | |||||
Trinidad and Tobago | Present | Introduced | |||||
United States | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Florida | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Hawaii | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Texas | Present | Introduced | |||||
Oceania |
|||||||
Australia | Present | Introduced | Weed | ||||
-New South Wales | Present | Introduced | |||||
South America |
|||||||
Argentina | Present | Introduced | |||||
Brazil | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Bahia | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Ceara | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Distrito Federal | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Espirito Santo | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Minas Gerais | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Parana | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Pernambuco | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Rio de Janeiro | Present | Introduced | |||||
-Sao Paulo | Present | Introduced | |||||
Paraguay | Present | Introduced | |||||
Suriname | Present | Introduced | |||||
Venezuela | Present | Introduced |
Habitat
Top of pageCanavalia gladiata can be found growing in ruderal areas, lowlands, wet habitats, savannahs and grassy habitats and disturbed areas near cultivation and villages. It is usually grown near houses and allowed to trail on walls, fences and trees (Moteetee, 2016; India Biodiversity Portal, 2019; PROTA, 2019).
Habitat List
Top of pageCategory | Sub-Category | Habitat | Presence | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Terrestrial | Managed | Cultivated / agricultural land | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Cultivated / agricultural land | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Cultivated / agricultural land | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Rail / roadsides | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Rail / roadsides | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Rail / roadsides | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Urban / peri-urban areas | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Urban / peri-urban areas | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Urban / peri-urban areas | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural grasslands | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural grasslands | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural grasslands | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
Biology and Ecology
Top of pageGenetics
The chromosome number reported for C. gladiata is 2n = 22 (Rodrigues and Torne, 1990). Hybrids of C. gladiata with C. africana and C. ensiformis occur in the wild from natural crosses (PROTA, 2019).
Reproductive Biology
C. gladiata has bisexual flowers that are visited and pollinated by insects, mostly bees. This species is self-compatible but out-crossing rates greater than 20% have been reported (Kooi, 2016; Useful Tropical Plants, 2019). Seeds germinate readily and the plant is a fast-growing species. Young pods for vegetable use can be harvested 3-5 months after sowing while mature seeds can be harvested 5-10 months after sowing (Kooi, 2016; Useful Tropical Plants, 2019).
Physiology and Phenology
In China, C. gladiata has been recorded flowering from July to September and fruiting in October (Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2019). In India, C. gladiata produces flowers and fruits from July to December (India Biodiversity Portal, 2019).
Longevity
C. gladiata is a perennial plant but it is also cultivated as an annual crop.
Associations
C. gladiata has a symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria (Kooi, 2016; Useful Tropical Plants, 2019).
Environmental Requirements
C. gladiata prefers a tropical climate. It grows best in areas with mean annual temperatures in the range 15-30°C (tolerates 12-36°C) and mean annual rainfall in the range 800-1800 mm (tolerates 600-2600 mm). This species thrives at elevations from sea level up to 1500 m; it is adapted to nutrient-depleted soils and acid soils with a pH of 4.5-7.0 (tolerates 4.3-7.5). C. gladiata also tolerates some salinity in the soil and some waterlogging but does not tolerate frost. It has a deep root system that allows it to resist drought when established (Ekanayake et al., 1999; Kooi, 2016; PROTA, 2019; Useful Tropical Plants, 2019).
