''Canavalia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of plants in the legume family (

Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomenc ...

) that comprises approximately 48 to 50

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of 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 the appropriate s ...

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 themselv ...

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 elsew ...

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 Kur ...

were named ''āwikiwiki'' by the

Native Hawaiians Native Hawaiians (also known as Indigenous Hawaiians, Kānaka Maoli, Aboriginal Hawaiians, First Hawaiians, or simply Hawaiians) ( haw, kānaka, , , and ), are the indigenous ethnic group of Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii ...

. The name translates to "the very quick one" and comes from the Hawaiian word for "fast". The genus name is derived from the

Malabar Malabar may refer to the following: People * Malabars, people originating from the Malabar region of India * Malbars or Malabars, people of Tamil origin in Réunion Places * Malabar Coast, or Malabar, a region of the southwestern shoreline o ...

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- 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 germ ...

-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 m ...

. 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, which is used as a

reagent In chemistry, a reagent ( ) or analytical reagent is a substance or compound added to a system to cause a chemical reaction, or test if one occurs. The terms ''reactant'' and ''reagent'' are often used interchangeably, but reactant specifies a ...

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 glycos ...

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 ...

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 there ...

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

urease Ureases (), functionally, belong to the superfamily of amidohydrolases and phosphotriesterases. Ureases are found in numerous bacteria, fungi, algae, plants, and some invertebrates, as well as in soils, as a soil enzyme. They are nickel-containin ...

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

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 ...

substitutes.

Ecology

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

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

s such as that of the

two-barred flasher ''Astraptes fulgerator'', the two-barred flasher, is a spread-wing skipper butterfly in the genus '' Astraptes'' which may constitute a possible cryptic species complex. It ranges all over the Americas, from the southern United States to north ...

(''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, oomyc ...

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 defi ...

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

'' 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 mouthpart ...

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

and made some nearly

extinct Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...

; it may be that these lost their chemical defenses because no herbivorous

mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...

s 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 superfami ...

s and carpenter bees 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'' Dunn *'' Canavalia altipendula'' ( Piper) 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'' (Brazil) *'' Canavalia campylocarpa'' 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 ...

'' Thouars (syn. ''C. virosa'' (Roxb.) Wight & Arn.) *'' Canavalia centralis'' H.St.John *'' Canavalia concinna'' J.D.Sauer *'' Canavalia dolichothyrsa'' G.P. Lewis *'' Canavalia dura'' J.D. Sauer *''

Canavalia ensiformis ''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. ensif ...

'' ( 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'' Piper *'' Canavalia forbesii'' H.St.John *'' Canavalia galeata'' ( Gaudich.) Vogel (

Oahu Oahu () (Hawaiian language, Hawaiian: ''Oʻahu'' ()), also known as "The Gathering place#Island of Oʻahu as The Gathering Place, Gathering Place", is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to roughly one million people—over t ...

) *'' Canavalia glabra'' (M. Martens & Galeotti) J.D.Sauer *''

Canavalia gladiata ''Canavalia gladiata'', the sword bean or scimitar bean, is a domesticated plant species in the legume family Fabaceae. It is used as a vegetable in interior central and south central India, though not commercially farmed. The unripe pods are al ...

'' (Jacq.) 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 ''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 ...

'' (Thunb.) DC. *'' Canavalia macrobotrys'' Merr. *'' Canavalia macropleura'' Piper *'' Canavalia madagascariensis'' 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'' Urb. *'' Canavalia mollis'' Wight & Arn. *'' Canavalia molokaiensis'' O.Deg., I.Deg. & J.D.Sauer – Molokai jack-bean *'' Canavalia munroi'' (O.Deg. & I.Deg.) H.St.John *'' Canavalia napaliensis'' H.St.John – Mākaha Valley jack-bean *'' Canavalia nitida'' (Cav.) Piper – Cathie's bean *'' Canavalia nualoloensis'' H.St.John *'' Canavalia obidensis'' Ducke *'' Canavalia oxyphylla'' Standl. & L.O. Williams *'' Canavalia palmeri'' (Piper) Standl. *'' Canavalia papuana'' Merr. & L.M. Perry *''

Canavalia parviflora ''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 ...

'' 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 ''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 ...

'' Benth. *'' Canavalia piperi'' Killip & J.F.Macbr. *'' Canavalia plagiosperma'' Piper – giant bean, oblique-seed jack-bean *'' Canavalia pubescens''

Hook. Sir William Jackson Hooker (6 July 178512 August 1865) was an English botanist and botanical illustrator, who became the first director of Kew when in 1841 it was recommended to be placed under state ownership as a botanic garden. At Kew h ...

Arn. George Arnott Walker Arnott of Arlary (6 February 1799 – 17 April 1868) was a Scottish botanist. Early life George Arnott Walker Arnott was born in Edinburgh in 1799, the son of David Walker Arnott of Arlary. He attended Milnathort Parish ...

– lavafield jack-bean *'' Canavalia raiateensis'' J.W. Moore *'' Canavalia ramosii'' J.D. Sauer *'' Canavalia regalis'' 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 Isl ...

'' 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'' (Wall. ex Benth.) Prain (as ''C. grandis'' (Wall. ex Benth.) Kurz)

Gallery

File:Canavalia gladiata - P1100580.JPG, ''

'' File:Starr 040410-0108 Canavalia pubescens.jpg, '' Canavalia pubescens'' File:Starr 080208-2482 Canavalia hawaiiensis.jpg, '' Canavalia hawaiiensis'' File:Canavalia napaliensis (6259061207).jpg, '' Canavalia napaliensis'' 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 inclu ...

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