''Entada rheedii'', commonly known as African dream herb or snuff box sea bean, and as the cacoon vine in

Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...

, is a large woody

liana A liana is a long-Plant stem, stemmed Woody plant, woody vine that is rooted in the soil at ground level and uses trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the Canopy (biology), canopy in search of direct sunlight. T ...

or climber of the Mimosa clade

Mimosoideae The Mimosoideae are a traditional subfamily of trees, herbs, lianas, and shrubs in the pea family (Fabaceae) that mostly grow in tropical and subtropical climates. They are typically characterized by having radially symmetric flowers, with petal ...

. The vine can grow as long as . Their seeds have a thick and durable seed coat which allows them to survive lengthy periods of immersion in seawater. These seeds come in a pod which can be up to 6.5 feet (two meters) in length.

Naming

Though its scientific name was first published as ''E. rheedii'', it is often written as ''Entada rheedei'', honouring Hendrik Adriaan van Rheede tot Draakestein (1637–1691).The International Plant Names Index (2004)
''Entada rheedei''
Accessed 5 September 2007.

Subspecies

The following subspecies have been used: * '' Entada rheedii rheedii'' * '' Entada rheedii sinohimalensis'' (Grierson & D.G.Long) Panigrahi

Traditional use

The species is employed in African traditional medicine to induce vivid dreams, said to enable communication with the spirit world. The inner meat of the seed would be either consumed directly, or the meat would be chopped, dried, mixed with other herbs like tobacco and smoked just before sleep to induce the desired dreams. The plant is also used as a topical ointment against

jaundice Jaundice, also known as icterus, is a yellowish or, less frequently, greenish pigmentation of the skin and sclera due to high bilirubin levels. Jaundice in adults is typically a sign indicating the presence of underlying diseases involving ...

toothache Toothaches, also known as dental pain or tooth pain,Segen JC. (2002). ''McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine''. The McGraw-Hill Companies. is pain in the teeth or their supporting structures, caused by dental diseases or referred ...

ulcers An ulcer is a discontinuity or break in a bodily membrane that impedes normal function of the affected organ. According to Robbins's pathology, "ulcer is the breach of the continuity of skin, epithelium or mucous membrane caused by sloughing ...

and to treat muscular-skeletal problems. The seeds are sought after as pieces of jewelry and as good-luck charms. The 1889 book ''The Useful Native Plants of Australia'' records that Entada Scandens has the common names included "Queensland Bean".

Indigenous Australians Indigenous Australians are people with familial heritage from, or recognised membership of, the various ethnic groups living within the territory of contemporary Australia prior to History of Australia (1788–1850), British colonisation. The ...

of the Cleveland Bay area referred to the plant as "Barbaddah" and that "These large beans are ... put into the stone oven and heated in the same way and for the same time as those of Avicennia tomentosa (q.v.); they are then pounded fine and put into a dilly-bag, and left for ten or twelve hours in water, then they are fit for use." (Murrell's testimony). The natives of India also eat them after roasting and soaking in water."

Distribution and habitat

Its seeds are found on east and southern African beaches, having grown on river and estuary banks and in swamp forest. As a result of its ready dispersal by sea, ''Entada rheedii'' is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas (excluding the Americas): tropical Africa, South Africa, tropical Asia and Queensland.

Gallery

File:Entada rheedii05.jpg, Twisted stem File:Entada rheedii06.jpg, Foliage File:Entada rheedii07.jpg, Flower spike File:Entada rheedii seeds picked up on a South African beach at Mapelane.jpg , Seeds

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5380081 Entheogens rheedii Flora of Africa Flora of tropical Asia Flora of Queensland Garden plants Decorative fruits and seeds Plants used in traditional African medicine Oneirogens Bushfood Fabales of Asia