''Entada phaseoloides''
commonly named the box bean or St. Thomas’ bean, first described by
Linnaeus, with its current name described by
Merrill. ''E. phaseoloides'' is a
liana
A liana is a long- stemmed, 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 in search of direct sunlight. The word ''liana'' does not refer to a ta ...
in the pea family:
called ''gugo'', ''balugo'' or ''tamayan'' in the Philippines and ''bàm bàm'' in Viet Nam. No subspecies are listed in the Catalogue of Life.
Description
''Entada phaseoloides'' is a large
liana
A liana is a long- stemmed, 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 in search of direct sunlight. The word ''liana'' does not refer to a ta ...
that climbs high into the lowland
tropical forest canopy and found in lowland coastal forests of Africa, Australia, Asia and the Western Pacific. The lianas are often (but not exclusively) associated with waterways and seeds are widely dispersed by oceanic currents. Two subspecies have been described:
* ''Entada phaseoloides'' subsp. ''phaseoloides''
* ''Eentada phaseoloides'' subsp. ''tonkinensis''
The
leaf structure is bi-pinnate compound divided into one to two pairs of leaflets. Leaflets are somewhat elliptical, between long and wide.
Flowers are arranged in a
raceme
A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...
with green to red coloured sepals and green / cream petals that are between long.
The characteristic
pods can grow very large, up to long and wide. Each pod contains between 10 and 20 reddish brown seeds that are lens-shaped and about in diameter.
Uses
Filipinos have been traditionally using ''gugo'' before commercial shampoos were sold in stores. The shampoo is obtained by soaking and rubbing the bark of the vine ''gugo'' (''Entada phaseoloides''), producing a lather that cleanses the scalp effectively. ''Gugo'' is also used as an ingredient in
hair tonics.
A study by the
Department of Science and Technology Department of Science and Technology may refer to:
*Department of Science and Technology (Australia), an Australian Government department between November 1980 and December 1984
* Department of Science and Technology (India)
* Department of Science ...
found that ''gugo'' prevents hairfall because it stimulates micro circulation in the blood vessels.
The
people of
Tonga use the beans of this plant (known as ''paanga'') as ankle decorations for their traditional
kailao dance as well as for use in an ancient game called ''lafo''.
The ''paanga'' is also the name given to
their currency.
Gallery
Entada phaseoloides (5490705567).jpg
Entada phaseoloides MHNT graines.jpg
Entada phaseoloides, pods.jpg
Entada phaseoloides (5490708915).jpg
Entada phaseoloides (5491301774).jpg
Entada Phaseoloides.jpg
References
[Verdcourt,B., 1979 ''A Manual of New Guinea Legumes. Office of Forests, Lae, PNG'']
[Ohwi,J., 1965 ''Flora of Japan. Washington: Smithsonian Institution'']
[Walker,E.H., 1976 ''Flora of Okinawa and S.Ryukyu islands. Washing.Smithson.Inst'']
[Wu,T.L., 1988 ''Mimososoideae. In: Fl.Reip.Pop.Sinicae, 39 (Leguminosae 1)'']
[Nielsen,I., 1981 ''Leg-Mim. In:Flore du Cambodge, du Laos et Viet-nam,Vol 19.A.'']
[ILDIS World Database of Legumes](_blank)
/ref>
External links
*
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3281753
Mimosoids
phaseoloides
Flora of Vietnam