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Lablab purpureus
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.
In Kenya, it is known as njahi, and is popular among the Kikuyu group. It is thought to encourage lactation and has historically been the main dish for breastfeeding mothers.[citation needed] Beans are boiled and mashed with ripe and/or semiripe bananas, giving the dish a sweet taste.
The entire plant is edible, though the dried seeds should not be consumed without prolonged boiling.
wow,thats a great colour it look like blackeye bean's(?),but purple,you know the common name?
Spotted on Aug 17, 2012
Submitted on Aug 17, 2012
