From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Genus of legumes
Canavalia is a
genus of plants in the legume family (
Fabaceae ) that comprises approximately 62
species of
tropical
vines .
[1] Members of the genus are commonly known as jack-beans . It has a
pantropical distribution.
[1]
The species of Canavalia
endemic to the
Hawaiian Islands were named ʻāwikiwiki by the
Native Hawaiians . The name translates to "the very quick one"
[2] and comes from the
Hawaiian word for "fast". The genus name is derived from the
Malabar word for the species, kavavali , which means "forest climber."
[3]
Uses
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 .
[4] The common jack-bean is also a source of the
lectin
concanavalin A , which is used as a
reagent in
glycoprotein
biochemistry and
immunology . The jack-bean is also a common source of purified
urease
enzyme used in scientific research.
The bay bean (
Canavalia rosea ) is supposedly mildly
psychoactive when smoked, and is used in
tobacco substitutes.
Ecology
Some animals have
adaptations to the defensive chemicals of jack-beans.
Caterpillars such as that 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 because no herbivorous
mammals existed in their range until introduced by humans. The usually bright pea-flowers are pollinated by
insects such as
solitary bees and
carpenter bees such as
Xylocopa confusa .
History
The genus name Canavalia was, as recently as 1913, known as Canavali .
[5]
Diversity
Canavalia cathartica illustration.
Francisco Manuel Blanco , Flora de Filipinas, etc. (1880-1883)
Canavalia lineata
Species include:
[6]
Canavalia acuminata Rose
Canavalia africana Dunn
Canavalia altipendula (
Piper ) Standl.
Canavalia aurita J.D. Sauer
Canavalia bicarinata Standl.
Canavalia boliviana Piper
Canavalia bonariensis Lindl.
Canavalia brasiliensis Mart. ex Benth.
[7] – Barbicou-bean, feijão-bravo do Ceará (Brazil)
Canavalia campylocarpa Piper
Canavalia cathartica Thouars (syn. C. virosa (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. )
Canavalia centralis
H.St.John
Canavalia concinna J.D.Sauer
Canavalia dolichothyrsa G.P. Lewis
Canavalia dura J.D. Sauer
Canavalia ensiformis (
L. )
DC. – common jack-bean, giant stock-bean, gotani-bean, horse-bean, seaside-bean, wonder-bean, feijão-de-porco (Brazil)
Canavalia eurycarpa Piper
Canavalia forbesii H.St.John
Canavalia galeata (
Gaudich. )
Vogel
[8] (
Oʻahu )
[9]
Canavalia glabra (M. Martens & Galeotti) J.D.Sauer
Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC. – sword bean, scimitar-bean
Canavalia grandiflora Benth.
Canavalia haleakalaensis H.St.John
Canavalia hawaiiensis O.Deg., I.Deg. & J.D.Sauer
[8]
Canavalia hirsutissima J.D. Sauer
Canavalia iaoensis H.St.John
Canavalia kauaiensis J.D.Sauer
[8]
Canavalia kauensis H.St.John
Canavalia lineata (Thunb.) DC.
Canavalia macrobotrys Merr.
Canavalia macropleura Piper
Canavalia madagascariensis J.D.Sauer
Canavalia makahaensis H.St.John
Canavalia mattogrossensis (Barb. Rodr.) Malme
Canavalia matudae J.D. Sauer
Canavalia microsperma Urb.
Canavalia mollis Wight & Arn.
Canavalia molokaiensis
O.Deg. , I.Deg. & J.D.Sauer
[8] – Molokaʻi jack-bean
Canavalia munroi (O.Deg. & I.Deg.) H.St.John
Canavalia napaliensis H.St.John
[8] – Mākaha Valley jack-bean
Canavalia nitida (Cav.) Piper – Cathie's bean
Canavalia nualoloensis H.St.John
Canavalia obidensis Ducke
Canavalia oxyphylla Standl. & L.O. Williams
Canavalia palmeri (Piper) Standl.
Canavalia papuana Merr. & L.M. Perry
Canavalia parviflora Benth.
Canavalia peninsularis H.St.John
Canavalia picta Benth.
Canavalia piperi Killip & J.F.Macbr.
Canavalia plagiosperma Piper – giant bean, oblique-seed jack-bean
Canavalia pubescens
Hook. &
Arn.
[8] – lavafield jack-bean
Canavalia raiateensis J.W. Moore
Canavalia ramosii J.D. Sauer
Canavalia regalis Piper & Dunn
Canavalia rockii H.St.John
Canavalia rosea (Sw.) DC. – bay bean, beach-bean, coastal jack-bean, fire-bean, Mackenzie-bean
Canavalia rutilans DC.
Canavalia sanguinea H.St.John
Canavalia saueri Fantz
Canavalia septentrionalis J.D. Sauer
Canavalia sericea A. Gray
Canavalia sericophylla Ducke
Canavalia stenophylla H.St.John
Canavalia villosa Benth.
Formerly placed here
Gallery
See also
References
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Canavalia .