Bay Bean

Description:

Common Names: Bay Bean, Beach Bean, Seaside Jack-bean, Coastal Jack-bean. Bay Bean is a herbaceous vine growing up to 20 ft. long. The vine's 2 inch long blossoms are upside-down relative to most other bean flowers. The pods (image 2) are 4 - 6 inches long and become woody & tough as they mature. The seeds of these pods have been found in Mayan ruins dating back from 300 B.C. - 900 A.D.. The buoyancy of the seeds allows them to be distributed by ocean currents. The deep root system naturally reduces soil erosion & Bay Beans have been used in many countries as a cover crop to diminish erosion.

Habitat:

Beaches, cliffs, and dunes throughout the world's coastal tropics. Highly salt-tolerant and prefers sandy soils.