Climate
Top of pageClimate | Status | Description | Remark |
---|---|---|---|
Af - Tropical rainforest climate | Preferred | > 60mm precipitation per month | |
Am - Tropical monsoon climate | Preferred | Tropical monsoon climate ( < 60mm precipitation driest month but > (100 - [total annual precipitation(mm}/25])) | |
As - Tropical savanna climate with dry summer | Preferred | < 60mm precipitation driest month (in summer) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25]) | |
Aw - Tropical wet and dry savanna climate | Preferred | < 60mm precipitation driest month (in winter) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25]) | |
Cs - Warm temperate climate with dry summer | Tolerated | Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, dry summers | |
Cw - Warm temperate climate with dry winter | Tolerated | Warm temperate climate with dry winter (Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, dry winters) | |
Cf - Warm temperate climate, wet all year | Tolerated | Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, wet all year |
Latitude/Altitude Ranges
Top of pageLatitude North (°N) | Latitude South (°S) | Altitude Lower (m) | Altitude Upper (m) |
---|---|---|---|
30 | 30 |
Rainfall
Top of pageParameter | Lower limit | Upper limit | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Mean annual rainfall | 600 | 2600 | mm; lower/upper limits |
Soil Tolerances
Top of pageSoil drainage
- seasonally waterlogged
Soil reaction
- acid
- neutral
Soil texture
- heavy
- light
- medium
Special soil tolerances
- saline
Natural enemies
Top of pageNatural enemy | Type | Life stages | Specificity | References | Biological control in | Biological control on |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colletotrichum lindemuthianum | Pathogen | Other|All Stages | not specific | |||
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum | Pathogen | Fruits|pods; Plants|Stems | not specific | |||
Spodoptera frugiperda | Herbivore | Other|All Stages | not specific |
Notes on Natural Enemies
Top of pageCanavalia gladiata is primarily affected by the fungal species Colletotrichum lindemuthianum which causes root rot. Han et al. (2020) reported the first occurrence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on stems and pods of C. gladiata in South Korea. Other major pests affecting this species are fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and beetle grubs that bore into the stems. In Asia, Elsinoe canavaliae causes scab in C. gladiata (Ekanayake et al., 1999; Kooi, 2016; PROTA, 2019).
Means of Movement and Dispersal
Top of pageCanavalia gladiata spreads by seed. Pods are dehiscent, opening readily when dry, releasing the seeds (PROTA, 2019).
Pathway Causes
Top of pageCause | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Crop production | Cultivated for its seeds and seed pods | Yes | Yes | PROTA (2019) |
Disturbance | Naturalized in ruderal areas | Yes | Yes | PROTA (2019) |
Escape from confinement or garden escape | Escaped from cultivation | Yes | Yes | PROTA (2019) |
Forage | Used to feed cattle and poultry | Yes | Yes | PROTA (2019) |
Garden waste disposal | Seeds | Yes | Yes | Kooi (2016) |
Habitat restoration and improvement | Used as green manure | Yes | Yes | PROTA (2019) |
Horticulture | Grown as an ornamental | Yes | Yes | Useful Tropical Plants (2019) |
Internet sales | Seeds sold online | Yes | Yes | |
Medicinal use | Used in traditional medicine | Yes | Yes | PROTA (2019) |
Ornamental purposes | Grown as an ornamental | Yes | Yes | Useful Tropical Plants (2019) |
People foraging | Seeds consumed by humans | Yes | Yes | PROTA (2019) |
Pathway Vectors
Top of pageVector | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Debris and waste associated with human activities | Seeds | Yes | Yes | Kooi (2016) |
Livestock | Used to feed cattle and poultry | Yes | Yes | PROTA (2019) |
Seeds sold online | Yes | Yes |
Impact Summary
Top of pageCategory | Impact |
---|---|
Cultural/amenity | Positive |
Economic/livelihood | Positive |
Environment (generally) | Positive and negative |
Human health | Positive and negative |
Impact
Top of pageThe mature seed of C. gladiata contains alkaloids that maybe toxic to humans and animals. These toxic alkaloids can be destroyed by soaking and thoroughly boiling the seeds twice in water with salt or by fermentation (PROTA, 2019; Useful Tropical Plants, 2019).
