''Canavalia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

of plants in the legume family ( Fabaceae) that comprises approximately 48 to 50

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

vine A vine ( Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners thems ...

s. Members of the genus are commonly known as jack-beans. The species of ''Canavalia''

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

to the

Hawaiian Islands The Hawaiian Islands ( haw, Nā Mokupuni o Hawai‘i) are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost ...

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 A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, "a plant in the wrong place", or a plant growing where it is not wanted.Harlan, J. R., & deWet, J. M. (1965). Some thoughts about weeds. ''Economic botany'', ''19''(1), 16-24. ...

- and

pathogen In biology, a pathogen ( el, πάθος, "suffering", "passion" and , "producer of") in the oldest and broadest sense, is any organism or agent that can produce disease. A pathogen may also be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a ger ...

-suppressing

living mulch In agriculture, a living mulch is a cover crop interplanted or undersown with a main crop, and intended to serve the purposes of a mulch, such as weed suppression and regulation of soil temperature. Living mulches grow for a long time with ...

. The common jack-bean is also a source of the

lectin Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are highly specific for sugar groups that are part of other molecules, so cause agglutination of particular cells or precipitation of glycoconjugates and polysaccharides. Lectins have a role in rec ...

concanavalin A Concanavalin A (ConA) is a lectin ( carbohydrate-binding protein) originally extracted from the jack-bean (''Canavalia ensiformis''). It is a member of the legume lectin family. It binds specifically to certain structures found in various sugar ...

, which is used as a reagent in

glycoprotein Glycoproteins are proteins which contain oligosaccharide chains covalently attached to amino acid side-chains. The carbohydrate is attached to the protein in a cotranslational or posttranslational modification. This process is known as g ...

biochemistry Biochemistry or biological chemistry is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. A sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology, biochemistry may be divided into three fields: structural biology, enzymology ...

and

immunology Immunology is a branch of medicineImmunology for Medical Students, Roderick Nairn, Matthew Helbert, Mosby, 2007 and biology that covers the medical study of immune systems in humans, animals, plants and sapient species. In such we can see ther ...

. The jack-bean is also a common source of purified urease

enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrate (chemistry), substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecule ...

used in scientific research. The bay bean (''

Canavalia rosea ''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. ...

'') is supposedly mildly

psychoactive A psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, psychoactive agent or psychotropic drug is a chemical substance, that changes functions of the nervous system, and results in alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition or behavior. Th ...

when smoked, and is used in

tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ch ...

substitutes.

Ecology

Some animals have adaptations to the defensive chemicals of jack-beans.

Caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larva, larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterfly, butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawfly ...

s such as that of the two-barred flasher (''Astraptes fulgerator'') are sometimes found on ''Canavalia''. The

plant pathogen Plant pathology (also phytopathology) is the scientific study of diseases in plants caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungi, oomy ...

ascomycete Ascomycota is a phylum of the kingdom Fungi that, together with the Basidiomycota, forms the subkingdom Dikarya. Its members are commonly known as the sac fungi or ascomycetes. It is the largest phylum of Fungi, with over 64,000 species. The d ...

fungus A fungus (plural, : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of Eukaryote, eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and Mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified ...

'' Mycosphaerella canavaliae'' was described from a jack-bean. Introduced

herbivore A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example foliage or marine algae, for the main component of its diet. As a result of their plant diet, herbivorous animals typically have mouthp ...

s have wreaked havoc on ''Canavalia'' on the

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

insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs ...

s such as

solitary bee Bees are winged insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their roles in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the super ...

s and

carpenter bee Carpenter bees are species in the genus ''Xylocopa'' of the subfamily Xylocopinae. The genus includes some 500 bees in 31 subgenera. The common name "carpenter bee" derives from their nesting behavior; nearly all species burrow into hard plant m ...

s such as '' Xylocopa confusa''.

History

The genus name ''Canavalia'' was, as recently as 1913, known as ''Canavali''.

Diversity

Canavalia lineata (sagar-abai) in Kawal WS, AP W2 IMG 2205

Species include: *'' Canavalia acuminata'' Rose *''

Canavalia africana ''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 Islan ...

'' Dunn *'' Canavalia altipendula'' ( Piper) Standl. *'' Canavalia aurita'' J.D. Sauer *'' Canavalia bicarinata'' Standl. *''

Canavalia boliviana ''Canavalia'' is a genus of plants in the legume family (Fabaceae) that comprises approximately 48 to 50 species of tropics, tropical vines. Members of the genus are commonly known as jack-beans. The species of ''Canavalia'' Endemism, endemic to ...

'' Piper *'' Canavalia bonariensis'' Lindl. *''

Canavalia brasiliensis ''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 ...

'' Mart. ex Benth. – Barbicou-bean, ''feijão-bravo do Ceará'' (Brazil) *''

Canavalia campylocarpa ''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 Isl ...

'' Piper *''

Canavalia cathartica ''Canavalia cathartica'', commonly known as ''maunaloa'' in the Hawaiian language,Quattrocchi, Umberto; 2012; CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology; Vol.1; Page 7 ...

'' Thouars (syn. ''C. virosa'' (Roxb.) Wight & Arn.) *''

Canavalia centralis ''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 Isla ...

H.St.John Harold St. John (July 24/25 1892 – December 12, 1991) was a professor of botany at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa from 1929 to 1958. A prolific specialist in field botany and systematics, he is credited with discovering about 500 new ...

*''

Canavalia concinna ''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 Isla ...

'' J.D.Sauer *'' Canavalia dolichothyrsa'' G.P. Lewis *'' Canavalia dura'' J.D. Sauer *'' Canavalia ensiformis'' ( L.)

