Canavalia


Canavalia is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family and 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" that has also been appropriated into the name "Wikipedia". 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, sword bean 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 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 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 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
  • Canavalia campylocarpa Piper
  • Canavalia cathartica Thouars
  • Canavalia centralis H.St.John
  • Canavalia concinna J.D.Sauer
  • Canavalia dolichothyrsa G.P. Lewis
  • Canavalia dura J.D. Sauer
  • Canavalia ensiformis DC. - common jack-bean, giant stock-bean, gotani-bean, horse-bean, seaside-bean, wonder-bean, feijão-de-porco
  • Canavalia eurycarpa Piper
  • Canavalia forbesii H.St.John
  • Canavalia galeata Vogel
  • Canavalia glabra J.D.Sauer
  • Canavalia gladiata 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 DC.
  • Canavalia macrobotrys Merr.
  • Canavalia macropleura Piper
  • Canavalia madagascariensis J.D.Sauer
  • Canavalia makahaensis H.St.John
  • Canavalia mattogrossensis 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 H.St.John
  • Canavalia napaliensis H.St.John - Mākaha Valley jack-bean
  • Canavalia nitida Piper - Cathie's bean
  • Canavalia nualoloensis H.St.John
  • Canavalia obidensis Ducke
  • Canavalia oxyphylla Standl. & L.O. Williams
  • Canavalia palmeri 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 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.

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