Risk and Impact Factors
Top of page- Proved invasive outside its native range
- Has a broad native range
- Abundant in its native range
- Highly adaptable to different environments
- Is a habitat generalist
- Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
- Pioneering in disturbed areas
- Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
- Long lived
- Fast growing
- Has high reproductive potential
- Gregarious
- Negatively impacts agriculture
- Negatively impacts human health
- Negatively impacts animal health
- Reduced native biodiversity
- Threat to/ loss of native species
- Hybridization
- Poisoning
- Rapid growth
- Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
Uses
Top of pageCanavalia gladiata is cultivated for its seeds and seed pods. The young green pods are extensively eaten across Asia and Africa served as a boiled green vegetable. Dry, fully mature seeds should be eaten with caution, as they may be poisonous. Detoxification is possible by changing the cooking water, soaking, rinsing or fermentation. The seeds are eaten in Ethiopia and Tanzania but usually only as a famine food. C. gladiata is also used as a cover crop and green manure. The seed is also used as forage and fodder to feed cattle and poultry, although dry seeds eaten in large quantities may cause poisoning. It is also grown as an ornamental climber on fences and houses.
Extracts from leaves and seeds are used in traditional medicine. In Korea, it is used in the treatment of vomiting, abdominal dropsy, kidney-related lumbago, asthma, obesity, stomach ache, dysentery, coughs, headache, intercostal neuralgia, epilepsy, schizophrenia, inflammatory diseases and swellings (Lim, 2012). In Japan, it is effective in treating haemorrhoids, pyorrhoea, otitis media, boils and cancers, all kinds of inflammatory diseases and atopic dermatitis. In Korea, a soap based on extracts of sword bean is used for the treatment of athlete’s foot and acne (Ekanayake et al., 1999; Kooi, 2016; PROTA, 2019; Useful Tropical Plants, 2019).
Uses List
Top of pageAnimal feed, fodder, forage
- Fodder/animal feed
- Forage
Environmental
- Agroforestry
- Soil improvement
Human food and beverage
- Pulse
- Vegetable
Materials
- Green manure
- Poisonous to mammals
Medicinal, pharmaceutical
- Traditional/folklore
Ornamental
- garden plant
Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
Top of pageSome authors consider the species C. gladiata, C. africana and C. ensiformis as a single species as they cross freely and their uses and chemical composition are similar. Furthermore, DNA analyses could not find differences between C. gladiata and C. ensiformis. These two species are very similar in growth habit, but they can be distinguished by the following morphological traits (Moteetee, 2016; PROTA, 2019):
- seed colour: red or pink in C. gladiata and white in C. ensiformis;
- hilum length: in C. gladiata, the hilum covers most of the upper margin of the seed while in C. ensiformis, the hilum covers only a quarter of the seed.
C. gladiata also appears to be closely allied to C. africana, but the main difference is in the pod size: up to 60 cm long in C. gladiata vs. up to 17 cm long in C. africana (Moteetee, 2016; PROTA, 2019).
References
Top of pageDe Queiroz LP, Pastore JFB, Cardoso D, Snak C, De C. Lima AL, Gagnon E, Vatanparast M, Holland AE, Egan AN, 2015. A multilocus phylogenetic analysis reveals the monophyly of a recircumscribed papilionoid legume tribe Diocleae with well-supported generic relationships. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 90, 1-19. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1055790315001189 doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2015.04.016
Ekanayake S, Jansz ER, Nair BM, Abeysekera AM, 1999. A review on an underutilized legume Canavalia gladiata. Vidyodaya Journal of Science, 8, 1-25. http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/868
Kooi G, 2016. Canavalia gladiata (PROSEA). PlantUse English.https://uses.plantnet-project.org/e/index.php?title=Canavalia_gladiata_(PROSEA)&oldid=220349
Lim TK, 2012. Canavalia gladiata. In: Edible medicinal and non-medicinal plants. Fruits. Volume 2, Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer Netherlands. 569-576. https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789400717633
Snak C, Vatanparast M, Silva C, Lewis GP, Lavin M, Kajita T, Queiroz LP de, 2016. A dated phylogeny of the papilionoid legume genus Canavalia reveals recent diversification by a pantropical liana lineage. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 98, 133-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2016.02.001
Distribution References
GRIIS, 2019. Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species., http://www.griis.org/
Queiroz LP, Snak C, 2015. (Canavalia). In: Lista de Espécies da Flora do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. http://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/jabot/floradobrasil/FB109902
Contributors
Top of page07/12/2019 Original text by:
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval, Department of Botany-Smithsonian NMNH, Washington DC, USA
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