Horse Bean is a fast-growing, usually erect, sometimes shrubby twining annual
up to l m high, with runners occasionally extending to 10 m. Deep rooted and
drought resistant. Leaves pinnately 3-foliate, 25-30 cm long. Ovate leaflets
7-17 cm. Flowers occur in 10-12 flowered, curved, axillary racemes 10-20 cm
long. Flowers are deep pink, and have the usual pea flower form. Pods are
15-30 cm long and shaped so as to invite a name like sword bean.
The seeds are edible but somewhat toxic if consumed in
large quantities. Mostly used for human food or green manure, but in some
countries cultivated under irrigation as fodder. The forage is palatable only
when dried. Due to toxicity, caution is required in feeding herbage and pods
of jack bean.
Identification credit: Pravin Kawale
Photographed in Alibag, Maharashtra.
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The flower labeled Horse Bean is ...