Legumes, Milkworts, and Allies of Zihuatanejo

ORDER FABALES

-Legumes (Family Fabaceae)

-Subfamily Faboideae

-Tribe Diocleae

-Jackbeans (Genus Canavalia)

-Beach Bean (Canavalia rosea)

Noted for its showy flowers and bright green foliage, Canavalia rosea (Bay Bean or Beach Bean) is a creeping evergreen vine boasting small racemes of pink to purple flowers with white centres that guide insects to their nectar. The blossoms attract a variety of insects but are primarily pollinated by bees.

Description

• Canavalia rosea, commonly known as beach bean, is a perennial creeping vine in the legume family (Fabaceae). It has thick, trailing stems and leathery, trifoliate leaves, with three broad leaflets on each leaf. Its flowers are typically pink to purplish and grow in clusters. The plant produces large, flattened seed pods and can spread across the sand to form dense mats. Its extensive stems and roots help stabilise coastal sand.

Range

• Canavalia rosea is a pantropical coastal plant found on tropical and subtropical shorelines throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific region. It is native to Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.

Habitat

• This salt-tolerant vine grows along sandy beaches, coastal dunes, strand vegetation, and other exposed shorelines. It thrives in full sun, withstands wind and salt spray, and tolerates dry, nutrient-poor sandy soils. Its creeping growth helps bind sand and contributes to the stabilisation of coastal dunes.