DC. Augustin Pyramus (or Pyrame) de Candolle (, , ; 4 February 17789 September 1841) was a Swiss botanist. René Louiche Desfontaines launched de Candolle's botanical career by recommending him at a herbarium. Within a couple of years de Candolle ...

– common jack-bean, giant stock-bean, gotani-bean, horse-bean, seaside-bean, wonder-bean, ''feijão-de-porco'' (Brazil) *''

Canavalia eurycarpa ''Canavalia'' is a genus of plants in the legume family (Fabaceae) that comprises approximately 48 to 50 species of tropics, tropical vines. Members of the genus are commonly known as jack-beans. The species of ''Canavalia'' Endemism, endemic to ...

'' Piper *'' Canavalia forbesii'' H.St.John *''

Canavalia galeata ''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 ...

'' ( Gaudich.) Vogel (

Oahu Oahu () ( Hawaiian: ''Oʻahu'' ()), also known as "The Gathering Place", is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to roughly one million people—over two-thirds of the population of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The island of O� ...

) *'' Canavalia glabra'' (M. Martens & Galeotti) J.D.Sauer *'' Canavalia gladiata'' (Jacq.) DC. – sword bean, scimitar-bean *''

Canavalia grandiflora ''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 Isla ...

'' Benth. *'' Canavalia haleakalaensis'' H.St.John *'' Canavalia hawaiiensis'' O.Deg., I.Deg. & J.D.Sauer *''

Canavalia hirsutissima ''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 Isla ...

'' J.D. Sauer *''

Canavalia iaoensis ''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 Isla ...

'' H.St.John *'' Canavalia kauaiensis'' J.D.Sauer *''

Canavalia kauensis ''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 ...

'' H.St.John *''

Canavalia lineata ''Canavalia'' is a genus of plants in the legume family ( Fabaceae) that comprises approximately 48 to 50 species of tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cance ...

'' (Thunb.) DC. *'' Canavalia macrobotrys'' Merr. *'' Canavalia macropleura'' Piper *''

Canavalia madagascariensis ''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 Isla ...

'' J.D.Sauer *'' Canavalia makahaensis'' H.St.John *''

Canavalia mattogrossensis ''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 Islan ...

'' (Barb. Rodr.) Malme *'' Canavalia matudae'' J.D. Sauer *''

Canavalia microsperma ''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 Islan ...

'' Urb. *'' Canavalia mollis'' Wight & Arn. *''

Canavalia molokaiensis ''Canavalia molokaiensis'', commonly known as the Molokai Jack-bean or puakauhi, is a rare species flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae, that is endemic to the island of Molokai in Hawaii. This and other Hawaiian ''Canavalia'' are know ...

'' O.Deg., I.Deg. & J.D.Sauer – Molokai jack-bean *''

Canavalia munroi ''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 ...

'' (O.Deg. & I.Deg.) H.St.John *''

Canavalia napaliensis ''Canavalia napaliensis'', commonly known as the Mākaha Valley Jack-bean, is a species of flowering plant in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is Endemism, endemic to Hawaii. It was previously more widespread in the Hawaiian Islands, archipelago an ...

'' H.St.John – Mākaha Valley jack-bean *''

Canavalia nitida ''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 ...

'' (Cav.) Piper – Cathie's bean *'' Canavalia nualoloensis'' H.St.John *''

Canavalia obidensis ''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 Islan ...

'' Ducke *''

Canavalia oxyphylla ''Canavalia'' is a genus of plants in the legume family (Fabaceae) that comprises approximately 48 to 50 species of tropics, tropical vines. Members of the genus are commonly known as jack-beans. The species of ''Canavalia'' Endemism, endemic to ...

'' Standl. & L.O. Williams *'' Canavalia palmeri'' (Piper) Standl. *'' Canavalia papuana'' Merr. & L.M. Perry *'' Canavalia parviflora'' Benth. *''

Canavalia peninsularis ''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 Islan ...

'' 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 ''Canavalia'' is a genus of plants in the legume family (Fabaceae) that comprises approximately 48 to 50 species of tropics, tropical vines. Members of the genus are commonly known as jack-beans. The species of ''Canavalia'' Endemism, endemic to ...

'' J.D. Sauer *''

Canavalia regalis ''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 ...

'' Piper & Dunn *'' Canavalia rockii'' H.St.John *''

'' (Sw.) DC. – bay bean, beach-bean, coastal jack-bean, fire-bean, Mackenzie-bean *''

Canavalia rutilans ''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 Islan ...

'' DC. *'' Canavalia sanguinea'' H.St.John *'' Canavalia saueri'' Fantz *'' Canavalia septentrionalis'' J.D. Sauer *''

Canavalia sericea ''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 ...

'' A. Gray *'' Canavalia sericophylla'' Ducke *''

Canavalia stenophylla ''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 Islan ...

'' H.St.John *'' Canavalia villosa'' Benth.

Formerly placed here

*''

Dysolobium grande ''Dysolobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae The Faboideae are a subfamily of the flowering plant family Fabaceae or Leguminosae. An acceptable alternative name for the s ...

'' (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, ''

'' File:Beach Bean (Canavalia rosea) (6035947049).jpg, ''

References

External links

International Plant Names Index The International Plant Names Index (IPNI) describes itself as "a database of the names and associated basic bibliographical details of seed plants, ferns and lycophytes." Coverage of plant names is best at the rank of species and genus. It inc ...

''Canavalia''
taxa database. * {{Taxonbar, from=Q135529 Fabaceae genera Phaseoleae Taxa named by Michel Adanson