Jack Bean

At a glance

Origin / distribution: India(Santal), China, Panama(Cuna), West Indies, Voodoo

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Anodyne, Coffee, Convalescence, Digestive

Science studied: L-ALPHA-AMINO-DELTA-HYDROXYVALERIANIC-ACID, BETA-AMINOPROPIONITRILE, ARSENIC, ASCORBIC-ACID

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Fabaceae

Scientific name: Canavalia ensiformis

Common names: Jack Bean, Ash Bean, Boonchi Ojada, Canavalia, Fava-brava, Jack bean, Jackbohne, Jackboon, Kacang Parang, Pipi, Pois de sabre, Schwertbohne, Wonderbean, asboontjie, fava-branca, feijão-bravo

POWO: 1209500-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in India(Santal), Elsewhere, China, Panama(Cuna), West Indies, Voodoo.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Anodyne
• Coffee
• Convalescence
• Digestive
• Medicine
• Mitogenic
• Poison
• Tonic

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• India(Santal)
• Elsewhere
• China
• Panama(Cuna)
• West Indies
• Voodoo

Documented cultural uses

• Anodyne
• Coffee
• Convalescence
• Digestive
• Medicine
• Mitogenic
• Poison
• Tonic
• Weaning
• Kidney

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Anodyne · India(Santal) · "
• Coffee · Elsewhere · "
• Convalescence · China · "
• Digestive · China · "
• Medicine · Panama(Cuna) · "
• Mitogenic · West Indies · "
• Poison · Elsewhere · "
• Poison · West Indies · "
• Tonic · China · "
• Weaning · Voodoo · "
• Kidney · China · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Corythucha gossypii ¹ affecting Canavalia ensiformis² in Oaxaca, Mexico · 2026 source ↗
• Phenolic Composition Profile and Antidiabetic Activities of Jack Bean [<i>Canavalia ensiformis</i> (L.) DC.] Tempeh. · 2026 source ↗
• <i>Canavalia ensiformis</i> intercrop to reduce weeds and stalk borer damage in sugarcane · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• L-ALPHA-AMINO-DELTA-HYDROXYVALERIANIC-ACID
• BETA-AMINOPROPIONITRILE
• ARSENIC
• ASCORBIC-ACID
• ASH
• CALCIUM
• CANAVANINE
• CANEINE
• BETA-CAROTENE
• CHOLINE
• CONCANAVALIN-A
• COPPER
• FAT
• FIBER
• L-(-)-HOMOSERINE
• IRON

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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