Bay Bean

Description:

Beach Bean is a dense ground cover that is commonly found in the coastal sands. This plant forms a ground cover that is 6 to 12 inches in height but can occasionally be found climbing a small tree. Stems reach a length of more than 6 m (20 ft) and 2.5 cm (0.98 in) in thickness. The evergreen, trifoliate leaves have elliptic, 2 1/2- to 3 1/2-inch-long leaflets that are rounded at their apices. Each compound leaf, made up of three leaflets will fold themselves when exposed to hot sunlight. Small racemes of pink to purple flowers occur among these bright green leaves throughout the year. These flowers are followed by robust, woody pods.The flat pods are 10.2–15.2 cm (4.0–6.0 in) long and become prominently ridged as they mature. The buoyancy of the seeds allows them to be distributed by ocean currents. The plant seems to contain L-Betonicine.

Habitat:

Edge of wooded fringe between road and seaside.

Notes:

Use(s): An infusion was made with the crushed roots and rubbed over the skin for rheumatism, general pain, skin disorders, and colds. It is claimed that leaves and seed pods are smoked like hemp. The beans produced by the bay bean are edible if the outer skin is removed from them and they are softened by boiling. Habitat and conditions: Occurs all over the world in tropical and subtropical coastal locations. It prefers warmth and can tolerate periods of drought. Full sun. The baybean is an excellent pioneering species on sandy beaches, dunes, and coastal scrub. It readily sets down roots at the nodes as it trails across beaches and dunes, the roots forming networks that aid in stabilizing sands.