Canavalia

''Canavalia'' is a genus of plants in the legume family ( Fabaceae) that comprises approximately 48 to 50 species of tropical vines. Members of the genus are commonly known as jack-beans. The species of ''Canavalia'' endemic to the Hawaiian Islands were named ''āwikiwiki'' by the Native Hawaiians. The name translates to "the very quick one" 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."

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. 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''.

Diversity

Species include:

*'' 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. – 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 (Oahu)
*'' 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
*'' Canavalia hirsutissima'' J.D. Sauer
*'' Canavalia iaoensis'' H.St.John
*'' Canavalia kauaiensis'' J.D.Sauer
*'' 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 – Molokai jack-bean
*'' Canavalia munroi'' (O.Deg. & I.Deg.) H.St.John
*'' Canavalia napaliensis'' H.St.John – 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. – 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

*'' Dysolobium grande'' (Wall. ex Benth.) Prain (as ''C. grandis'' (Wall. ex Benth.) Kurz)

Gallery

File:Canavalia gladiata - P1100580.JPG, '' Canavalia gladiata''
File:Starr 040410-0108 Canavalia pubescens.jpg, '' Canavalia pubescens''
File:Starr 080208-2482 Canavalia hawaiiensis.jpg, '' Canavalia hawaiiensis''
File:Canavalia napaliensis (6259061207).jpg, '' Canavalia napaliensis''
File:Beach Bean (Canavalia rosea) (6035947049).jpg, '' Canavalia rosea''

See also

* Thierry Bardini - researched Venezuelan jack-bean agriculture early in his career

References

External links

* International Plant Names Index
''Canavalia''
taxa database.
*

{{Taxonbar, from=Q135529

Fabaceae genera
Phaseoleae
Taxa named by Michel Adanson