hyacinth bean

Hyacinth bean
Hyacinth bean plant
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Faboideae Tribe: Phaseoleae Genus: Lablab Species: L. purpureus
Binomial name
Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet

The Hyacinth Bean (Lablab purpureus, syn. Dolichos lablab L., Dolichos purpureus L., Lablab niger Medikus, Lablab lablab (L.) Lyons, Vigna aristata Piper, and Lablab vulgaris, L.) Savi. ^[1]), also called Indian Bean, Egyptian Bean or đậu ván (Vietnamese), is a species of bean in the family Fabaceae that is widespread as a food crop throughout the tropics, especially in Africa, India and Indonesia. A traditional food plant in Africa, this little-known vegetable has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare.^[2]

Seeds of the purple hyacinth bean

The hyacinth bean grows as a vine, producing purple flowers and striking electric-purple coloured seed pods. Lablab bean is a good choice for a quick screen on a trellis or fence. It grows fast, has beautiful, fragrant flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, and it even produces edible leaves, flowers, pods, seeds and roots. Dry seeds are poisonous due to high concentrations of cyanogenic glucosides, and can only be eaten after prolonged boiling.^[3]

Pods of hyacinth bean

It is also grown as forage ^[4] and as an ornamental plant. ^[5] In addition, this plant is also cited as a medicinal plant and a poisonous plant. ^{[6] [7]}

In Huế, Vietnam, it is the main igredient of the dish chè đậu ván.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hyacinth bean

• The Hyacinth Bean - Informative but non-scholarly essay on Hyacinth Bean history, uses, etymology.
• The Banglalore bean
• Murphy, Andrea M.; Colucci, Pablo E. A tropical forage solution to poor quality ruminant diets: A review of Lablab purpureus Livestock Research for Rural Development (11) 2 1999

References