Canavalia
The genus Canavalia in the large legume family (Fabaceae), comprises approximately 70-75 species of tropical origin. These vines have usually bright pea-flowers which are pollinated by insects such as solitary bees and carpenter bees (e.g. ''Xylocopa confusa).
They are commonly known as jack-beans. The species of Canavalia endemic to the Hawaiian Islands were named ʻāwikiwiki by the Native Hawaiians. That name means essentially "the very quick one" and comes from the Hawaiian word for "fast" that has also been appropriated into the name "Wikipedia".
Uses and ecology
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-suppressing living mulch. The Common Jack-bean is also known as the plant from which Concanavalin A was described. This lectin is of major commercial importance as a reagent in glycoprotein biochemistry and immunology. Also, the Jack-bean is a common source of purified urease enzyme for scientific research.
Bay Bean (Canavalia rosea) supposedly is mildly psychoactive when smoked; it is used in tobacco substitutes.
Some animals have adaptation to the defensive chemicals of jack-beans. Caterpillars for example of the Two-barred Flasher (Astraptes fulgerator) 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 as no herbivorous mammals existed in their range until introduced by humans.
History
The genus name Canavalia was, as recently as 1913, known as Canavali
Species
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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. – feijão-bravo do Ceará (Brazil)
Canavalia campylocarpa Piper
Canavalia cathartica Thouars (= C. virosa (Roxb.) Wight & Arn.)
Canavalia centralis H.St.John
Canavalia concinna J.D.Sauer
Canavalia dictyota Piper – disputed
Canavalia dolichothyrsa G.P. Lewis
Canavalia dura J.D. Sauer
Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. – Common Jack-bean, feijão-de-porco (Brazil)
Canavalia eurycarpa Piper
Canavalia forbesii H.St.John
Canavalia galeata (Gaudich.) Vogel (Oʻahu)
Canavalia glabra (M. Martens & Galeotti) J.D.Sauer
Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC. – Sword 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 (Thunb.) DC.
Canavalia macrobotrys Merr.
Canavalia macropleura Piper
Canavalia madagascariensis J.D.Sauer
Canavalia makahaensis H.St.John
Canavalia mattogrossensis (Barb. Rodr.) Malme
Canavalia matudae J.D. Sauer
Canavalia microsperma Urb.
Canavalia mollis Wight & Arn.
Canavalia molokaiensis O.Deg., I.Deg. & J.D.Sauer – Molokaʻi Jack-bean
Canavalia munroi (O.Deg. & I.Deg.) H.St.John
Canavalia napaliensis H.St.John – Mākaha Valley Jack-bean
Canavalia nitida (Cav.) Piper
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 Benth.
Canavalia peninsularis H.St.John
Canavalia picta Benth.
Canavalia piperi Killip & J.F.Macbr.
Canavalia plagiosperma Piper
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 (Sw.) DC. – Bay Bean
Canavalia rutilans DC. – disputed
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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Translation
The word "Canavalia" occurs as such in the following languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese.
Translation(s) in other languages: Russian: Канавалия, Thai: ถั่วพร้า, Chinese: 刀豆屬.
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