Canavalia FABACEAE 55 
rachis; bracteoles broad. Calyx 2-lipped, shallowly lobed, the 2 larger upper lobes broad and semicircular, 
the smaller lower lobes triangular. Corolla pale mauve, glabrous; standard rounded, reflexed, calli present, 
auriculate; wings with thickened lobes. Stamens 10, all connate in upper half, upper stamen free at base; 
filaments alternately long and short; anthers dorsifixed, versatile. Ovary stipitate; ovules <10; style glabrous; 
stigma terminal, small. Pod oblong, with a 2° rib below the top suture, septate with membranous tissue. 
Seeds transverse in pod, ellipsoid; hilum linear, eccentric; ecarunculate; funicle as long as hilum, rigid, persisting 
on pod. 
A genus of c. 50 species found throughout the tropics and subtropics but principally in the New World. Of 
the 6 Australian species, 3 native and 1 introduced species occur in the NT and DR. Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) 
DC. (Sword Bean) is cultivated locally and is distinguished by the red seeds and pale pods. 
1. Calyx lobes <1/4 of length of calyx; pod >35 mm Wide .........cesssesssesssestessesesessseseseataees C. cathartica 
1. Calyx lobes >1/4 of length of calyx; pod <30 mm Wide oe eeeeseeeeseseeteneeeeneeeeeeeenes 2 
2; Leaflets obtuse or emarginate; standard >19 mm long; plants of coastal dunes ............... C. rosea 
2. Leaflets acute or acuminate; standard usually <19 mm long; 
Plants’ofunland habitats Prritsecscssscersscsterscettcterstrsseeresttecisescctscetereretsstictorssisteiscferertseetes C. papuana 
C. cathartica Thouars 
A prostrate or climbing vine, glabrate throughout. 
Stipules persistent, c. 2 mm long, broad. Leaf rachis 
to basal leaflets 45-95 mm, 65-120 mm overall; stipels 
not seen; leaflets with broadly cuneate to rounded 
base, apex rounded, often shortly acuminate; basal 
leaflets slightly asymmetric, obovate or transversely 
elliptic, 65-97 mm long, 51-97 mm wide, L/W 0.9- 
1.1, terminal leaflet orbicular to obovate, 70-107 mm 
long, 55-109 mm wide, L/W 0.9-1.2. Inflorescence 
to 400 mm long. Calyx 9-10 mm long. Corolla purple; 
standard 21-30 mm long. Pod dark brown, broadly 
oblong, widest at the distal end, 87-110 mm long, 35- 
45 mm wide, inflated, 2° rib c. 8 mm below the top 
suture, indehiscent, eventually breaking up after 
weathering. Seeds 5, brown, c. 15 mm long, 11 mm 
wide; hilum c. 9 mm long. Flowering: May - July; 
fruiting: July - Sept. Fig. 18 
Widespread in the Old World tropics. In tropical 
Australia, found in the northern NT and Qld on 
beaches or twining in coastal monsoon thickets. 
Rare in the NT, and in the DR known only from 
Bathurst Is. 
C. papuana Merr. & Perry 
A twining vine with simple, sparse adpressed hairs 
throughout. Stipules knob-like, thickened, peltate, the 
top part caducous, c. 2 mm long. Leaf rachis to basal 
leaflets 15-50 mm, 25-95 mm overall; stipels minute; 
leaflets ovate-lanceolate to ovate-elliptic, base 
rounded, apex acute or acuminate; basal leaflets 37- 
120 mm long, 51-97 mm wide, L/W 1.5-2.2; terminal 
leaflet 46-145 mm long, 30-103 mm wide, L/W 1.4- 
1.9. Inflorescence to 450 mm long. Calyx 8-10 mm 
long. Corolla pale mauve; standard 15-20 mm long. 
Pod pale to dark brown, oblong, flattened, 95-155 
mm long, 20-28 mm wide, dehiscent, 2° rib just below 
the top suture. Seeds 5-8, olivaceous to brown, 13-17 
mm long, 8-12 mm wide; hilum c. 9 mm long. 
Flowering: Jan - Sept; fruiting: July - Sept. Fig. 18 
Occurs in New Guinea and tropical Australia. 
Found in riparian habitats, on floodplain margins and 
in monsoon thickets. Relatively common and 
widespread in the DR. 
C. rosea (Sw.) DC. 
C. maritima Thouars 
A prostrate vine, sparsely pubescent to tomentose, 
especially on the leaf undersurfaces. Stipules knob- 
like, thickened, peltate, the top part caducous, c. 2 
mm long. Leaf rachis to basal leaflets 18-55 mm, 30- 
88 mm overall; stipels minute; /eaflets with broadly 
cuneate or rounded base, apex rounded or emarginate; 
basal leaflets slightly asymmetric, 35-100 mm long, 
20-70 mm wide, L/W 1.1-1.9(2.5); terminal leaflet 
obovate, deltoid or broadly elliptic, 38-102 mm long, 
28-74 mm wide, L/W 1-1.6(1.9). Inflorescence 
erect from trailing stems, to 450 mm long. Calyx 
9-11 mm long. Corolla mauve; standard 19-25 mm 
long. Pod on a stipe c. 8 mm long, pale brown, 
oblong, flattened, 100-140 mm long, 25-28 mm 
wide, dehiscent, 2° rib just below the top suture. 
Seeds 7-8, pale to dark brown, 14-15 mm long, 10-12 
mm wide; hilum c. 6 mm long. Flowering: Feb - Oct; 
fruiting: Apr - Sept. Fig. 18 
Pantropical; widespread in northern Australia. On 
coastal dunes. Relatively common in the DR. The 
seeds are used by Aborigines to make necklaces 
(Smith et al., 1993). 
