{{Short description|Species of legume}} {{Hatnote|"Jack bean" redirects here; it is also used as a common name for related plants in the genus Canavalia.}} {{Speciesbox |image = Canava1.jpg |taxon = Canavalia ensiformis |authority = (L.) DC.<ref name = "GRIN"> {{GRIN | accessdate = 26 March 2009}}</ref> }} [[File:Canavalia ensiformis MHNT.BOT.2013.22.55.jpg|thumb|''Canavalia ensiformis'' <br /> MHNT]]
'''''Canavalia ensiformis''''' ('''jack bean''') is a legume which is used for animal fodder and human nutrition, especially in Brazil where it is called '''''feijão-de-porco''''' ("pig bean"). It is also the source of concanavalin A.
== Description ==
''C. ensiformis'' is a twining plant up to {{convert|1|m|ft}} in height. It has deep roots, which makes it drought resistant. The plant can spread via long runners. The flowers are pink-purple in colour. The pods are up to {{convert|36|cm|in}} long with large white seeds.
== Uses ==
Historically, it was used by native tribes for food and forage in droughty regions of Arizona and Mexico. Now, while commonly consumed in Asia and Japan, ''C. ensiformis'' seem to be unpopular elsewhere.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ventosa Febles |first=E. A |date=2017-02-22 |title=Canavalia ensiformis (jack bean) |url=https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.1079/cabicompendium.14486 |journal=CABI Compendium |volume=CABI Compendium |article-number=14486 |doi=10.1079/cabicompendium.14486|doi-access=free }}</ref> The beans are mildly toxic, and copious consumption should be avoided.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hedrick, ed., 1919: Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. {{!}} Henriette's Herbal Homepage |url=https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/sturtevant/index.html |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.henriettes-herb.com}}</ref> Boiling will, however, remove toxicity if done properly. Young foliage is also edible. The whole plant is used for fodder, although it cannot be used in fodder mixtures containing urea, since it contains large quantities of the enzyme urease, which liberates harmful ammonia from urea. For this reason ''C. ensiformis'' has been investigated as a potential source of the urease enzyme. It is also the source of concanavalin'' ''A, a lectin used in biotechnology applications, such as lectin affinity chromatography.
As a garden plant, it can grow to over {{convert|2|m|ft}}, provided it gets enough nutrients, rich soil, sun and warmth. It grows therefore in rich soil, or use extra nutrients, in a sunny warm place.
== Names ==
''C. ensiformis'' has numerous names in English. They include many that are misleading or ambiguous, being derived from comparing the common jack bean to plants with similar seeds or fruit: they thrive in warm, sunny, places with much water or rain.
*Brazilian broad bean *"Coffee bean" *Chickasaw lima bean *Ensiform bean *"Horse bean" (usually applied to ''Vicia faba'') *"Jack bean" (also applied to other species in the genus ''Canavalia'') *Mole bean *Overlook bean <ref>{{Cite web | editor-last = Hedrick | editor-first = U.P. | title = Sturtevant's Notes on Edible Plants. Report of the New York Agricultural Experiment Station for the Year 1919 II. | year = 1919 | url = http://food.oregonstate.edu/glossary/c/canavaliae.html | access-date = 18 March 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081210210312/http://food.oregonstate.edu/glossary/c/canavaliae.html | archive-date = 2008-12-10 }}</ref> *Pearson bean *"Sword bean" (usually applied to ''Canavalia gladiata'') *Wonder bean
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{WestAfricanPlants|Canavalia ensiformis}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q1677262}} {{Authority control}}
ensiformis Category:Flora of Africa Category:Flora of Brazil Category:Fodder Category:Taxa named by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus