Scientific Name: Canavalia Rosea
Common Name: Coastal Jack Bean
Turrbal Name: Yugam (Petrie, 1904)
Indigenous Use
Bean pulled before it was ripe and still soft, soaked in water to remove toxins, pounded, then made into cakes and roasted. In herbal medicine, a root infusion drunk for colds. The liquid was also used for rheumatism, aches, pains and leprosy.
WARNING: Poisonous when raw.
When to Use
The fruit typically ripens from late summer to autumn.
Identification
Leaves: The leaves of Canavalia rosea are compound, typically consisting of three broad, obovate to elliptic leaflets. These leaflets measure between 3-15 cm in length and 3-10 cm in width. The leaves are leathery, dark green above and paler beneath, and become glabrous as they mature (Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2024; Plants of the World Online, 2024).
Bark: The stems of Canavalia rosea are herbaceous, trailing, and can reach up to 6 meters in length. The stems are glabrous or may have a silky texture, adding to the vine-like appearance of the plant (Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2024).
Flowers: The flowers of Canavalia rosea are purplish-pink and measure 2.5-5 cm in length. They are borne in clusters on erect racemes that are longer than the leaves. Each flower has a sweet smell and is designed to attract pollinators. The calyx tube is about 12-14 mm long, with unequal lobes ranging from 1.6-3.5 mm in length (Plants of the World Online, 2024).
Fruit: The fruit of Canavalia rosea is a flat, straight or slightly curved pod that measures 6-15 cm in length. The pods have a prominently ridged surface as they mature and contain between 2-10 brown seeds. The seeds are buoyant and can be dispersed by ocean currents. The fruit typically ripens from late summer to autumn (Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2024; Floridata, 2024).
Ecosystems
Found in the below ecosystem/s.
Dunes and Headlands: Dunes and headlands are prominent coastal features in Queensland, providing unique and vital habitats that support a diverse range of ecosystems. Coastal dunes are characterised by their sandy soils and are often stabilised by hardy vegetation such as spinifex, coastal banksia, and casuarina, which help prevent erosion. Headlands, which are rocky coastal points, offer habitats for a variety of marine and terrestrial species, including seabirds and coastal flora adapted to the harsh, saline environment.
References
Australian National Botanic Gardens (2024). Canavalia rosea. Available at: https://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/peakey/key/The%20Pea%20Key/Media/Html/nomenclature/Canavalia_rosea.htm [Accessed 22 June 2024].
Plants of the World Online (2024). Canavalia rosea. Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30187778-2 [Accessed 22 June 2024].
Floridata (2024). Canavalia rosea. Available at: https://www.floridata.com/Plants/Fabaceae/Canavalia%20rosea/857 [Accessed 22 June 2024].
Cribb A.B. and J.W., Wild Food in Australia. Collins, Sydney, 1974
Leiper, Glen, Muteroo: Plant use by Australian Aboriginal People. Eagleby South State School, Brisbane
Leiper, G., Glazebrook, J., Cox, D., & Rathie, K., 2008. Mountain to Mangroves: A Field Guide to the Native Plants of South-east Queensland. Logan River Branch, Society for Growing Australian Plants.
Petrie, Constance, Tom Petrie’s Reminiscences of Early Queensland. Angus and Robertson, 1975, (facsmile of 1904 edition)