ID please

9 years ago

Can someone ID this bean? The beans are huge and the pods are long - about 10-12 inches long. Flowers are purple and have a light fragrance. Leaves are large. Vine grows very fast..

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nchomegarden
Original Author

9 years ago

After reading some more, ensiformis seems the more likely candidate. gladiata beans are pink or red, where as mine are white.
My current plants' pods are probably not mature yet ( is there a way to tell)
I had grown these 2 years ago and apparently the pods matured before frost.
My current plants have about a dozen pods growing on them and the vines continue to grow along.
It definitely reminds one of Jack and the bean stalk!

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Comments (9)

nchomegarden
Original Author
9 years ago
picture of pod -
aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
9 years ago
Can you post a picture of the seed?
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nchomegarden
Original Author
9 years ago
aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
9 years ago
Possibly Canavalia ensiformis (Jack Bean) I've no experience with this one, I believe special cooking instructions are needed as they can be toxic. Maybe someone else will chime in with more information.

Annette
nchomegarden thanked aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
nchomegarden
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks, Annette

The description does match my bean vine... Now if only I could figure out where I got the original seed from...
aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
9 years ago
...or Sword Bean Canavalia gladiata, apparently they are similar, again I have no experience with either of these :(.

Annette
nchomegarden thanked aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
zeedman Zone 5 Wisconsin
9 years ago
I agree with Annette, something in the Canavalia genus... most likely Jack Bean. Interesting plants, you are fortunate to be getting dry seed. I tried Sword Bean here, but even started early in a greenhouse, the pods failed to ripen before frost.
nchomegarden thanked zeedman Zone 5 Wisconsin
Sabji garden (7b), Raleigh NC
5 years ago
I have the same white seeds. I planted 2 last year. The pods are 14 Inches. I have saved some for growing this year too.