Fabaceae FAMILY

Canavalia cathartica

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Canavalia cathartica is a perennial, climbing plant producing herbaceous stems 3 - 10 metres long that scramble over the ground and twine into the surrounding vegetation[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. , 328 Title African Flowering Plants Database Publication Author Website http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php Publisher Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. Year 0 ISBN Description Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map. ]. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a source of fibre. It is grown as a soil stabilizer on sandy soils and is also sometimes cultivated as an ornamental, valued especially for its showy flowers[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeEast Africa, through tropical Asia to New Guinea, tropical Australia and the Pacific.

HabitatFound mainly in coastal habitats, sometimes on beaches intermingled with Canavalia maritima, but more commonly behind the beach in coastal thickets and coconut groves. It is occasionally found inland at elevations up to 250 metres[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ].